OUR STORY

Founded in Finland in 2018, Vapaus Group provides bike benefit and cycle-to-work solutions that help employees commute by bike across Finland, Sweden, France and New Zealand.

Freedom on two wheels — without the hassle

Cycling isn’t just a commute. It’s more energy, better wellbeing, and a small daily win for the planet. But for most people, getting the right bike feels expensive or complicated — and for employers, running a bike scheme can feel like admin overload.

That’s what Vapaus Group exists to fix: a simple, flexible employee bike scheme that people actually want to use.
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Powered by Vapaus Group

Vapaus Group operates currently through local brands: Vapaus in the Nordics, Azfalte in France, and Northride in New Zealand.

"Vapaus" means freedom

Vapaus started in Finland in 2018 with a straightforward idea: make cycling easier to choose in everyday life — for people, organisations, and the communities they’re part of.

The name “Vapaus” means freedom in Finnish. That’s still the core: freedom to move, freedom to choose a healthier routine, and freedom from unnecessary emissions.
Founders

From Finland to Sweden to France — then New Zealand

In 2025, Vapaus Group expanded from Nordics into France by acquiring Azfalte, a French corporate cycling pioneer — and that experience now feeds directly into how we’re building Northride in 2026 in New Zealand.

We didn’t grow by writing nice brand stories. We grew by building a scheme that works in real life: low admin and costs for employers, total choice and flexibility for employees, and a seamless process for bike shops to focus on sales, not bureaucracy.

Vapaus Group

NORTHRIDE AUCKLAND 2

Why we go global?

Employers worldwide face growing pressure from employee expectations and sustainability goals. When the aim is real impact, one market is not enough.

We expand globally to accelerate healthier, more sustainable mobility, with a mission to inspire one million new cyclists over the next decade and making cycling part of everyday life worldwide.

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The Promise

More people cycling. Real impact for employers. A bike benefit experience built for everyday life.

This is Vapaus Group

Hop on the saddle with us? We’re just getting started.

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1 Million kg

less CO2-emissions thanks to decreased driving in 2025

32 000+

benefit bikes delivered since 2021

50+

employees creating a cycling-friendly world globally

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GET INSPIRED BY BIKE USER STORIES

There are thousands of active benefit bike users in 1 800+ organisations. We guarantee that not one of them will ever say that the benefit bike has changed their life for the worse.
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