Next week is Bike to Work Week, and there are so many good reasons to support and encourage your employees to bike to work – really, not just for this one week, but on an ongoing basis. It’s a safe, low impact aerobic activity that can bolster your wellness program and yield health benefits for your work force. In a difficult economic time, it can help your employees to save money and possibly earn tax credits. And switching from fuel-powered commuting to human-powered commuting is good for the environment. Oh, and did we mention that it’s fun? There are many more reasons for your employees to start biking now.
To help support Bike Month 2010 and Bike to Work Week, we’ve compiled some employer-focused resources:
The League of American Bicyclists has some excellent resources to get you started. They offer a 16-page step-by-step guide for creating a Bike Month event, including ideas specifically around biking to work. Some of these plans call for starting in February, so you may want to file this publication away for next year, but there are some creative suggestions that can be used now. As part of their “Bicycle Friendly Businesses” program, the League also provides technical assistance for employers. Also see their list of ways that employers can encourage bike-commuting employees.
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has a page of terrific practical suggestions and resources for creating a bicycle-friendly workplace. And at GreenBiz.com, Caitlin Dorsey offers Ten Ways to Make Your Business Bike-Friendly. It’s worth reading her full suggestions, but we’ve summarized her pointers here:
1. Install bicycle racks in front of your business.
2. Participate in Bike-to-Work Week.
3. Offer cyclist discounts.
4. Keep a “loaner” lock on hand.
5. Use bicycle couriers.
6. Offer safe cycling training for employees.
7. Guarantee emergency rides home.
8. Make space available inside your workplace for bicycle parking.
9. Shower facilities.
10. Cash or in-kind incentives for bicyclists.
Learn about the The Bicycle Commuter Act and ways that your employees can potentially get tax credits through the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision
Check out this map of bicycle friendly communities to see if your community is on the list.
Biker education and safety resources you can share with your employees:
How you can ride better
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
NHTSA Bicycle Safety Tips for Adults (video)
