Get ready to cycle to work this autumn

With longer days, favourable weather, and less traffic during the holiday season, there is no better opportunity to discover the benefits of commuting by bike. 

Whether you choose to cycle every day or start with just a few trips each week, you can build confidence, establish new habits, and be ready to join fellow cyclists in promoting healthier and more sustainable travel to work.

Why is cycling to work worth it?

Cycling is a convenient, healthy, and environmentally friendly way of travelling. It helps commuters avoid the traffic congestion familiar to everyone working on campus, improves physical fitness, and reduces the cost of daily commute.

Regular physical activity has a positive effect on your well-being, helps relieve stress, improves concentration, and gives you energy throughout the day. The commute to work can become a natural part of your daily routine, without the need to take extra time to exercise.

By choosing to cycle rather than drive, we also help reduce exhaust emissions and noise in the city. Krakow’s continuously expanding network of roads and dedicated cycling infrastructure makes everyday commutes through the city safer and more convenient.

A glance at the previous edition 

Since 1 May 2026, almost 200 employees have embraced the initiative, opting to cycle to work instead of using other forms of transport.

In May and June, more than 100 people cycled to work at least once. That is a very good result, although we know that the number of people who cycle regularly is much higher. We hope that in future editions those who already choose to cycle on a daily basis but have not yet decided to register will also join the initiative.

Among our staff:

• 80 people stated that their distance to work was up to 5 km.
• 89 people ride up to 10 km.
• 26 people cycle more than 10 km to work, with eight dedicated cyclists covering over 15 km each way on a daily basis.

These figures show that with a little determination, even a greater distance need not be an obstacle. Consider whether you might be able to swap the car for a bike, even a few times a week, especially if your commute to work is relatively short.

For many participants, a bicycle is their main means of transport. Around 70% of participants used it every other day, whilst for 30% of the cyclists, it was their only means of transport for commuting to work.

The biggest challenge remains the regular recording of journeys on the dedicated website. We encourage you to log your trips regularly, as it only takes a few moments and can be done conveniently from home.

About the programme

The “Cycle to Work… and so on, round and round” programme of the City of Krakow is aimed at employees whose commute by bike is at least 3 km. 

If you combine different modes of transport, you are also eligible to participate. For example, you may travel to Krakow by train and then complete the final part of your journey by bicycle.

Participants record their journeys to and from work on a dedicated website. The process is quick and straightforward. To log a trip, simply indicate that you cycled the route.

By achieving a monthly attendance rate of at least 45%, you can receive rewards such as cinema tickets, cycling accessories and gift vouchers for shops and online retailers. The higher the attendance, the better the prizes. Participants with an attendance rate of at least 25% are also rewarded for their rides. In the previous edition, they received a useful gift: a set of bicycle lights. In turn, participants with the highest attendance can win shopping vouchers worth up to PLN 65.

To participate, please register on the Cycle to Work website.

Programme coordinators at AGH University: Marta Stąporek and Małgorzata Duda

FAQ

How do you calculate the distance between home and work?
The distance is entered once during the registration. It should correspond to your typical home-to-work commute and must not be shorter than 3 km. Updates are only made in exceptional circumstances, for example, when a person changes their place of residence or job.

Can I add my commutes from before the date of registration?
No. The system tracks attendance from the day that a user joins the programme.

How do I log my commutes?
In the ‘Calendar’ tab, click the ‘to work’ and ‘from work’ icon. You can also specify the weather conditions.

Does the website work with Garmin or Strava?
No. The organisers did not provide for integration with external systems. You must enter your commutes yourself.

Do I have to add my commutes every day?
No. They can be updated once every few days. The coordinators record the commutes from the previous week every Tuesday.