14 minute read
Mobility Special
SPECIAL MOBILITY
When you commute to work, do you make intentional choices about whether to drive a petrol or electric car, take public transport, or do you go by motor or kick scooter, electric or conventional bike or on your own two legs? Mobility is a much-discussed issue that we all deal with in daily life. Increasingly, organizations are urging employees to travel sustainably. At a national level, efforts are ongoing to supply everyone with the best possible transport options. In this issue, we feature some of the people and businesses active in different facets of mobility.
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This issue’s special feature spotlights various organizations involved in the latest mobility developments. Check out the following organizations and get yourself, your business partners and your colleagues up to speed on all the latest news and projects connected with mobility: BMW, TCA, SIXT, ParkBee and diverse mobility projects in Van A tot Zuidas.
To kick off this special feature, we turn our spotlight onto the Hello Zuidas team. How do they make the daily commute to and from Zuidas?
Elisa Schouten “From my home in Vinkeveen I take either my bike or car to the station in Abcoude and then catch a train to Amsterdam Zuid. At Hello Zuidas, we have the luxury of our office being right outside the station, in the WTC. Taking the train to work was always my first choice. With a car, you have to deal with parking fees, traffic jams and as a result occasionally longer journey times. Everywhere is getting busier, including Zuidas, so that makes this fifteen-minute train link ideal for me.”
Angela Ham “If we’re counting, it takes me exactly twelve minutes to get from home to Zuidas on my marvellous electric bike. It’s a lovely route along the canal locks, and the ride gives me time to clear my head. I’ve had my e-bike for three years and it suits me well, because it’s less strenuous and you arrive at work feeling relaxed. Where I worked before this, I alternated between cycling and public transport.”
Rinske Berg “My journey to work is a breeze, because I live nice and centrally in Amsterdam. That means I get to enjoy a lovely bike ride to Zuidas. Cycling is also a hobby of mine. Today, I happened to take the Noord/Zuid route because the weather was really grim. This metro service is ideal and makes getting around Amsterdam so much easier. I’m very glad that cycling and public transport are both good options for me.” Olivier Otten “Zuidas is a convenient area and is generally very walkable. However, when you’re in a hurry, bicycling works very well, too. If you ask me, nothing tops a shared bike like the Hello Bike, because while my own bike is at home in the shed, these red peddlers are always ready for me to hop on in Zuidas.”
Trevor Holtkamp “Almere has no fewer than six stations to choose from. It doesn’t really matter where you live in Almere, it’s always easy to get to your destination by rail. And with the station being a three-minute walk from my doorstep, it’s the logical choice for me; even faster than driving. From door to door, I’m in Zuidas in about half an hour, so I can’t complain.”
OR ELECTRIC”
Less than ten minutes from Zuidas, along the A10 ring road, is BMW and MINI dealer Van Poelgeest’s flagship store. With Hans Mulder at the helm as executive manager and Sander de Jong as the dealership’s ‘BMW Genius’, able to answer any queries about every detail of each individual model, Van Poelgeest is building big mobility plans for the future.
Inside its stunning 26,000 square metre premises, also housing a massive 27-bridge workshop, you can admire nearly every modelall drivetrains,including electric and hybrid. BMW and MINI. Van Poelgeest Amsterdam has them all. And that’s not all this dealership has to offer, Mulder says. “We are located very close to Zuidas and are the largest dealership in the Netherlands. Add to that the knowledge we have on-site and service we offer at our workshop: all at a standard befitting the brand and these premises.”
The power of choice BMW plans to equip all future new models it introduces with all drivetrains. This means customers can opt for a traditional diesel or petrol engine, or for hybrid or electric. De Jong calls this the power of choice: “This market is growing non-
Hans Mulder and Sander de Jong
stop. More and more people are going for a hybrid or electric engine over a conventional combustion engine.” Mulder agrees. “Nowadays most brands offer electric and hybrid cars and so ‘brand preference’ becomes key again. And then it’s great to represent BMW and MINI!”
Flexible mobility Mulder foresees an increasing use of a mix of mobility options in the future, particularly in Zuidas, where these concepts are developing faster than elsewhere in the country. “It makes a difference whether you’re driving around in the city or in outlying areas, obviously. In the latter you can still find parking most of the time, cars fit in the drive and you don’t have as many charging points. But people these days are increasingly willing to use alternative mobility such as e-bikes. We don’t want to stop that or see it as competition. Rather, they’re complimentary to cars.”
