Some 900,000 people in the Netherlands don’t cycle to work even though they live relatively close by, according to research by Delft University on behalf of campaign group Coalitie Anders Reizen, which represents commuters at 70 companies and other organisations.

Some 60% of the working population do not use their bikes, even though they live within 15 kilometres of the office, the researchers told news website Nu.nl. The campaigners consider 15 kilometres a reasonable distance to cycle to and from work given the health and other benefits.

The campaign group claims that people who cycle to work are off work ill less than those who use the car and could save up to €1,200 a year on fuel.

It now wants the government to make cycling even cheaper by scrapping the tax on company bikes and increasing the 23 cents a kilometre that companies can pay in travel expenses, which applies to both bikes and cars.

“The bike-unfriendly tax regime in the Netherlands needs to change,” campaign group director Hugo Houppermans told the Parool.

“There is no difference tax-wise whether you cycle or go to work by car. There is no tax break on buying a bike for commuting any longer and people with a company bike have to pay income tax on it.”

Commuters in Limburg are most likely not to use a bike to get to work – almost seven in 10 of those living close to the office prefer a car or public transport.

In the big cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht, more people cycle to work thanks to the good cycle infrastructure, the researchers said. Rotterdam and Almere, however, have work to do to make their streets more bike-friendly.

Nevertheless, one in four Amsterdammers who live less than 7.5 kilometres from their work do not cycle either, the researchers said