We're curious: did you ride your bike to work today? Does your office provide safe bike parking or a shower for freshening up after your ride? Does your boss support employees who choose to pedal to work?
It's National Bike Week, and what better time to give props to the businesses that are making life good for their bike commuting employees? The League of American Bicyclists has assembled its annual Bike Friendly Business rankings, a list of companies that includes earthy crunchy cycle shops and multi-million dollar companies. They're all providing perks that encourage employees to commute on bike and support those who have already made the switch.
"In today's challenging economic climate, businesses with healthy, happy and productive employees are going to be the most competitive and the most sustainable," said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. "Bicycle Friendly Business program recognizes some of the best examples of this in practice."
Getting on the League's list isn't easy. Companies who want Bike Friendly Business cred complete a 13 page application that looks for everything from programming and prizes to bike racks and breakfast. It asks employers if they're providing their workforce on wheels with free parking and maintenance clinics. How about a healthy meal and showers for sweaty, hungry post-commute employees? And if a firm wants to make it onto the list, spending some money doesn't hurt either. Applicants are asked if they offer commuter tax credits or cash to put toward bike equipment and repair.
A lot of the companies that made the Bike Friendly Business list are exactly the types of progressive organizations you'd expect to see: small bike shops, environmental non-profits, and a handful of urban planning firms. But there are some biggies on the roster, too. They include major hospitals in Seattle and Portland, OR, a financial services firm with $119 billion in assets, a berry grower, and the maker of one of our favorite microbrews.
Here's a list of companies on the League's Bike Friendly Business master list that scored Platinum and Gold Designations:
- Bike Gallery, Portland, OR – Platinum
- New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO – Platinum
- After Planning, Design, Portland, OR – Gold
- CatEye North America, Boulder, CO – Gold
- Clif Bar & Company, San Francisco, CA – Gold
- David Baker & Partners, San Francisco, CA – Gold
- Landry's Bicycles, Natick, MA – Gold
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA – Gold
- Quality Bicycle Products, Bloomington, MN – Gold
Of course, their are times when even the most well-intentioned commuter has to hop in the car. If the path from home to workplace involves 30 miles on an interstate, biking just won't do. Lack of bike lanes and traffic calming can make cycling through the city a scary proposition, and unless your office has a shower, a 20 mile ride in the baking August sun will leave co-workers avoiding your cube for the entire day.
But the League points out that plenty of other popular excuses are just that. It reminds the time-pressed that trips of under five miles will almost always be speedier via cycle. Have errands to run after work? Bolt a rack to the back of your bike for groceries and dry cleaning. And for the commuter who says he's just too out of shape to make the trip on a bike, the League states the obvious: getting your ass out of the car and onto a bike is one good way to shed some pounds in time for beach season.
We want to know how your company stacks up to the list above. Is your boss making life easy for its bike commuters? What kind of incentives does your office provide to promote biking? Leave a comment and let us know. Your thoughts and ideas will remind bike friendly businesses that you appreciate their efforts, and might show some of the less progressive bosses out there that supporting cycling isn't as tough as they think.
Photo: Flickr/**richardmasoner
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