A bike as a catalyst for change. It may sound symbolic, but at RMI in the Rotterdam harbor it is exactly what has been set in motion. What started as an internal initiative to encourage employees to take the bike more often has in a short time grown into a joint movement in the Botlek area. The Botlek Bike Challenge not only got employees from RMI moving, but also people who work at surrounding companies. And that is exactly the strength of the project: encouraging sustainable behavior by making it fun, accessible, and above all, by doing it together.
Cycling as a bridge between vitality and sustainability
At RMI, the theme of mobility has been present for a long time. “I was looking for something positive to bring out,” says Kasper Bout, marketing and communications advisor at RMI. “Something of value that shows that we take sustainability seriously and at the same time can involve our employees. That’s how the bike challenge was born.”
The approach was clear: not just to make kilometers, but to create awareness. Cycling as a symbol of vitality, connection, and a sense of pride. Moreover, the challenge seamlessly aligned with RMI’s sustainable policy, in which vitality, good employer practices, and social responsibility are becoming increasingly important.
Tim Klein, mobility broker at Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar (ZHB), sees this as an important step: “It’s nice to see how companies in the Botlek area combine sustainability and accessibility. Mobility is a challenge here; many locations are poorly accessible without a car. But since 59% of RMI’s employees live within a 15-kilometer radius, there’s a huge potential for cycling there.”
From internal initiative to shared challenge
What started as an internal initiative took on a much broader character this year. RMI decided to open the Botlek Bike Challenge to other companies in the area. “At first we did it only with our own people,” says Kasper. “But now almost the whole street is getting involved. That’s the best part: that it’s no longer just about us, but really becomes a joint movement.”
Together with Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, the challenge was expanded and linked to the Reiswijs app, which allowed participants to earn points and win prizes. “We want to show that sustainability doesn’t have to be something heavy or politically charged,” says Kasper. “It can also just be fun. As soon as something comes to life, people automatically get excited.”
Within four weeks, more than 5000 kilometers had been cycled together. An impressive result for an area where the car is still the norm. More important than the numbers were the stories. Employees shared their experiences and photos, and discovered that cycling is not only good for the environment, but also for themselves.
The power of stories
According to Kasper, the success of the challenge lay in that personal touch.. “. We didn’t just want to count how many people participated or how many kilometers they covered. We also asked employees to share their story: why they participated, what they encountered along the way. That yielded such beautiful reactions.”
That human side helps to make sustainability tangible. “Behavioral change is difficult,” says Kasper. “Many people still see sustainability as something that is imposed from above. We try to bring it closer, by linking it to vitality, fun and something that is shared.‘
At RMI, the bike challenge complements a broader vitality program, complete with a ‘vitalization dice’ that encourages employees to adopt small, healthy habits. “It seems like something small,” says Kasper, “but it makes people think about their behavior in a positive way. And that’s where it starts.”
"Next year we want to further expand the initiative with new parties."
Stronger together: companies in the Botlek as an example
For South Holland Accessible, the Botlek Bike Challenge is an example of how collaboration between companies can lead to structural change.. “The RMI initiative fits perfectly into our approach,” explains Tim. “We support companies with advice, tools, and information to influence behavior. But the best part is when companies take the lead themselves, as has happened here.”
That collective effort is not only important for the employees involved, but also for the region. “By working together, you create scale and visibility,” says Tim. “This lowers the threshold for other companies to join in. And the more parties that participate, the greater the impact on accessibility and livability in the port.”
RMI sees this too: “The challenge is actually a bridge,” says Kasper. “A way to make sustainability and mobility more accessible. We have now laid the foundation that we want to build upon next year. Then we’ll pick up where we left off, with more partners, more people, and hopefully even more stories.”
Looking ahead: from cycling to broader collaboration
The collaboration between RMI and Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar will continue in the coming time. While the bicycle challenge primarily focused on awareness and vitality, the focus will now be on further greening of mobility in the port, from traveling together to collective transportation.
“The bike challenge shows that change can come from something simple,” Tim decides. “If companies can find each other and employees experience that sustainability also brings benefits, you’re setting in motion something that is much bigger than a few thousand kilometers.”
Or as Kasper puts it: “It’s not about winning, but about moving forward, literally and figuratively.”
