Clear winter air in the face is the ultimate for skiers, but for many cyclists the season only begins when the thermometer reads more than 10 degrees again. But not for everyone: the second Friday in February is International Bike to Work Day. Two Finnish cycling activists launched the day in 2013, because: With the right equipment, there's really no reason to leave your bike in the basement between November and March.
Ronald Bankowsky, founder and Managing Director of Baron Mobility in Oldenburg, is someone who thinks about cycling in summer and winter. With mein-dienstrad.de, he has set himself the goal of getting more people on bikes. Corona and social distancing have brought him a record year. And he hopes that cycling will no longer be a seasonal business, but that people will also get on their bikes when temperatures are in the single digits.
1. you commute to work by bike every day, why?
Albert Einstein already knew that cycling gives rise to brilliant ideas. I haven't developed a new theory of relativity yet, but I think that's true. That's why I organise my appointments and routines so that I always use my company bike for journeys of up to 15 km. During the pandemic, the journey to and from work replaces my fitness subscription, which I have now cancelled. The journey time is relaxing and slows me down at the same time. And it's also fun.
2 Was there a key experience for you that led you to cycling?
Yes! In May 2012, I got back on my bike for the first time in many years. I was asked to do some research on e-bikes. The agency I was working for at the time chose me because I had been a racing cyclist in my youth. I was electrified by the e-bike and decided to turn it into a product. The startup called Leasing-Ebike became mein-dienstrad.de in 2015 and soon had almost 50 employees.
3. what type of bike do you recommend for commuting?
Depending on your personal fitness level, I would recommend an e-bike with a motor that can be switched off. The new bikes are so smooth-running that I usually cycle short distances without motor power. Trekking and city bikes with panniers on the sides for documents, a laptop or small purchases are also very popular. We don't have any big mountains to tackle in Lower Saxony, but the wind can make life difficult. That's when I use the inbuilt tailwind. In winter, stable touring bikes or downhill mountain bikes are particularly suitable. I would rather recommend racing bikes in summer or when the roads are clear.
4. what do you particularly like about cycling in winter?
The nice cool air or the crunch of the wheels in the snow. When the surroundings aren't blocked out by a windscreen, my body experiences a fitness level that can't exist in a car. Commuting can easily save 250 to 750 euros a year for a fitness centre. And the annual car costs are noticeably reduced. In sleet and heavy snowfall, however, I prefer to stay in my home office.
5. do you have a particular accessory that you don't get on your bike without between October and March?
Yes, absolutely. A scarf as a tube, like motorcyclists use. Gloves are just as important, I don't want to freeze. For longer distances, I wear ski underwear and a snowboard jacket, which keeps me warm and I still don't sweat. Of course, I also need lights so that drivers can see me clearly. My helmet has an integrated light and indicators. And I have a proper high beam on my bike so that I can see everything in the dark.
6. are there regional differences in winter commuters?
The first Winter Bike Commuter Day took place in Oulu in northern Finland in 2013, and the conditions there cannot be compared with those in this country. We haven't experienced a harsh winter in the lowlands of northern Germany for a long time. In this respect, there are hardly any reasons not to travel all year round. It snows even more frequently in the mountains, and if the cycle paths are not cleared, then even the best e-drive is of no use - it's simply too dangerous to get on your bike in the morning. That's why the bike tends to stay in the garage between December and March.
7 More and more people are cycling to work. What can be improved so that the number remains high even in winter?
We can take our cue from our neighbours in Holland and Denmark. If there are many cyclists on the road, cycling automatically becomes safer. Drivers have become accustomed to cyclists and are no longer surprised when a cyclist rides next to them. Germany is currently undergoing a transformation process. In 5-8 years, we will be able to use many new cycle paths.
8 The bike business is booming, especially in summer. Was the winter slump in business less severe due to Corona?
It's always the season for company bike leasing. We couldn't keep up in 2020. A number of customers ordered in August 2020 and delivery is only now starting in spring.
9. cyclists have 1/3 fewer sick days and are considered more relaxed. What would you advise employers to do to make commuting by bike more attractive?
Experience has shown that if the boss invests in changing rooms and sensible storage facilities for bicycles, many employees will switch to cycling. Above all, the time saved is a big plus: the journey time to work is usually faster on a company bike than by car, and there is no need to look for a parking space. If the employer pays a subsidy for a company bike, the net rate for employees is much more favourable. The great advantage for employees is that they can afford bikes that they would otherwise only have been able to dream of. Instead of paying €2,500 or €5,000 in one go, employees save taxes through company bike leasing and spread the usage fee over 36 months - without having to take out a loan themselves.
10. how do you think commuting by bike will develop in the time after Corona or in the next ten years?
The bicycle has increasingly demonstrated its potential during the pandemic, much like the web meeting. Instead of 7-8 years of social discourse and many debates, the service bike has now taken 7-8 months to change awareness in society. There are pop-up cycle paths, public administrations are now introducing the company bike and the infrastructure is finally being improved. We are actively supporting cities and employers with our own research and development department, which is involved in international cycling studies. We are getting people on bikes, and at the same time we are conducting research into the safe implementation of company bikes across the country.
Further information about mein-dienstrad.de is available at here.
