Archive for the 'Bicycle Friendly Business' Category

After the Nobel Peace Prize, the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business designation is one of world’s most sought-after commendations.

Clearly, allowing all staff to ride to work if they want to is an important step. Last week, President Barack Obama said his new Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, “probably isn’t allowed” to continue commuting to work on his bike. With your help, we’ve collected dozens of great reasons to #letdenisride. But with a health-conscious Commander in Chief in the Oval Office, we couldn’t help but dream of the day that President Obama adds a BFB award next to that Nobel Peace prize.

Here are a few more ideas to help the White House join the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency as a League Bicycle Friendly Business.

1) Secure bike parking is great way to encourage riding. BFBs often find that bike racks in prominent locations are a great way to start a conversation about their commitment to bicycling.

2) Convenient shower access is a great way to make bike commuting easier on both commuters and their co-workers.

3) We consider the ways businesses encourage cycling when deciding on BFB awards. We’re always impressed when workplaces print up custom cycling jerseys for their key staff.

4) While biking isn’t always going to be the best choice for a particular trip, the top BFBs make it possible to combine biking with other forms of transport.

5) Even with everything they do to promote cycling throughout the year, Bicycle Friendly Businesses always find a way to step it up on Bike to Work Day.

The first step is easy, Mr. President. Click here to download the BFB scorecard. #letdenisride and build a bike lane to the 21st century!

Thanks to my Photoshop genius colleague Katie Omberg and Primal for their help envisioning a Bicycle Friendly White House.

Scott Williams
League Director of Membership

Williams joined the League in April 2010. For the four years prior, he worked providing technology consulting and solutions to nonprofit organizations with Community IT Innovators.

Do you ride a bike, work with cyclists, or have a knack for solving bike issues in your community?

Well, we need your insight on the local biking landscape — become a Bicycle Friendly America Local Reviewer!

The final Spring 2013 applications for the Bicycle Friendly Community, Business and University programs are being submitted and soon we’ll begin our bi-annual review of those applications. As always, we’re reaching out to local reviewers to share their on-the-ground perspective of the applications submitted from their area.

As a local reviewer, you may receive applications from communities, businesses and universities and will have two to three weeks to complete your review. Of course, all local reviewers will remain strictly anonymous to allow for candid feedback.

Your feedback will have a direct impact: It will be integrated into the official recommendations each applicant receives at the end of the process. And don’t worry: We’ll give you all the tips and training your need to provide valuable feedback. Mark your calendar for our local reviewer training webinar on February 20 at 3 p.m. EST, which will explain the review process in more detail. Stay tuned for more information on the webinar.

If you would like to become a Bicycle Friendly America local reviewer, please sign-up here. Questions? Contact bfa@bikeleague.org.

Nicole Wynands
Program Manager, Bicycle Friendly Community & Bicycle Friendly State

Ms. Wynands joined the League in July 2011 after working for two years at the World Bank. In 2007, she was a member of the team that organized the world bicycling conference Velo-city in Munich as part of an internship with one of the leading bicycle transport planning firms in Germany. She holds a BA in Political Management from the University of Applied Sciences Bremen and a MA in Community Planning from the University of Maryland.

Are you part of a business that like bikes? If your company supports cycling, get your Bicycle Friendly Business application in now! The next BFB deadline is TOMORROW, January 11 at midnight PST — so don’t delay.

Facebook employees “Like” bikes!

The application is quick, online and recognizes the many simple ways a business can support bicycling: providing showers at work, offering secure bike parking, celebrating Bike to Work Day, supporting a bike club and more.

Why apply in this round? The next round of awards will be announced in April, so this could be a great addition to your Bike Month celebrations. Plus, in addition to getting helpful feedback from League staff and have your company listed on our website, you’ll also be plugged into a network of nearly 500 BFBs throughout the country, including Facebook, Apple, Burton Snowboards, Hewlett-Packard Company, Williams-Sonoma, National Geographic Society and many more.

And did we mention the best part? It’s free!

Find out more about the program and how your business can benefit from applying. Click here to apply now and make your business a Bicycle Friendly Business.

