Spanish Government wants to promote cycling from home to work. Life ‘By bike’ one of the supposedly included ‘State strategy for cycling’aiming to encourage and encourage the use of these means of transport, taking into account “ideal” for human health and the environment. Among the future possibilities, Companies pay extra to employees who cycle to workas it has already been done in some European countries.
“The bicycle is not just another means of transportation. for society, not only in terms of mobility, but also livability, health, environment, equality, sociability, et cetera. It also benefits by making room for cyclists and non-cyclists, reducing air and noise pollution.”
In this scenario, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) considers promoting the ‘Bicycle Strategy’ to coordinate different policies and actions to promote this environment in all aspects. mobility as much as they health benefitspassing through it recreational and sports useindustry for business development or as a basis cycling based tourism“.
The manager also wants to involve companies. “The chain reaction caused by the ‘bike effect’ also occurs when companies take initiatives to promote the use of this mode of transport to get to work,” he notes.
Additional income of up to 1,500 euros per year
‘Bicycle Strategy’ proposes for this change tax regulations So much so that companies can think of cycling as a tool. income from workas is already done in company cars.
Countries such as France and the Netherlands are already implementing measures. on that side employees can earn 800 (France) and 1,500 (Netherlands) extra Euros per year for cycling to workhowever, in Spain this would require a change in existing legislation that is not currently foreseen.
Other pro-cycling measures apply in these countries and the UK: tax incentives or discounts that may also be paid by the company partially employed for its purchase. There are also incentives to replace old vehicles with bicycles.
‘Bicycle Strategy’ in Spain for now promotional campaigns. Thus, it encourages a communication activity for companies to promote their own fields. sustainable mobility plans to study bicycle in daily transport. It is the first of 15 points. “good practices” that companies may have to participate in the ‘Bicycle Effect’.
Other points indicate that it should be established.accommodating and flexible working hoursmake it easier to move around by bike according to personal situation” and “There are areas where you can safely park your bike. and perform basic maintenance.
“Activate locker rooms and showersdefine practices or “encourage those living further away” and ‘bike lanes to work’ systemsarranging the routes to be reached by bicycle” are other points of the campaign.
Lend bikes to employees
Mitma also wants companies buy bikes to lend to their employeesfacilitating the use of systems Shared municipal bikes” and that they launched communication campaigns to “encourage their staff to use the bicycle for daily mobility”.
Facilitate training activities on sustainable mobility, set criteria for: give priority to suppliers using cyclology in parcel deliveriesand joining professional platforms on sustainable mobility, creating a “more bicycle friendly corporate brand image” are other suggestions of the government.
The manager’s ideas also include several incentives for employees who adopt active mobility on business trips at the expense of private motor vehicles and sign agreements with other companies to offer them. discount on your purchases.
The list of recommendations to companies also includes organizing networking events outside of working hours. bike pathsconfirm and ‘bike friendly establishment’; “For example, with ‘Cycling Zone’ certificates from the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) or ‘Bike Friendly Employer’ certificate from the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)”.
but for now In Spain, only large companies with more than 500 employees are required by law to draw up sustainable mobility plans to work..
The government, for its part, allocated 490 million from European Next Generation funds assisting municipal assemblies and autonomous communities in promoting cycling.
‘Bicycle Strategy’ website: https://esmovilidad.mitma.es/estrategia-estatal-por-la-bicicleta
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]