In northern Europe every summer is roadworks season, a time when the mild weather welcomes the flowing asphalt to tens of thousands of roads awaiting repair.
The trouble is that those works result in a very compressed period of disruption: and the drivers aren’t happy with the long delays.
If only they knew. While they sit, stewing in their stalled vehicles, just a few metres away there will be a lane, canal path or rail trail, with people on bikes zipping along making similar journeys to the drivers, in less time and with greater enjoyment.
For the transport authorities, this is bewildering. Surely there is something they can do to change this rusted-on behaviour?
An incentive could be the answer. And the world’s best incentive right now? A discounted e-bike.
The Province of Overijssel in the Netherlands recently decided to tackle a disruption problem on a major road repair project by offering drivers a discount on an new e-bike.
They were offered €500 off the price of a new e-bike worth more than €2000, chosen from one of ten bike dealers.
These bikes could get them from origin to destination in the same time, without confronting traffic jams and humans behaving badly, and with the benefit of healthy exercise.
Did it work? Did it ever! A total of 250 discount coupons were made available and all had been snapped up in 90 minutes.
But that is not all. The dealers in the program decided to extend it to more drivers by offering their own €250 discount.
Similar schemes are blossoming. In the Arnhem-Nijmegen region, authorities are trying to get motorists on a bike to reducing the crowding on the A50, A15 and A73 motorways.
They can try out an e-bike for free for two weeks. If they then decide to buy such a bike, they will receive a €300 discount, of which €100 can be spent on the bike and €200 on accessories and/or maintenance.
Elsewhere apps are used so drivers that have switched to bikes can accumulate points for local rewards or a contribution to charities.
They can earn bonus points for cycling during peak hours and cycling regularly on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. With five trips a week, they have a chance to win a voucher of €25.
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