Two Wheels, One Voice.

Encourage Bike-Commuting Employees

• It costs about $3,000 a year to own, operate and maintain a motor vehicle in Ohio.
• Employees demand higher wages and benefits to compensate for commuting costs.

Health hazards

• Exposure to traffic congestion increases heart rate, blood pressure, negative moods.
• Long, arduous commutes to work, air pollution and a sedentary lifestyle are unhealthy.
• Healthy employees are hardworking, on-time employees who take less sick time.

The bottom line

• Supporting bike commuting is less expensive than an in-office fitness facility.
• Employers who appreciate workers' personal needs have less employee turnover.
• Healthier employees can reduce health insurance costs; check with your carrier.

Better employees

• Employees will see commuting as personal time to relax instead of increasing stress.
• Fit employees are more alert, more productive, perform better and more efficiently.
• Bike commuting can be substituted for the gym, saving employees personal time.

Bike facilities

• Showers and private changing rooms are ideal.
• Arrange for shower use at a local health club for your employees.
• Hanging space or a standing wardrobe will provide ample storage for work clothes.

Parking and storage

• Indoor, secure bike parking near changing rooms on the ground floor is ideal.
• For bike parking outdoors, use bike lockers or covered bike racks.
• Bike parking should be accessible, visible and secure.

Route coordination

• Appoint a bike commuting coordinator to procure local bike route maps with Bike Miami Valley.
• Help employees plan routes to work using low-traffic but direct roads and paths.
• Encourage cyclist education among employees; educated riders are safe riders.

Financial incentives

• Partner with a local bike shop to offer employee discounts or maintenance clinics.
• Offer subsidies for bike commuters who don't use car parking spaces.
• Provide lunch for bike commuters; offer extra vacation time for daily bike commuters.

Promote it

• Form a company bicycle group to partner with the Dayton Cycling Club; increase your own exposure locally.
• Allow bike commuters to dress more casually at work; organize a lunchtime race.
• Ask the local bike shop to showcase new bike models during lunch.

Outreach

• Get local news media to cover your events.
• Encourage employees to help co-workers make the switch to bike commuting.

Copyright © 2001 League of American Bicyclists.

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