Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has announced plans to increase the number of its employees who cycle to work.
The airport employs more than 66,000 people, around 4,000 of whom cycle to work, and has become one of State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven’s latest cycling ambassadors. As an ambassador, Schiphol has teamed up with partners BAM, Microsoft and OrangeNXT to develop the ‘goinGDutch’ cycling program.
“Bicycles and e-bikes are a very attractive mode of transport for employees who live within 25km [15 miles] of Schiphol. It’s a sustainable means of commuting, it helps maintain your vitality, and it helps ease traffic on other access roads into Schiphol,” said Miriam Hoekstra-van der Deen, director of airport operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Schiphol aims to increase the number of employees who cycle to work on a regular basis to 7,000 by the end of 2020 and to 10,000 by the end of 2024.
The goinGDutch program includes specific plans to encourage cycling to and around the airport. These focus on infrastructure, bicycle facilities and cycling behavior. Schiphol and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management are investing in widening the cycle superhighways between Hoofddorp, Schiphol and Amsterdam.
Intersections will be made safer and bicycle facilities, including parking facilities and charging points, will be expanded. Once this work is complete, Schiphol will take a proactive approach to encourage employees to cycle, for instance by making it financially appealing.
“Proper routes and facilities for people who cycle to the airport will make a great contribution to airport accessibility, as well as lowering costs and improving the well-being of the cyclists themselves. What’s more, every cyclist does his or her bit to lighten the load on Schiphol’s access roads. There’s also considerable potential as regards the many passengers who travel to and from Schiphol every day, especially those who fly often and travel light,” said van Veldhoven.
