According to research conducted by Arval, eight out of ten Brazilian companies already offer at least one mobility alternative for their employees in addition to company cars or public transportation. This new perspective on the topic is a consequence of various recent changes in the world of work, especially with the growth of coworking spaces.
According to Daniel Moral, CEO and co-founder of Eureka Coworking, one of the leading global networks in the sector, these spaces are transforming the way people move around cities, as they have flexible operating hours and are located near subway stations, bike paths, and even workers' homes. "They are environments designed for those who want to optimize their time and reduce the stress of commuting," he says.
The executive further emphasizes that this segment is fundamental not only for boosting careers but also for companies' businesses. "Employees can organize their daily lives with peace of mind, dedicating themselves to both their personal and professional lives. This generates greater satisfaction for their employers, who, in addition to saving on transportation costs, gain in productivity," he adds.
The Importance of Bicycles: Eureka Coworking is an example of how coworking spaces impact the relationship between work and mobility, mainly by emphasizing the important role of bicycles. In addition to having locations in strategic points of the city, such as Avenida Paulista, opposite Praça do Ciclista, the company's buildings encourage coworkers to commute by bicycle, with their own decorations simulating bike lanes.
Part of this is also due to Moral being the co-creator of the Bike Tour SP, an initiative that promotes bicycle tours along different routes in the city of São Paulo. The project has already impacted more than 80,000 people and collects more than 1 ton of food per month.
“For me, the bicycle has always been synonymous with freedom, accessibility, sustainability, and well-being,” the executive emphasizes. “It’s one of the modes of transportation that best complements a dynamic lifestyle connected to the urban environment, so we will continue to encourage our coworkers to incorporate this practice into their commutes,” he adds.
The coworking space is also equipped with all the necessary infrastructure for cyclists, such as free bicycle parking. In addition, Eureka supports initiatives like Ciclocidade, Pedale-se, and Cheguei de Bike, as well as Shimano Fest, the largest event in the two-wheeled sector.
World Car-Free DayStill within Mobility Month, World Car-Free Day was celebrated on September 22nd. Therefore, Eureka Coworking promoted a special event on that day, taking 15 members to explore the city of São Paulo via the Bike Tour SP, which included a breakfast reception at the Eureka location inside the Top Center Shopping Mall, the starting point for the tour of the city.
The event also extended to the Eureka Lisbon unit in Portugal. During the European Mobility Week 2024, which took place between September 16th and 22nd, the company organized a walking tour in Lisbon for companies located in the city.
One of the main objectives of the initiative is to encourage less polluting mobility, since these cars emit a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The United Nations itself estimates that living without a car can reduce the annual carbon footprint by about 3.6 tons.
Moral further adds that these actions can contribute to other people and companies rethinking their relationship with the city. "More than just saving time lost in queues and traffic, leaving the car at home creates a more collective way of thinking, focused on the well-being of society and the environment," he concludes.
