6 Reasons why this is the Year of the Lease Bike

Bike Leasing Even more Popular after COVID

13,000 new employees leased a bike from Cyclis in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2022. A key explanation for this is that employees returned to work more than during COVID times, and pump prices have risen. According to recent Cyclis customer research, 32% cycled to work last year because they wanted to save on the high costs associated with car ownership.

Cyclis also sees a rosy outlook for the bike leasing landscape in 2023. That’s why 5 additional employees will start in the coming months to continue providing excellent service to all customers.

Cyclis Expanded across the Border

Plans for a Dutch branch had existed for some time but were unfortunately delayed by all the complications surrounding the COVID pandemic. In 2022, we mainly ‘warmed up’ and thoroughly oriented ourselves to the differences between the Belgian and Dutch bike leasing markets. We gratefully made use of our Belgian clients who are also based in the Netherlands and who have again given us their trust for Dutch employees.

Country Manager Netherlands Marcel Meijer is committed to establishing Cyclis as a recognized name. Marcel has been working in transport management for many years and looks forward to a wonderful (new) initiative in the world of mobility.

Want to collaborate? Schedule an appointment with Marcel easily here

More Attractive to Cycle More

In Belgium, the tax regime for cycling allowance will improve to 27 cents per kilometer as of May. This is in stark contrast to the established general travel allowance in the Netherlands of 21 cents per kilometer. However, we see that both countries are making more efforts for better bike paths and cyclist safety in traffic. The designated 30 km zones within built-up areas are just a matter of time and will also encourage bicycle use.

The Popularity of the Speed Bike

While speed bikes made up 11% of the Cyclis bike fleet in 2022, this has already increased to 16% in January 2023. With a speed bike, you can cover greater distances and perfectly replace your (second) car with a fast bike. This way, you save on fuel costs AND actively work on your physical and mental health. Win-Win!

Professionalization of Bicycle Dealers

We also see that the bicycle market is becoming increasingly professional in both Belgium and the Netherlands. Industry-related companies and larger bike shops and chains are taking over the smaller ones, ensuring consistent good service.

A trend we’re less enthusiastic about is manufacturers selling directly to end consumers. It requires considerable technical knowledge to sell people a bike that suits them and maintain it properly. We want to help our customers in the best possible way, and that still happens more effectively through local bike dealers and repair shops.

A Lease Bike for Every Employee

Our biggest challenge for 2023 is to make everyone happy with a lease bike through their employer. While the tax policy in the Netherlands is less favorable than in Belgium, it’s still at least 35% cheaper than a private purchase in the store. As Cyclis, we also regularly lobby the government for better cycling policies.

To summarize briefly, today’s cyclists want better cycling infrastructure and a good, high-performing bike that always works. And if that bike doesn’t work due to a minor issue, they should be able to get into the dealer’s “fast lane” for on-the-spot repairs or immediately receive a replacement bike.

As we mentioned above: bicycle dealers do have large inventory. So you can quickly hop on your (lease) bike. What are you waiting for! Have a bike in mind?