The future “There is a good reason we’re all concerned about sustainability”, De Jong continues. “We are all being confronted with the cold, hard truth of climate change, and BMW is working hard on solutions, too. Sustainability is the number one priority. Not only does a car itself need to be sustainable, so does its production.” By 2030, the BMW Group aims to reduce CO2 emissions at all locations by eighty per cent. The manufacturer has been sourcing all external power from renewable sources since 2020. This year, it’s starting the process of making its automotive plants and offices completely climate neutral, by cutting down on overall power consumption and using only renewable energy sources. Another ambition the BMW Group has set itself, is to achieve a sustainable value chain, using recycled and renewable resources, including those needed for its energy supply. CO2 emissions reduction forms another central component. More EVs coming off the production line also means more energy and material are required to build them. Additional CO2 reduction measures are therefore needed throughout the value chain. “All so customers can rest assured they’re choosing wisely when they buy a BMW or MINI”, De Jong concludes.
Van Poelgeest Amsterdam Pieter Braaijweg 12 1114 AJ Amsterdam + 31 (0)20 460 4690 www.van-poelgeest.nl
YOUR ZUIDAS PARKING PROBLEMS SOLVED,
WITH PARKBEE!
Parking is a hot topic in Zuidas, where many people are put off by steep parking rates and the endless search for a space. ParkBee comes to the rescue, with a perfect solution! This parking platform is on a mission to help motorists, property owners and local authorities optimize the use of urban space. Prompted by the shortage of available parking options and simultaneous underutilization of parking real estate at hotels, offices and elsewhere, ParkBee is currently working with more than 250 locations in the Netherlands, and plans to open its 100th in Amsterdam later this year. In Zuidas, it operates eight locations, with the latest addition just open at 2Amsterdam, offering 220 parking spaces. ParkBee stands for affordable parking, close to your destination and is completely digital, so no need for cash or tickets. Just use your own phone! The platform is also active in the United Kingdom, where its mission is the same: to free up as much street space as possible.
Off-street parking ParkBee is connected to millions of users in The Netherlands and the UK, also thanks to partnerships like ParkMobile, Yellowbrick and RingGo. “This has all kinds of advantages for drivers”, points out ParkBee’s CEO, Werner Paul Boerma. “For example, you can use the Parkmobile or Yellowbrick app to access a ParkBee location or follow the link directly in Google Maps or Waze to enter the location.
By making off-street parking in car parks available to everyone, ParkBee is improving the quality of urban life. Not only in terms of literally creating more space on the street, but also by cutting carbon emissions. In Amsterdam, offstreet parking can free up as much as four hectares, equivalent to six football pitches, in urban space.”
Greening the city Creating more sustainable cities is a huge challenge in which new approaches to mobility can make a big difference. “Further rolling out a network of EV charging technology is a key part of that, alongside promoting shared mobility”, Wouter de Bruijne, ParkBee’s commercial director, says. “We are working with partners such as Hely and the City of Amsterdam to test the use of mobility hubs. With a hundred facilities in Amsterdam, and operating on the basis of smart data and other technologies, Parkbee can play a major role in transforming urban mobility and
greening cities. Less cars in the streets mean more space for example for planting, but also for children to play.”
Unused parking locations abound in urban areas, including in Zuidas. Here, ParkBee offers parking at eight locations. People who work, live in or are visiting the area can park at these facilities for an affordable rate and within walking distance of their destination. ParkBee also offers business subscriptions for organizations of all sizes, enabling employers to guarantee parking spaces for their staff. ParkBee is seeing a notable rise in corporate demand for flexible parking solutions and options such as shareable spots. With their fully digitized parking solutions, they’re well-placed to serve this market. As well as working with a variety of partners, like real estate and hotels, ParkBee is also likely to work more with local partners and events to optimize the full funnel.
ParkBee is saving a space for you in Zuidas: • 2Amsterdam, Strawinskylaan 2501 • Hilton, Apollolaan 138 • Benjamin Brittenstraat 13 • IJsbaanpad 43 • Gelderlandplein P2, Loowaard 57 • Gelderlandplein P3, Loowaard 57 • Barbara Strozzilaan 9 • Spaces Zuidas, Barbara Strozzilaan 101
Rates in Zuidas Start from € 2,- per hour, business subscription prices from € 350,- monthly. Subscriptions are now available at our locations 2Amsterdam, Hilton, Zuidas and IJsbaanpad.
Wouter de Bruijne
More information www.parkbee.com Werner Paul Boerma
SCAN & PARK
NOW 25% DISCOUNT
Save up to € 10,- a day on parking costs in Zuidas area. Scan the QR code at the entrance of the location and use discount code: HELLOZUIDAS at the start of the payment at the end of your parking session. Only applicable at our Zuidas locations, excluding Gelderlandplein and Spaces Zuidas.
