“In terms of transport culture, Vilnius is comparable to the rest of Europe – here bicycles have been a very popular means of commuting for quite some time. As the infrastructure improves, we are catching up with these traditions as well. My colleagues and I find it normal and even necessary to be able to safely park our bikes and wash in a shower – I have noticed more and more people utilizing this,” says Rytis Laurinavičius, creator of Omnisend, one of the most popular tool for integrated marketing in the world, that has recently opened its office in the US.
According to him, in order to create attractive conditions for talents, the employers now have to take into account the ever growing issue of parking space shortage. In case they cannot provide enough of it, they should consider alternatives: good connections by public transport, charging stations for scooters and electric vehicles, showers and other amenities.
Linas Savickas, Director of Property Management at Darnu Group, one of the largest developer of residential, working and recreation spaces in Lithuania, also confirms that there is an increasing number of companies looking for the possibility of offering such advantages to their employees.
“Having such an infrastructure within a business centre that there would be no need to create it from scratch inside each office is an issue that CEOs who are looking for leased office space ask about very often.
Seeing the rising popularity of alternative modes of transport, in developing our business centres Park Town and Paupys we require ourselves to ensure not only convenient commuting by public transport and on foot, but also easy access for those driving various types of two-wheelers: we have set up storages for bicycles and scooters, charging stations, and showers. It is obvious that in the future developers of business centres will have to look for even more solutions of convenient and eco-friendly transportation,” Mr Savickas has told.
Edmundas Balčikonis, a well-known figure in the Lithuanian startup community and the founder of Eddy Travels, a company named as the best Lithuanian and one of the best Baltic startup this year, also agrees to this idea.
“I use everything: a bicycle, electric scooters, taxis and car sharing services. It is simply not worth having a car when you work in the city centre – driving it takes time, looking for a free parking space is tiresome and also expensive. Alternative modes of transport certainly are not short-term phenomenon because people choose them rationally, looking for more convenience, speed and value. This trend will only increase,” states Mr Balčikonis.
In his view, although the initiatives promoting the selection of eco-friendly transport underscore the environmental benefits, it should not be assumed that workers will leave their cars on cold winter mornings and walk long distances from a public transport station to their offices for the love of nature alone, without proper infrastructure.
“It should be convenient, the advantages should be rational and measurable. Including good infrastructure, offices located in the right places, and office spaces adapted to bikes and scooters. A good example could be Canada where businesses and politicians are collaborating on this issue by actively creating schemes that motivate Toronto citizens to choose public transport, giving them various benefits and privileges,” says the founder of Eddy Travels.
Mr Savickas is sure that sustainable solutions implemented by RE developers can also become an important driver in creating healthy cities.
“The research data are unbelievable: they show that people who on a daily basis travel to work by a bicycle instead of a car on average live two years longer, while those who walk on foot live seven years longer. The effect of alternative transport on the city, the health of its inhabitants, air cleanliness, and safety, is so large that the businesses that want to further promote it should do that not only to ensure great convenience for its clients, but also to improve their city in general. It is easy to notice that recently this belief is getting more and more popular in our country,” says the Darnu Group’s representative.
This week in Europe is the Sustainable Mobility Week whose theme is Safe Walking and Cycling. It promotes walking, cycling or choosing other sustainable modes of transport.
