Become a bike rider with the sustainable mobility package

What is the sustainable mobility package?

The sustainable mobility package is a scheme set up by the State and in partnership with a company to encourage the use of more eco-responsible modes of transport to travel between home and work for an employee. It is the decree of 9 May 2020 that is behind this law and governs not only its use, but also its application.

An article written by an insurance company assessed the use of the sustainable mobility package one year after it came into force and the answer is clear: the public favours bicycles. The current health context has certainly had an effect on this trend, which has encouraged everyone to favour social distancing and therefore to avoid public transport. The bicycle has therefore proved to be the most appropriate solution. Indeed, it seems that in 9 out of 10 companies the sustainable mobility package for cycling is in the majority. It should also be noted, however, that 41% of the organisations surveyed also talk about the success of new individual electric vehicles such as the electric scooter for example.

Bicycles therefore appear to be the most popular mode of transport for every journey between home and work, regardless of the sector of activity. The sustainable mobility package for cycling is therefore a perfect solution for companies that want to encourage cycling.

The features of the sustainable mobility package

While in this article we are mainly talking about the sustainable mobility package for cycling, it is worth recalling in general what this scheme is. Set up by the State in 2020, the FMD is part of the law on the orientation of mobility. Its aim is to support companies so that they can encourage their employees to use this more environmentally friendly mode of transport. To this end, the employer will cover the cost of transport between home and work up to a limit of 500 euros per year per employee. In return, the company will be entitled to a tax reduction.

Plusieurs modes de transports peuvent donc être pris en charge dans le cadre d’un FMD tels que :

- Conventional or electrically assisted bicycle

- Carpooling for drivers and passengers

- Personal mobility devices for hire or self-service (electric scooters and scooters)

- Car-sharing with electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen vehicles

- Public transport

Once a company decides to implement the sustainable mobility package, then all categories of employees are able to benefit. What's more, the SMF can be combined with the employer's contribution to the public transport pass.

There are also systems in place to facilitate the management of the MDF in a company, such as payment cards that allow employees to use this type of card to pay for expenses related to their journeys to and from work. This avoids the need to keep receipts for each expense and thus limits the administrative and accounting tasks related to the reimbursement of expenses for example.

What are the benefits for bike riders?

The use of the sustainable mobility package for cycling is really very interesting both for those who already practice velotafing and for those who wish to start. Indeed, as mentioned above, companies offer the sustainable mobility package for cycling which means that cycling is one of the modes of transport covered by the FMD.

For example, an employee whose company offers the FMD can use his or her contribution to the sustainable mobility package for cycling to buy a bicycle or even an electrically assisted bicycle. Indeed, the purchase of these two types of two-wheelers can be covered. What is more, the sum allocated by the sustainable mobility package for cycling can also be supplemented by regional or local authority aid for the purchase of an electric bike. If a region decides to allocate 500 euros to a person for the purchase of an electric bike and that person has access to the sustainable mobility package for cycling, then he or she can benefit from a total of 1000 euros for his or her purchase which is very comfortable.

The sustainable mobility package for cycling can also cover the costs of maintaining her bike.

Those who prefer to opt for a bike-sharing service or use a self-service bicycle will have the costs associated with the use of this type of bicycle or electric bicycle covered by their sustainable mobility package for the bicycle.

Beware, however, that it is important to note that the DMF replaces the mileage allowance charge. People who previously received this allowance will therefore no longer be able to receive it since the sustainable mobility package came into force.

How to benefit

To benefit from the advantages of the MDF, it is with your company that you must find out if it offers this type of coverage. Indeed, a company is not obliged to offer the sustainable mobility package to its employees, it is up to the employer to make this decision. However, as mentioned above, there are also advantages for the company in offering this type of service to its employees.

If one wishes to convince one's employer to take the plunge, one can, for example, go around one's company to find out how many employees would be interested in this type of initiative and present the project at one's company's NAO (Obligatory Annual Negotiation), since this is the ideal time to raise this type of issue with management.