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

This March, we’ll celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Bicycle Friendly American program. But 2012 marked a key moment in BFA history, too.

For the first decade, the BFC program ranked communities at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. But, because of the tremendous progress, innovation and enthusiasm from communities nationwide, we realized it was time to set the bar higher. In September, we launched our effort to help communities become world-class cycling cities, moving beyond platinum to our new Diamond designation.

Portland is one of three cities pursuing Diamond BFC status

But Diamond wasn’t the only shining achievement for the BFC program in 2012. Kicking off Bike to Work Week, we announced the largest round of BFCs in the program’s history, including two new Gold-level BFCs in Durango, Colo., and Missoula, Mont. With the second round of awards in October, major urban centers — including Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville — earned a spot among the bicycle-friendly ranks. And that’s significant: Two-thirds of America’s largest cities are now BFCs.

The Bicycle Friendly Business program also had an impressive year. In April, with the announcement of 67 new BFBs, the program hit a major benchmark: More than 500,000 Americans now work at a Bicycle Friendly Business. And, in October, a handful of the most iconic U.S. companies pushed the number of BFBs to nearly 500, with Hewlett Packard, Apple and Facebook proving they “Like” bikes!

Facebook is now a BFB!

The Bicycle Friendly University program continued to grow in 2012, too, welcoming prestigious institutions like Duke, Yale and Princeton. Taking a page from the classroom, the Bicycle Friendly States program debuted Report Cards and new maps highlighting where states are making the grade — and needing improvement.

So what’s in store for 2013? A partnership with the Alliance for Biking & Walking on the BFS program, a new multi-location BFB application process, and more. Stay tuned!

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

Healthy employees, lower healthcare costs, decreased absenteeism, and more productivity — these are the hallmarks of a company that embraces bicycling. So it’s makes good business sense that more and more companies, large and small, are supporting cyclists in the workplace.

Just two weeks ago, we released an impressive list of new Bicycle Friendly Businesses from Apple, Inc. and Facebook, to Burton Snowboards and Hottman Law Office. It was on the momentum of that announcement that I traveled to Hollywood, Fla., to attend the Employer Healthcare and Benefits Congress.

Standing in front of the backdrop “Bicycling Means Business” (pictured) I spoke to hundreds of the attendees about the great benefits of biking and how the League’s free Bicycle Friendly Business program can change the health and wellness of any workplace. At the conference, there were so many companies exhibiting software to manage employees’ fitness; services to install and manage workout centers; exercise tracking systems and weight-loss programs — all of which mean purchasing a potentially costly service or complex system.

I quickly realized I probably had the easiest job there: Selling the knowledge of how an employer can support bicycling in his or her workplace. After all, bicycling is free and fun and our program isn’t complicated.

I also got to make one attendee very happy by handing her a free Trek bike that she won through our raffle. Johnnie Bratrude, an employee of PCC Natrual Markets, was eager to get home to Seattle to start riding. “I live on a lake with a bike trail around it so I’m looking forward to clocking many miles here,” she told me. “My husband has even gotten in on the action by installing panniers so I can go grocery shopping at PCC. Thank you so much!”

Apply on-line and see how your business is encouraging and supporting bicycling in the workplace. You’ll receive free feedback and might just win an award!

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

Last week we announced the latest round of Bicycle Friendly Businesses and RDG Planning & Design was on the list of more than 70 award recipients nationwide.

The Omaha-based company has been on the list since 2009, but their recent work has boosted them from the Silver to Gold level. How have they done it? Passion, persistence, and dedication to making their workplace better for bicyclists — in a number of ways.

I had a chance to talk with Cory Scott, RDG City Planner; Stuart Shell, RDG Architect and Sustainability Committee member; and Brian Spencer, leader of the Healthy Lifestyle Learning Community to discuss their recent success in the BFB program.

So why is bicycling important to RDG Planning & Design?

