In recent years, employers have increasingly offered a company bicycle. The bureaucratic hurdles have fallen, but there is still a lot of potential. The “Krone” spoke with the Austrian JobRad boss Edwin de Jong.
Temperatures are finally rising to a comfortable level. All the more bitter when you waste precious time in the car or even in traffic jams on your way to work and home. 900,000 car commuters in Austria commute less than ten kilometres.
And it is precisely with this target group that the concept of a company bicycle instead of a company car comes into play. The scene has been thriving with our German neighbors since it was ‘invented’ in 2008, and there are already millions of people on company leased bikes.
Lighting for parking lots and traffic junctions
In Austria, only a tax reform in 2020 has dropped the bureaucratic hurdles. Since then, the company bicycle benefit has been tax-free. And so companies can offer their employees leasing offers (36 or 48 months) for bicycles. Those that are financially lucrative provide savings of 30 to 40 percent compared to direct purchase through tax benefits. Edwin de Jong is a real expert in the field of company bicycles. The Dutchman is the Austrian boss of the company JobRad. noun is omen. And according to De Jong, the popularity is enormous, especially now that the perfect cycling weather beckons.
“It’s amazing how many companies are reaching out and showing interest. We’re currently in talks with several hundred.” B. the Aldi Süd Holding or TÜV-Austria Group, in Germany including Bosch, SAP and Deutsche Bahn. But: “The potential in Austria is far from exhausted. We’re almost at the beginning. However, one thing I can say for sure: Austria is a country that is super enthusiastic about cycling!” The concept is not only worthwhile for the increasing number of suppliers of company bicycles. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved,” says de Jong.
For companies, the possibility of company bicycles is a plus to attract and retain employees. In addition, the ecological footprint is significantly reduced, so that image benefits are collected. The benefits for the employees are obvious: considerable savings when purchasing a bicycle (the costs are deducted from the salary), more fitness, better quality of life. Other winners: environment and society. If only the 900,000 car commuters with a commute of less than ten kilometers changed, this would save 223,000 tons of CO2 annually and generate 463 million euros in economic health benefits. And it would certainly also relieve traffic junctions such as the Tangente in Vienna and clear out many company parking spaces.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