SCAN FOR MORE INFO
Parking often in Zuidas? For companies we offer flexible subscriptions for guaranteed parking space. Try our ParkBee business subscription, now 1 month for free. Contact us for the options via abonnement@parkbee.com
TCA TAXI
DEVELOPING THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND INTEGRATION
TCA Taxi is an institution in Amsterdam. When you need a taxi, TCA is probably the first cab company to come to mind. Times have been turbulent for the taxi sector lately, but TCA hasn’t been sitting idle. Director Hedy Borreman: “Technologically, we are continuing to develop. Most recently, we’ve been working on new in-cab systems that integrate everything on one tablet or mobile; soon you can even split the bill.”
As life starts returning to normal, taxi services are resuming too. TCA has seen a rise in activity, though more time is needed for them to get back to prepandemic levels. “Our challenge right now is to keep pace with advances”, Borreman stresses. “We’re working on technological developments such as advance payments for rides, QR code payment and split payments. These are all options that are being integrated to serve our customers even better.”
TCA Business Portal Many organizations are currently grappling with their mobility policies. Lease cars are on the way out and mobility budgets are taking over. Borreman: “Taxis - specifically the emission free taxis - are a good and sustainable alternative in this regard. TCA Taxi has developed a special portal for business customers that makes it easy for companies to book taxis and keep track of everything, down to adding customer and PO numbers.”
Partnerships Recently, TCA launched a partnership with Amaze. This new mobility app links all mobility options, including shared cars, scooters and bikes, taxis and public transport. “We’re part of one of the app’s shared mobilities”, Borreman explains. “If you’re going to Amsterdam Zuid station and plan to grab a shared car from there, the app lets you know that you could also take a taxi. The advantage is that you have some extra time to prep for your meeting and don’t have to go searching for a parking space.” TCA has also teamed up with SIXT. When you hire a car with a driver, TCA Taxi gets you safely to your destination.
Last but not least, Borreman adds, “If you want a sustainable option, TCA Taxi is also a good way to travel. In parallel with the Municipality of Amsterdam, we are working towards a zero-emissions fleet by 2025.”
Hedy Borreman
TCA Taxi Wisseloordplein 2 1106 MH, Amsterdam +31 (0) 20 777 77 77 www.tcataxi.nl
Van A tot Zuidas is a platform in which Green Business Club Zuidas, ORAM, Taskforce Bereikbaarheid Zuidas, Gemeente Amsterdam Zuidas, Bycs, Breikers and Hello Zuidas are working together to promote sustainable mobility to and from Zuidas.
WHAT DOES VAN A TOT ZUIDAS AIM TO DO?
Many organizations in Zuidas are involved in sustainable mobility, and even more so in mobility initiatives and solutions. Van A tot Zuidas was set up to synergize all these different access and mobility endeavours. By bringing efforts together, we want to facilitate employers and commuters, offer a clear and comprehensive overview of options, and thereby help everyone connect quickly and easily to the right mobility solutions and partners. Find them all on the website: www.vanatotzuidas.nl.
We’ve lined up the current initiatives for you
JOIN UP AND GET A MOVE ON!
E-bike try-out Green Business Club Zuidas organizes several e-bike try-outs yearly. From 1 September through the end of November 2021, employees in Zuidas can test an e-bike or speed pedelec for two weeks, free of charge and with no obligations. Where regular e-bikes have a maximum speed of about 25 km/h, speed pedelecs can reach up to 45 km/h. The only condition for participation is that e-bike use replaces car or public transport travel. Previous try-outs resulted in more than half of participants switching to e-cycling between home and work.
More info and registration: diederik@greenbusinessclub.nl Zuidas Mobility Experience After a prolonged period of working from home, travel is expected to ramp up after the summer. That makes this an ideal time to ditch old habits and explore new alternatives for commuting. Would you like some insight into how your employees travel? To find out what motivates them to opt for different mobility modalities, so you can cut down on carbon, journey costs or parking spaces, while boosting workforce vitality, distributing office occupancy, or providing greater flexibility? Sign up for the third Zuidas Mobility Experience!
As an employer, you get a picture of how your employees travel. Your people benefit with flexible journey options, for example by letting them take the train whenever they can and the car when they need to. Participants use the Amaze Mobility app. Any time they skip the car, work from home, or avoid rush hour, they’ll be rewarded with travel credit.
More info and registration: contact@zuidas.nl OV-Buddies Public transport use has taken a hit from the Covid-19 pandemic. Hello Zuidas aims to change that! OV-Buddies was set up to get people in Zuidas to encourage their colleagues to skip the car and take public transport (‘OV’) to work. As an incentive, participants are rewarded for each public transport journey they make to or from Zuidas. Using public transport reduces parking headaches and boosts business sustainability. In other words, it’s a win-win!
With OV-Buddies, committed public transport users seek out car-commuting colleagues within their organization, and they sign up as a team. Each time a teammate/ex-motorist takes public transport to work, both buddies collect points. These points can be used towards great rewards, including hotel stays or lunch at various Zuidas eateries.
More info and registration: rinske.berg@hellozuidas.com