Shell: Everything at RDG starts with our employees and the community. We want to create a healthy culture in our workplace where folks feel empowered to be stewards of their health and their environment. RDG strives to give employees multiple options in commuting to work, whether by bike, foot, public transit, or by car. It’s important to us to provide support for those options equally.

Spencer: We are trying to be a collection of very healthy people, not only physically but emotionally and mentally, so that we can be better employees, community members, spouses, mentors, and contributors. Balance is important.

How has the BFB program helped improve RDG for bicyclists?

Scott: We love the BFB program for many reasons:

• It allows us to benchmark how we’re doing compared to other companies like us.
• It gives us a roadmap to support bicycling in the workplace.
• It gives us a third party perspective on how we can improve.
• It provides tangible feedback to put before management and respond to.

Shell: The program provided specific comments on how we could improve — it was expertise that we didn’t have here. The application and feedback were precisely the tools we needed to get action on improving things here. The League helped us identify where we needed to focus.

What were some key things about the BFB program that you think every business should know?

Spencer: The feedback definitely! You make suggestions that we never thought about.

Shell: The four award levels encourage progress and reward our efforts to improve. It also adds a competitive element for us to achieve greater success.

How does it benefit RDG to be involved in local bike advocacy?

Scott: At RDG, we want to be change agents in the community. It is very satisfying as a professional to have a positive effect on our community and other communities. Our work encourages local participation and being involved in local bike advocacy gives us another way of achieving that.

Learn more about the BFB program and see the full list at bikeleague.org/businesses

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

What do Facebook, Angie’s List and General Mills have in common? As of this morning, they’re all Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs)!

Today, the League recognized 71 new BFBs for their role in pedaling America toward greater prosperity and making their businesses welcoming to bicyclists. Headlined by iconic companies — like Facebook, Apple, Inc., and the Hewlett-Packard Company — this round of awards pushes the total number of BFBs to nearly 500 businesses in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Facebook employees “Like” bikes!

“Businesses are the engine of our economy, but more and more companies are realizing the bicycle can be a powerful catalyst for increased profits, reduced health care costs, happier employees and more customers,” says League President, Andy Clarke. “We’re excited to see the most innovative minds in technology, retail, and manufacturing voting for a more bicycle-friendly America and making significant contributions to our economic growth by promoting healthy, sustainable transportation.”

Bicycle-friendly businesses encourage a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere for employees and customers alike. Through cost-effective investments, BFBs attract, reward and retain staff that are not only healthier and happier, but more productive, driven and passionate about the work they do and the communities they live in.

Award winners in this round include:

• Facebook (Gold)
• Apple, Inc. (Silver)
• Burton Snowboards (Silver)
• Hewlett-Packard Company (Silver)
• Amway (Bronze)
• Angie’s List (Bronze)
• General Mills (Bronze)
• William-Sonoma Inc. (Bronze)

Click here for the list of Fall 2012 awards.

Click here for the full list of all Bicycle Friendly Businesses.

Facebook, a new Gold-level BFB, is just one of the growing number of household names that has taken steps to encourage bicycling as a means to enhance the workplace, contribute to the community and improve their overall earnings.

“We’re honored to receive this award from the League of American Bicyclists,” says Jessica Herrera, Facebook’s Transportation Manager. “Over the years, we’ve focused on providing sustainable, green transportation alternatives to our employees. as well as helping our local neighborhood do the same. These efforts have included providing bicycles to our employees to use on or off campus, helping to re-stripe the roads around our neighborhood for the safety of cyclists in the area, and offering bicycle repairs onsite. Our employees are enthusiastic about these efforts, many choosing to cycle to work each day and others participating in events such as Bike to Work Day. We’re proud to support these initiatives and look forward to more opportunities to help in the future.”

Learn more at bikeleague.org/businesses.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

All eyes were on the economy in 2009 when the League released its report on The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments. In the three years since there’s been a steady stream of research confirming the positive impact bicycling has on business districts, jobs, and household savings. To capture this growing body of evidence, Darren Flusche, League Policy Director, has updated the report with a wealth of new data and information.

