Employers encourage cycling: Swapfiets responds to growing demand for flexible mobility solutions
Amsterdam, 13 May 2025 – More and more Dutch employers are investing in sustainable and healthy forms of mobility. One reason is the national “Cycle to Work Day” on 15 May, which once again highlights the benefits of cycling for both employees and employers. Swapfiets is responding with a flexible bike subscription that is attractive both within and outside the Dutch work-related costs scheme.
According to Statistics Netherlands, a large share of the Dutch working population lives within cycling distance of work, yet often still chooses the car. This not only costs money and time, but also contributes to absenteeism and CO₂ emissions. With the right scheme, employers can effectively encourage their staff to cycle more often.
“As long as you can get into your car without thinking, park right outside the door and have your employer cover the costs, the car will quickly beat the bike - even for distances under ten kilometres,” says Ross Goorden, policy advisor for Spatial Planning & Mobility at the Dutch Cyclists’ Union. “Employers can play an important role here by making cycling more attractive and easier.”
Swapfiets for Business offers employers an accessible way to encourage cycling: one monthly invoice, four bike models including e-bikes, at-home maintenance and monthly cancellation. In addition, the subscription falls outside the WKR, which helps many organisations stay within their limited tax-free allowance.
“Employers want mobility options that suit a diverse group of employees and support a sustainable policy,” says Swapfiets. “Our flexibility is exactly what makes us a strong addition to existing lease or bike schemes.”
Since 2024, tech company Studytube has offered all employees in the Netherlands and Germany a Swapfiets subscription through a gross-net arrangement. Office Manager Sanne Buijs says: “We combine sustainable mobility with employee well-being. At the same time, we keep the administration simple.”
About Swapfiets
Swapfiets is the world’s first ‘bicycle as a service’ company. Founded 2014 in the Netherlands, the scale-up quickly developed being one of the leading micro mobility providers in Europe with 280.000 members in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Austria and UK.
The concept of Swapfiets is quite simple: For a monthly subscription fee, Swapfiets members receive a fully functional bicycle or e-mobility solution for their own use. If needed, a repair service is available within 48 hours to repair or directly swap the two-wheeler at no additional cost.
