Research shows that only 15% of employees know whether their employer offers a lease bicycle scheme, while 67% believe that employers should play an active role in encouraging cycling. This means that many opportunities are missed to promote vitality and sustainable travel.

Although bicycle schemes have existed for years, 85% of employees are not aware of the offer. Only 1 in 5 employees actually has a bicycle through their employer. This lack of familiarity means that the car is often preferred, even for short distances.

The bicycle as a healthy and affordable choice

Yet support is high: 82% of employees see the bicycle as a way to save transport costs and 85% call it an affordable form of travel. 37% indicate that they will cycle more often if a (lease) bicycle scheme is available, and in urban areas this even rises to 48%. Employees who already lease a bicycle experience clear benefits: 89% feel fitter, 75% have more energy and 71% experience less stress.

In addition to the information gap, distance is also an important barrier. Even for journeys of up to 15 kilometers, many commuters still choose the car. 57% cite distance as the main reason for not cycling. This is precisely where the e-bike can make the difference. Yet the average price of an e-bike is €2,719, compared to €1,809 for a regular bicycle, which often prevents the purchase.

Lease bicycle scheme makes cycling more accessible

A business bicycle lease scheme makes the e-bike within reach, thanks to tax benefits and spread payments. Employees can cycle for an attractive monthly amount without having to worry about maintenance or insurance. This makes the company bicycle not only an attractive option, but also a logical choice. The lease bicycle does not fall under the work costs scheme (WKR), so the free space remains intact.

Clear agreement and tax rules

With both the lease bicycle scheme and the bicycle plan purchase scheme, it is important that the agreements are properly recorded. Therefore, a supplementary employment contract must be drawn up in both cases. This clearly describes the conditions and agreements regarding the use of the company bicycle.

In addition, the invoice for the bicycle must be placed in the name of the employer and must also be paid by the employer. With the purchase arrangement, the employee then repays the amount through a deduction from the gross salary, which can be tax advantageous. This scheme does fall within the work costs scheme (WKR). The difference between the invoice and the gross withholding is the tax benefit for the employee; this difference amount falls under the WKR.

The employer may offer both schemes as an option to his employees.

By arranging these administrative steps properly, we ensure that the bicycle scheme is applied correctly and transparently and that both employer and employee benefit optimally from the benefits.

Many employers do not yet take advantage of the benefits of a company bicycle.Tilstra Serviceshelps you set up and administratively correctly apply both leasing and purchasing arrangements. This way you make it attractive and fiscally beneficial for your employees to opt for a bicycle.

Would you like to know how this works for your organization? We are happy to think along with you and ensure that everything is properly arranged, from contracts to payroll processing. Request immediate advice viathis linkor send an email to info@tilstraservices.nl.