Click here to download the map and here to read the full report.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

Here at the League, we like to practice what we preach. So a couple of weeks ago, we sat down with the scorecard for the Bicycle Friendly Business program — and rated ourselves.

Safe and convenient bike parking? Check. Incentives to ride to work? Check. Bicycle education materials available? Check. Aside from on-site showers, we were ticking off most of the boxes. But one important thing was long overdue: A group ride.

Yesterday, we happily checked that box. We left the office at 10:30 a.m. and pedaled down a protected cycletrack on 15th Street, cruised along the National Mall, caught up with the Anacostia River Trail and meandered through Capitol Hill before arriving at our lunch destination. Enjoying the gorgeous weather, we talked and laughed — and, yes, took a couple of wrong turns. But after 13 miles of riding (all logged for the National Bike Challenge!) we returned to our desks energized and reinvigorated. Nothing like a group ride to boost morale and keep us all fired up after another successful Bike Month!

Is your business bicycle friendly? Or interested in becoming bicycle friendly? The BFB program can help! Already, more than 400 businesses across the nation have been awarded Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinus status. Applications for the next round of awards is coming up on June 22. Learn more and apply here.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

By Lindsay Plante, BFA Communications Intern

Last week, American Family Insurance in Madison, Wisconsin and AstraZeneca in Wilmington, Delaware, were among the 67 new companies added to the ranks of more than 400 Bicycle Friendly Businesses nationwide. While they both earned a Bronze designation, the two companies operate in different areas of the country and deal with different challenges in becoming bike-friendly. But employee feedback proves that biking to work has nationwide appeal.

For employees at both businesses, fitness was the main goal when they started biking to work. An American Family Insurance employee noted that, while commuting to work was a weight-loss strategy, cycling now remains a regular part of an overall healthy lifestyle. AstraZeneca employees pointed out that, with such busy schedules, it’s a great time-saver to both commute and exercise simultaneously. Other motivations for commuting by bicycle included savings on gas and environment responsibility.

Though bicycle commuting does require some investment and commitment (maintaining equipment and being aware of road safety), employees at each business believe that commuting by bicycle is doable in their area. They also feel that if other local businesses promote the benefits of cycling, from fitness to savings, and provide adequate facilities for their cyclists, they too can achieve the League’s bike-friendly designation.

AstraZeneca goes above and beyond to make cycling achievable for their employees by offering flexible hours and on-site shower and locker room facilities, while American Family Insurance also offers bike paths and a supportive environment for any employee bicycling to work.

Click here to read the cycling stories from four employees at Rockwell Collins, which received a Bronze BFB designation last week, too.

With annual sales of nearly $5 billion and 20,000 employees worldwide, Rockwell Collins is among the top manufacturers of aviation electronics and communication systems globally. But, at their Cedar Rapids, Iowa, headquarters, the Fortune 500 company has its wheels firmly on the ground, making bicycling an appealing and efficient option for its 9,000 local employees.

This week, Rockwell Collins was awarded a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Business designation and we wanted to hear from some of the folks who have capitalized on the company’s improvements and made a commitment to bike to work. Why do they ride? How have they benefited? What company facilities and encouragement have proved most helpful? Read on for the insight of four Rockwell employees — and cyclists.

Why did you start commuting to work by bicycle?

Nikki- Rockwell Collins had a number of employees who biked to work on occasion. In 2008, during the flood and the very high gas prices, a concerted effort was launched to focus on biking initiatives. A few like-minded people gathered, sought and gained executive sponsorship, and promoted biking to work in 2009 — not just to the greater Cedar Rapids Rockwell Collins employees, but also to the enterprise at large.

Richard- I began regular commuting by bicycle during the gasoline price spike in the summer of 2008, primarily over frustration about gas prices, but also out of frustration about continued inaction on climate change.

Mike- Commuting to work by bicycle has been something I’ve done since high school.

Have you experienced any economic benefits from biking to work?

