Network news
With the new school year upon us, we are forced to face up to a harsh reality: traffic jams on all the roads converging on the city and its environs. Mobility is THE problem that plagues the lives of a large proportion of the working population of the Grand Duchy, and even more so those of cross-border workers. What can be done to solve or alleviate this problem? Remote working is often suggested as a solution. It's true that the best commute is the one you don't make, but it cannot be generalised. So what's left? There are 4 main alternatives.
- Public transport
- Active mobility (cycling, walking, scootering, etc.)
- Carpooling
- Multimodal packages
IMS Luxembourg has just published a brochure about carpooling at work, which begins with a series of facts about mobility in Luxembourg. Firstly, 45% of home-to-work journeys are made by individual transport and 49% of these journeys are less than 5km. Secondly, the brochure proposes a series of practical tools for setting up carpooling within companies. It also suggests some incentives that HR could offer employees to encourage them to carpool:
- Free or cheaper parking spaces
- Fuel card or maintenance voucher
- Flexible schedules for arrival and departure
- Back-up solutions in case of problems getting home (studies have shown that the fear of not finding a solution for getting home is a powerful obstacle to carpooling).
A phase of awareness-raising and experimentation will be welcome so that everyone can try out which carpooling solutions are available. A few days' experience with Blablacar Daily convinced VISTIM: numerous carpooling options as driver or passenger were proposed for the outward and return journeys on the Esch-Luxembourg route.
For short or medium distances, cycling is often the most efficient way to go and the less sporty can choose an electric bike. On 20 September 2024, the ‘GoGo Vëlo’ operation begins, with the aim of cycling 40,075 km around the world. Don't worry, it's not an individual goal, but a collective one. For more information, visit the GoGo Vëlo website: www.gogovelo.lu.
Finally, multimodal transport should not be overlooked. Scooters and buses are compatible as well as bikes and trains. When you don't live near a station or a well-served bus line, multimodal solutions can be a winning ticket. Here too, experiments can be carried out, with the support of HR. For those who want to buy a bike or scooter, remember that the benefit in kind is fully tax-free. Each company can also give an extra helping hand to employees who want to go down this route.