Electric Bikes; Helping Your Business Meet Its 10:10 Targets

In the wake of the 2009 climate change conference in Copenhagen, the British Government has launched a new commitment to lowering carbon emissions. The 10:10 campaign encourages individuals and organisations to make a personal commitment to lowering their individual carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010, and offers a range of advice as to how to achieve this. However, businesses thinking of making the 10:10 pledge may wonder whether the decision has wider benefits beyond helping to combat climate change. Reducing energy consumption saves costs on fuel bills, but what other positive impacts can it have, and how can the necessary reductions be achieved without impacting on the day to day running of the business?

A simple method for lowering emissions for both employers and their staff is to address the daily commute. Transportation by car or by plane accounts for a little over 12% of the total green house emissions produced each year; with much of this travel being work related, a simple switch to more sustainable modes of transport, such as using an electric bicycle, is a simple way to lower your carbon footprint, as well as gain wider reaching benefits for both employer and staff.

Employers committed to the 10:10 campaign will find their transport emissions greatly reduced if they can encourage some of their staff to commute to work using another form of transport instead of their car. Government cycling schemes actively encourage employers to promote sustainable commuting, by offering financial benefits to staff who choose to hop on their bike, rather than drive to work. Members of Bristols cycling city campaign can help their employees save up to 50% on new bicycles and accessories, providing a very real incentive to those for whom price is a major obstacle. On top of this, studies show that a fitter, healthier workforce is generally more productive, both in terms of day to day engagement, as well as cumulative sick days.

An evidence review conducted for London Transport in 2007 found that an increase in physical activity of just one hour a week per person (easily achieved by walking or cycling to work) leads to a measurable reduction in absenteeism due to short term illness, supporting the idea that there is a clear benefit for employers who invest in alternative workplace travel plans.

So how do you encourage staff to cycle to work, especially in winter? Simple measures, such as providing suitable bike storage for cyclists can help, but one of the primary objections to cycling to work is the physical strain, especially in hilly areas, such as Bristol. With this in mind, many commuters are now turning to electric bicycles- the additional power helps combat the strain of all those inclines, at a much safer speed than on a normal bike, without having to resort to pushing it up the hill. In a congested city such as Bristol or London, electric bikes offer an exhaust free alternative to the daily commute, reducing overall pollution and improving air quality for everyone- if enough people can be encouraged to commute on their bicycles. Cycling to work allows the commuter to nip through traffic, using the dedicated cycle and bus lanes, and can be much faster than alternatives, such as public transport. Combine this with the additional cost saving benefits accrued through reduced fuel, insurance and maintenance costs associated with driving to work, and the idea of commuting on a bike becomes more widely appealing.

So why not take the 10:10 pledge yourself, and the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of our businesses, staff and cities. For further information on employer cycling schemes, the 10:10 pledges, or electric bicycles, please see: http://www.1010uk.org, or http://www.betterbybike.info/employers-gear