Nikki- I LOVE not having to fill up my car on a weekly basis. But I portray myself as a “fair‐weather” cyclist, and ride 2‐3 days per week, sometimes as many as five days in the summer and less than that in our winter. But, even saving a little, I feel like I’m a poster child that anyone can do it when it works out. Small steps become bigger steps. I did finally take the challenge to bike when it’s cold in the winter, and that was also a doable commute for me, as well.

Sarah- Definitely. It’s a 23-mile round trip to work, which equates to about a gallon of gas. I typically ride in to work, on average, 2 to 3 days each week, all year round, as long as it’s not raining or snowing !

Richard- Absolutely. I’ve averaged more than 1,300 miles commuted by bike each of the past three years. The savings have more than paid back the cost of the commuter bike I purchased at the beginning of 2009.

Did saving money contribute to your decision to commute by bicycle?

Nikki- It did contribute to me riding, but more importantly for me, I liked exercising and the fresh air, and mental freshness I have when commuting by bicycle.

Sarah- A little, but the overriding reason for commuting by bike was to increase my fitness level and have some mental “free time” to think and enjoy the surroundings on the way to work.

Mike- Riding a bicycle saves me about $10/week nowadays. I can usually count on biking more than half the time between March and December, so overall it saves hundreds of dollars per year.

Have you experienced health benefits?

Nikki- Yes, although I can’t quantify it. I know I’m burning more calories when cycling, and I also enjoy the mental health benefits. We do have employees here who have lost weight as a result of cycling.

Sarah- Yes. Fitness and endurance have both benefitted. I also appreciate the effects on alertness and mental focus that early morning exercise provides for the entire day.

Mike- In the 30+ years since college, my weight has only gone up 15 pounds, and my blood pressure remains low. I feel better overall on days that I can bike to work

Richard- Although it wasn’t an original goal of mine, I have experienced health benefits, and this is now a reason for continuing my bike commuting. My employer offers free cholesterol and glucose screenings annually, and after several years of seeing my numbers heading in the wrong direction, I have seen them stabilized well within the norms.

Do you feel that bicycle commuting is an achievable goal for other businesses in the surrounding area?

Nikki- YES! If more people tried it they would see it as doable, especially when they can be mentored by another cyclist. We get alot of questions about routes, so when people know there is a doable route, they are more inclined to ride.

Sarah- Absolutely. We have a number of trails which link to businesses via good roads, which do not suffer from very heavy traffic. It just takes a small amount of time to find a route that works for each individual.

Mike- Yes, for many people biking to work at least once or twice a week is very doable.

Richard- It is very achievable, especially during the summer months.

How would they advise employers to encourage bicycle commuting?

Nikki- Actively support biking initiatives. We have an executive sponsor who has believed in our endeavors, and cycling has increased tremendously. It is also talked about more as well, leading to others becoming interested. Secure parking for bikes and showers are a plus, and some of our locations have that, or some part of that. The more secure parking the better.

Sarah- Employer support should be visible, both at events and in company magazines/newsletters. In particular, facilities should be provided to encourage bicycling to work (e.g. secure parking, showers) and remove any doubts or insecurities employees may have about taking their bike to work.

Mike- Employers should place bike racks in convenient locations (CVS/Pharmacy, Barnes and Noble, others, are you listening?) Employers should consider changes to dress codes and encourage office cultures to be a little less formal on some days. Employers, employees and local government should publicize bike‐safe alternative routes that parallel busy main roads.

Richard- I would advise area employers to reach out to the city’s Bike Advisory Committee to obtain information and support.

Are there any particular features of Rockwell Collins that they feel make commuting by bicycle so doable?

Nikki- There are flexible start times at Rockwell Collins which helps. There are accessible cross streets that make our facility commute worthy, and some of our facilities are near residential areas that also increases the possibility of riding.

Sarah- Flexible start times. Parking (although not covered). Company restaurant open for breakfast. Support and encouragement from the Rockwell Collins bicycling community.

Mike- Rockwell Collins Bike Community activities; wellness initiatives; bike racks placed near building entrances; shower facilities in new buildings.

