The benefits of cycling to work

Cycling to work is hot. In Belgium, a third of employees commute by bike. Almost 20% of these commuters even cover more than 30 kilometres a day. And the number of employees who cycle to work continues to grow. 

This isn't surprising, given the benefits of cycling to work, which we discuss in this blog post.

 

Cycling is healthy

Let's start with the most obvious benefit: cycling is healthy. It keeps your muscles and joints flexible, improves blood flow and helps build a good base level of fitness. People who cycle often or every day also boost their immune systems because they spend more time outdoors. This reduces the risk of illness.

In other words, cycling to work fits in perfectly with the advice of doctors and health experts to get enough exercise every day. After all, people who cycle to work often do not lack physical activity.

 

Improved performance at work

Another thing that many cyclists do not lack is sleep. In fact, people who cycle a lot sleep better, which makes them less tired and mentally sharper. 

This also has a direct impact on productivity: employees who cycle to work feel more energetic and focused. As a result, they perform better at work.

 

Cycling is easy and fun

For many people, cycling is just a way of getting around. They don't necessarily enjoy it, even though it can be a lot of fun.

Take a bike ride to work for example. This is a great way to start the day off strong and enjoy yourself. You can listen to your favourite music or podcast, enjoy the peace and quiet of nature, etc..

Cycling to work has also become easier and more enjoyable thanks to cycle highways and car-free town and city centres. Thanks to these improvements in mobility infrastructure, cyclists have better and safer routes for commuting and for getting around in general.

 

No traffic stress and parking anxiety

Traffic jams are a daily occurrence on Belgian roads. Drivers lose valuable time and often arrive at work all twisted up. And when they finally arrive, they still have to find a parking space. Not a good way to start the day, is it?

Finding a place to park is especially challenging for employees whose company does not own a carpark. They always have to look for a parking space nearby, which is not easy in (large) cities.

This will become even more of a problem in the future, as major Belgian cities such as Antwerp and Brussels have changed their parking laws and are working to reduce the number of street parking spaces.

Of course, you don't have to worry about any of that if you cycle to work.

 

Cycling is cheap and sustainable

Employees who have their own car have to pay for various costs themselves. Think about insurance, maintenance, fuel ... Employees with a company car usually don't have to worry about these costs.

But company car or not, cycling is always a cheaper and more sustainable alternative. 

First of all, cycling costs much less than driving a car. Second, if your employer gives you a bike allowance, you can even earn money by cycling to work. 

How much bike allowance you get depends on how often and how far you have to commute. But one thing is for sure: you will earn some extra money by cycling to work.

For example: the average bicycle allowance in Flanders is €0,27 per kilometre. 

Suppose you cycle to work twice a week - about 10 times a month - and cover 20km daily, you will earn €54 monthly.

If you cycle to work every day - about 22 times a month - you will earn €118,8 monthly. Not bad, right?

Then there's the sustainability aspect of cycling to work, which speaks for itself: you don't have any emissions, which is better for your carbon footprint, the environment and mother earth.

 

Tax benefits for employees

By the way, did you know that cycling to work can also have tax benefits, for example if you have a company leased bike?

 

You don't have to pay tax or social security contributions

If you have a company car, it is considered to be a benefit in kind, which means you have to pay tax on it. However, company bicycles that are used for commuting are not considered a benefit in kind, which means you don’t have to pay tax or social security contributions on them.

Note: If you use your company bike for private purposes only, you must pay tax and social security contributions on the benefit in kind.

 

You can lease a bike at an advantageous rate via gross salary exchange

Can you lease a company bike via gross salary exchange? Then you pay on average 40% less than if you bought the bike yourself.

Gross salary exchange allows you to lease a company bike for a fixed monthly amount of your gross salary. This avoids you having to pay a large sum all at once. 

You can also buy your bike at the end of the lease at an attractive price.

Finally, the gross salary exchange gives you a large budget for bike leasing. This makes it easier for you to choose a more expensive bike, such as a speed pedelec, which would be impossible or more difficult if you had to pay for it out of your own pocket.

 

You save fuel costs

If you have a company car but have to pay for the fuel yourself, you can also save these costs with bicycle leasing. If you use your company bike to commute more often, you will spend less on fuel each month.

 

What about employers?

Bike leasing is not only interesting for employees: it also has benefits for employers. In our other blog post, we explain what these benefits are.