London-based startup PleaseCycle is trying to encourage more people to bike to work, rather than take earth-harming, fuel-based transportation. To do so, PleaseCycle is helping employers promote cycling among the employees in their organizations by offering a program that operates much like an air miles program.
Users of the PleaseCycle program accumulate points, called Bike Miles, which can then be redeemed for company perks like extra holidays, cheaper coffee, bike gear, lower insurance premiums and charitable donations, describes Wired UK. Further, PleaseCycle is trying to "game-ify" the cycling experience by encouraging employees to compete against one another. It even offers companies a special service, called a Cycle Hub, which enables them to monitor employees' cycling activity.
As founder Ry Morgan states, PleaseCycle is "essentially creating an Air Miles for bikes."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Rewards-based Biking
- Opportunity for businesses to implement rewards-based programs that promote biking to work.
- Gamification of Cycling
- Potential for businesses to use gamification strategies to encourage employees to cycle and compete against each other.
- Monitoring Cycling Activity
- Opportunity for companies to use technology to monitor employees' cycling activity and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Where This Applies
- Employee Benefits
- Potential for employee benefits companies to offer rewards-based programs that incentivize biking.
- Fitness and Wellness
- Opportunity for fitness and wellness industry to incorporate gamification features into their cycling programs and services.
- Technology and Data Analytics
- Potential for technology companies to develop monitoring systems and analytics tools to track and analyze employees' cycling activity.
