ReportCampaign / Activity

BikeBusters: Decision-Makers on Bikes! Pilot Results and Lessons Learned

Timo Perälä, Pekka Tahkola · 2019

Summary

BikeBusters: Decision-Makers on Bikes! was an innovative behaviour change and advocacy campaign developed by the Winter Cycling Federation (WCF) in Finland. The initiative aimed to influence municipal decision-making on cycling and active mobility by giving political leaders and senior officials first-hand experience of the benefits, opportunities and practical challenges of everyday cycling. The campaign was developed as part of Sitra's Maapalloliiga challenge. Its central idea was that decision-makers who personally experience the benefits of active mobility, and the barriers that prevent people from cycling, may become better informed and more committed advocates for improvements in cycling infrastructure, maintenance and local transport policy. The initial pilot was implemented in the Oulu region during autumn and winter 2018–2019, involving eight decision-makers from Oulu and Kempele. Two additional participants joined from Kuopio as the initiative expanded. The approximately 3.5-month programme combined individual physical activity plans, initial and final fitness assessments, practical cycling challenges, group events, peer support and personalised communication. The campaign used digital tools, including Strava, WhatsApp and Oura rings, to support participation, monitor activity and strengthen relationships between participants. Personal health and wellbeing benefits proved particularly important in motivating decision-makers to join, while challenges from colleagues and peer-to-peer encouragement helped overcome initial recruitment barriers. According to the pilot evaluation, participants reported positive changes in wellbeing, physical fitness and everyday activity. Six of the eight original participants experienced substantial personal benefits, while the report also describes improvements in aerobic fitness and participants' intentions to continue cycling more frequently. Beyond individual behaviour, the initiative sought to influence wider political and organisational processes. Early outcomes included discussions and initiatives concerning bicycle parking, regional mountain biking routes and cycling promotion. The report emphasises that longer-term impacts on municipal decisions, budgets and infrastructure investment would require further follow-up. The publication documents the campaign's objectives, implementation process, participant experiences, practical lessons and plans for scaling the model to other municipalities. It highlights the importance of experiential learning, peer networks, personal motivation and targeted communication in engaging decision-makers. BikeBusters offers a distinctive example of mobility management aimed not only at changing residents' travel behaviour, but also at strengthening political understanding and leadership for year-round active mobility.

Summary in original language (Finnish)

Winter Cycling Federationin BikeBusters-kampanjan loppuraportti. Kampanjassa haastettiin kuntien päättäjiä lisäämään arkiliikuntaa ja pyöräilyä omassa elämässään. Oulun seudulla toteutettu pilotti yhdisti henkilökohtaiset liikuntaohjelmat, terveyskuntotestit, vertaistuen, yhteiset tapahtumat ja viestinnän. Raportti käsittelee osallistujien kokemuksia, hyvinvointivaikutuksia, ensimmäisiä päätöksentekoon liittyviä aloitteita sekä kampanjamallin kehittämistä ja laajentamista.

Topics

Behaviour & Mobility Management Communication & Engagement

Target audience

Politicians Policy makers

Mode

Conditions

Population group

Trip purpose