Richard- Our bicycling group’s steering committee is relentless in organizing activities ‐‐ particularly informational sessions on commuting. The group also partners with other organizations and the city to provide information and encouragement for bike commuting. Our company’s intranet also has a fairly prominent link to the biking group’s web page.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

Yesterday, we announced 67 new Bicycle Friendly Businesses, and, with this latest round of awards, we passed a couple of notable milestones: There are now more than 400 BFBs nationwide who employ more than 500,000 workers.

So how many BFBs are in your city or state? Lindsay Plante, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America communications intern, put together this helpful map so you could find out.

Zoom in on your community — and show your bike-friendliness by patronizing your local BFBs!

View Bike Friendly Businesses in a larger map

Get your business on the map: Learn more about the Bicycle Friendly Business program.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

More than 500,000 American employees now work at a Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB), thanks to visionary leadership in the private and public sector. Today the League announced 67 new BFBs, who joined the ranks of the 412 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies that are transforming the American workplace.

“These leaders are at the forefront of a movement to make American businesses more competitive, sustainable and attractive to the best and brightest employees,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists. “An investment in bicycling enhances employee health, increases sustainability and improves the bottom line.”

Bicycle-friendly businesses encourage a more bicycle friendly atmosphere for employees and customers. From Microsoft in Redmond, Wash., to Pepe’s Bistro in Lincoln, Neb., bicycle-friendly businesses are improving the workplace, contributing to the community and improving their overall earnings.

Award winners in this round include:

• Fortune 500 companies like AstraZeneca and Rockwell Collins
• Major cities, like Indianapolis, Ind. and Durham, N.C.
• Government agencies, like the Federal Communications Commission
• Nonprofits, like the Nature Conservancy and Outdoor Chattanooga
• And major retailers like REI locations in Montana, California and Connecticut

American Family Insurance- Madison, Wis. (Bronze): “Our company improved safe bicycle access to our facility by adding signage to divert bicyclists onto paved bike lanes, installed covered bike parking, increased locker facilities and created a ‘bicycle resources’ intranet site that provides bike route maps, a guaranteed ride home program and other tips,” said Rita Garczynski, facilities site manager. “The company’s support for bicycle commuting has encouraged employees to make lifestyle changes that have resulted in improved health and engagement while having a positive impact on the environment by reducing our carbon footprint.”

Massachusetts Department of Transportation- Boston, Mass. (Bronze): “We’re proud to be the first DOT in the nation recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Business,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey. “MassDOT’s core business is transportation and consistent with our ‘Green DOT policy’ we’re committed to promoting bicycling as a healthy and efficient mode of travel.” Among other innovations and improvements, in 2010, MassDOT launched a pilot bike pool, so employees have the option to ride a bike to a meeting or a site.

Carilion Clinic- Roanoke, Va. (Bronze): “As the region’s primary health care provider, Carilion is dedicated to working with our communities to improve the overall health of the people we serve,” said Nancy Howell Agee, Carilion Clinic’s president and CEO. “Bicycling is one way our employees can improve their own health and be role models for the importance of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle.”

Visit bikeleague.org/businesses for a full list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses and to learn more.

Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director

Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.

We all know that riding a bike is good for the environment, our health, and our pocketbooks, but here’s one more way it pays to bike – The Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit. With folks filing their returns for Uncle Sam, there’s no day like Tax Day to encourage employers to offer this transportation benefit to employees.

The Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit has been on the books of the Internal Revenue Service for the past three years, but it still goes quite under used. Any employer, if they chose to do so, may provide a reimbursement of up to $20 per month for bike-related expenses incurred by the employee. That’s an extra $20 in your paycheck for tubes and tune-ups and all the already-affordable items that make your commute fun and comfortable. But, since it is Tax Day, remember: This is a benefit offered by your employer, not something you can claim on your personal taxes.

Sure, it’s not quite on par with the $230 subsidy an employer can offer for parking, or even the $120 they can offer for public transit — and the League is working with our congressional partners to increase the amount. But let’s celebrate the fact that bicycling is on the list of qualified transportation fringe benefits covered by the IRS and is ready for employers to use. The more it gets used, the more our lawmakers will know people consider bicycling a transportation option.

