Beat commuter stress: choose the bike

1 in 6 employees experiences commuter stress every week. Exhausting traffic jams, impatient drivers, unpredictable arrival times ... It all weighs on morale, workplace atmosphere and productivity. As an HR or Mobility Manager, you sometimes feel powerless. Fixing Belgium's structural traffic problem isn't your job. But your colleagues' happiness at work is. In this interview, Jan Vanhee, Business Developer at online bike shop UBike, shares how to get employees arriving at work with a smile.

1 in 6 employees experiences commuter stress weekly. 12% even daily. Do you recognise this from the companies you work with?

"Absolutely. We regularly hear from HR Managers that employees arrive at work stressed and exhausted from sitting in traffic. When that's how you start your day, it takes a real toll on the atmosphere and productivity."

Jan continues: "Belgium has a serious commuting problem. We live relatively far from work, traffic jams are structural, and public transport doesn't cover everything. As a result, a lot of people are stuck in traffic every day, a situation they have no control over. That's frustrating and stressful."

What's the solution for companies?

"Traffic is unpredictable. You almost never know exactly when you'll arrive. To solve that uncertainty, we look for alternatives to the car. On a bike, you can time your journey perfectly. Trust me: you arrive without stress, and you've moved your body. That contributes to your physical and mental health."

Cycling to work keeps you healthy and happy, but it also contributes to…

• A greener planet and your company's climate targets: it reduces your CO₂ emissions.
• Lower car and parking costs: money goes towards 100% tax-deductible cycling infrastructure rather than more parking spaces.
• A positive employer brand: unique benefits help you stand out in the war for talent.

What stops people from cycling to work?

Jan identifies three reasons:

• Too great a distance
• Bad weather
• Not having a good bike

He has a solution for each.

"With an e-bike or speed pedelec, long distances are easy. We ran a project at a company in Leuven where we made several speed pedelecs available. Half of the users replaced car journeys with speed pedelec rides, even for distances over 15 km. And notably: people who already cycled switched to the speed pedelec too. Speed is the real game-changer."

And for bad weather? "With a good rain jacket, you can handle anything."

"What's more, you can buy a suitable bike with your mobility budget. That's exactly where UBike and Olympus Mobility make a difference together. The option to buy a bike directly with your budget, without submitting a reimbursement request, is unique in the market."

"The Olympus app also makes it easy to combine different modes of transport. That's ideal for beginners. They cover the longest stretch by train or bus and do the last few kilometres by bike. They build up gradually and quickly find out whether it works for them. Experienced cyclists also benefit. The mobility app offers plenty of alternatives when needed."

​Why is UBike now partnering with Olympus Mobility?

"We combine a fully digital approach via Olympus Mobility with UBike's always-available service. Employees and employers handle the bike purchase and everything around it online via the Olympus Mobility app or admin portal. UBike then comes to you on-site (at home or at the office) for delivery and maintenance. It's a very powerful combination."

"The ultimate goal is actually very simple: we want employees to travel in the way that suits them best, and that makes them happy."

How does UBike's service work?

"It's straightforward. As an employee, you go to the UBike online bike shop and choose your bike. We deliver it to your home or workplace. Need to book maintenance or repairs? You schedule that online too. We come to you. Via the connection with Olympus Mobility, you can also pay for your bike directly with your mobility budget. No need to pay upfront. The invoice flows automatically to your employer."

"And for employers, it's even simpler: one click in the Olympus admin portal and the option is activated for your employees in the Olympus app. From there, invoices flow through automatically. No receipts to process, no coordination needed. Zero admin burden. But perhaps even more importantly: you expand your mobility offering without any extra work."

How do you combine cycling with other transport options for a realistic mobility policy?

The idea that a company car is the standard solution for everyone is outdated. Employees live at different distances, have different schedules, different needs. A smart mobility policy responds to that.

"Help your employees figure out which parts of their route cause delays, or do it together. Where's the traffic jam? That's exactly the stretch you can replace with another mode of transport. A train for the longer section, a bike for the first or last leg. Suddenly, a 30 km commute becomes very manageable."

"The bike is the ideal link between different modes of transport. From home to the station, from the station to the office. The bike bridges that last mile in a way no other solution can. Fast, flexible, no parking stress."

Beginners can easily check their route via Google Maps or the De Lijn or NMBS apps to see which car journey they can replace. The mobility planner in the Olympus app can also help. There's also a cycle highway map showing how well Belgium's cycling network is developed.

That's exactly what the UBike and Olympus Mobility partnership makes concrete: employees can combine different transport options in one app, including the bike.

What would you recommend to an HR or Mobility Manager who wants to promote cycling but doesn't know where to start?

"Just start. You don't need a perfectly worked-out mobility policy on day one. A cycling plan is the ideal first step. Quick to set up, tax-efficient for both employer and employee, and employees respond to it with enthusiasm. You build momentum straight away, without overhauling your entire mobility approach. Build from there."

How can HR and Mobility Managers encourage employees to cycle?

"Start with infrastructure. It sounds obvious, but it's the first real barrier. A safe, covered bike storage area isn't a luxury. It's a prerequisite. And the good news: investments in cycling infrastructure are tax-deductible."

Jan adds: "Make cycling financially accessible. Give employees the option to buy a bike with their mobility budget, for example via Olympus Mobility and UBike."

But infrastructure and financial support alone aren't enough. It also helps to make cycling visible within your company. Organise after-work rides, set up an internal cycling club, or provide cycling kit with your company logo. People who cycle bring others along.

Jan shares one more tip: reward those who already cycle.

"It doesn't have to be grand: a winter breakfast for cyclists on a grey morning or a smoothie on arrival in summer. Small gestures like that can have a big impact."

"But the most important tip of all? Get in the saddle yourself. Lead by example as an HR Manager or member of the leadership team. That's the most powerful signal you can send. Seeing is believing."