Shifting gears on National Bike Month: three employers that got it right

For nearly 60 years, employers have encouraged their workforce to strap on helmets, saddle their bikes, and cruise into work on two wheels during National Bike Month and National Bike to Work Week. Private and public sector employers alike feature incentives like office parties and even financial incentives to encourage their teams to give it a go; other employers encourage bike use year round. While there are many models, old and new, to successful employee participation, we found three innovative outliers that “got it right” this National Bike Month.

The super saver

2014 metrics from www.organicgrown.com

Organically Grown Company, an Oregon-based wholesale organic food distributor not only encourages employees to bike to work, but also bike while at work.

• The company uses cargo tricycles to deliver produce to customers in the City of Portland.
• Organically Grown reimburses employees who take any non-solo-driving options to work, including a reimbursement of 20 cents per mile for biking.
• All employees undergo sustainability training that supports triple bottom line benefits (people, profit, and planet).
• Organically Grown Company treats every day like a bike to work day by incorporating sustainable commute and delivery practices into their business model.

The culture shifter

Seattle Children’s

Seattle Children’s Hospital is aiming for 10 percent of its workforce to bike to work by 2030, and they’re already hit 80 percent of that goal.

• The hospital is one of the few workplaces in the nation that boasts an on-site bike workshop, where employees can get flats fixed for free and purchase discounted bike gear and services.
• Seattle Children’s has invested in the bike trail that runs by the hospital, further encouraging their employees to pedal to work.
• The hospital was one of the first companies to step up and invest in a city bike share station on their campus.
• Through a comprehensive Transportation Management Plan, Seattle Children’s Hospital is projecting less than 1 of 3 employees will drive to work alone by year 2030.

The Ivy League

Harvard University did their part this year, encouraging their employees to log their miles and help the university to win the statewide Bike Week competition during Bay State Bike Week.

www.transportation.harvard.edu

• Harvard’s Commuter Choice program hosts a celebratory “Bike to Work” breakfast on campus with free entry for those brandishing their helmets.
• The university organized a team to participate in Boston’s “Bike Fridays” events at City Hall— a series of miniature national Bike to Work festivals throughout the year, encouraging more frequent and long-term bicycle ridership.
• Biking at Harvard makes “cents” for staff and employees, as they are encouraged to take advantage of the federal tax-free benefit of reimbursement up to $20/month at a maximum of $240/year for the costs associated with bicycle purchase, improvement, repair and storage.
• Harvard maintains a comprehensive online resource for bike commuters that includes bike racks and route locations, campus police bike registration, safety and repair station locations on campus, departmental bike share program information, and city bike share stations on campus.

Are you interested in exploring what your employer can do next year and throughout the year to increase bike ridership? Contact us to set up a members-only audit of activities and programs.