Workshop H 4, Wednesday 21 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Bicycle to work campaigns

Ilse Urlings, researcher, health scientist, TNO Work and Employment, the Netherlands Karin Proper, researcher, human movement scientist, TNO Work and Employment Vincent Hildebrandt, researcher, physician, TNO Work and Employment Sandra Eikhout, researcher, human movement scientist, TNO Work and Employment   Cycling as an alternative means of commuting, Evaluation of a "cycle-to-your-work" campaign in the Netherlands Bike campaigns are popular, not only because of their contribution to the reduction of traffic-jams and pollution, but also because cycling to work provides a means of improving  one's daily needed physical activity. This is urgently needed: recent research showed that 60% of the Dutch adult population does not meet the current health-based guidelines of physical activity. Although environmental conditions for cyclists are relatively good in the Netherlands, most workers are using the car (or public transport) for commuting. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of a 'cycle to work'- campaign. Besides enhancing the number of workers  commuting by cycle, the aim of the campaign was to give financial aid to development countries. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect and participation of this campaign. In three Dutch companies, both participants and non-participants filled in a questionnaire at the beginning of the campaign and 6 months afterwards. It appeared that many of the workers were considered able to come to work by cycle. Eventually, the actual participation was 14%. Only 6% of them were the 'inactive' ones. It was concluded that 'cycle to work' campaigns are worthwhile, especially  when their positive effects on traffic congestion and environmental pollution is taken in to account.

Thomas Krag, International Relations Adviser, Dansk Cyklist Forbund The Danish Bicycle to Work Campaign 1999; An Efficient Combination of Lottery and Cycling The Danish Bicycle to Work campaign held in 1999 had 55,750 participants. The campaign lasted for 3 weeks in the late summer and the average distance cycled per participant was 115 km, a total of more than 6 million km. The campaign was set up as a lottery where those who carried out a certain amount of cycling could win travels, bicycles and bicycle accessories. The fee for taking part was DKK 20 (2.68 Euro). The main motivating factors were collegial relations and positive aspects about cycling, while environmental considerations had only a minor role. An evaluation shows big satisfaction and a general change from car use to cycling, also after the campaign, among the participants. It was the second time a nation wide bicycle to work campaign was carried out in Denmark. The number of participants in 1998 was 30,000.