Click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the benefit.

And don’t forget: Offering the commuter benefit is just one of the many steps your business can take to become more bicycle-friendly. Stay tuned to the Bike League blog tomorrow for the announcement of a new round of Bicycle Friendly Business awards! Click here to learn all about the program.

Alison Dewey
League Program Manager, BFB & BFU

The League of American Bicyclists is currently building a new local reviewer database for its Bicycle Friendly America (BFA) programs. The BFA program provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities, businesses and universities that actively support bicycling. BFA award winners promote cycling by providing safe accommodations for cyclists, encourage people to bike for transportation and recreation, and provide educational opportunities for both cyclists and motorists.

If you are a regular cyclist, work with or for cyclists, or are otherwise knowledgeable about bike issues – please consider becoming a BFA local reviewer.

Each application to the Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly Business or Bicycle Friendly University program is reviewed by a panel of national bicycle experts and several local reviewers are consulted to share their on the ground perspective of the applicant.

As a local reviewer, you may receive applications from communities, businesses and universities that you have specified. The time commitment of reviewing an application and providing input is approximately 30 min to 60 min and you will have 2-3 weeks to complete your review. Reviews are typically requested in February/March and July/August. All local reviews remain anonymous to allow for candid feedback.

Your input is very important to us and the BFA applicants. If you have been a local reviewer in the past or are knowledgeable about bike issues and would like to become a new reviewer, please sign-up here! Contact Nicole at Nicole@bikeleague.org  if you have any questions.

Congratulations to Richmond, Va. for winning the 2015 World Cycling Championships – Tim Miller and the team down there did a fantastic job to persuade international cycling’s ruling body, the UCI, to bring their premier event to the historic capital of Virginia. And now the hard work really begins for the entire cycling community in Richmond and beyond!

Four years from now, the eyes of the international cycling community and, to some extent, the world’s media, will be on Richmond. Hundreds of top riders from around the globe will descend on the region for not just the week of the championships but for weeks, months and even years in advance as preparations are made and training is completed. They will bring with them thousands of fans, spectators, team support, sponsors, media – and a lot of them are going to be riding the courses and checking out the Richmond area by bike. If the event took place today, I’m not sure the cycling world would be that impressed! Richmond certainly isn’t Copenhagen, which is where this year’s event is just wrapping up (Go Wiggo and Cav!).

Richmond has got four years to get its cycling act together! Fortunately, the city has a new bike plan underway, a newly hired bike coordinator, and a supportive Mayor and city council. The timeline is tight, but Richmond has a unique opportunity to put itself permanently on the map as a great cycling city – as a destination and a more livable and sustainable city – by using the excitement and urgency of the world championships coming to town. The local cycling community has always been active, and as the state capital Richmond is home to the Virginia Bicycling Federation and Bike Walk Virginia who cover the advocacy, education, and encouragement side of things really well; but this requires a whole new level of action and commitment from local cyclists, businesses and the local bike industry.

Just two hours away, I am sure that we’ll be doing what we can to help. The Bicycle Friendly Community and Bicycle Friendly Business programs are ideal blueprints for Richmond to follow (in our opinion, of course), and there’s a vibrant college scene that could make good use of the Bicycle Friendly University game plan. So, Richmond, Game On! Make us all proud.

Andy Clarke
League President

Andy Clarke was appointed to the position of Executive Director in April of 2004 after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling and walking as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director. Before joining the League in February 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.

In celebration of May as National Bike Month, we are asking League staff members why they ride and how they make the most of Bike Month.

Next up is Bicycle Friendly Communities Program Specialist, Alison Dewey.

Hi Alison, how are you celebrating Bike Month this year?

I’m celebrating 2011 Bike Month with a big dose of bike education.  Along with friends from the League, I am volunteering my time to instruct multiple Girl Scout troops on bike safety. We are emphasizing how to safely follow the rules of the road while on a bike and stressing the importance of sharing the road with bicycles when driving a car. The girls are near driving age so even if they are not using a bike for recreation, transportation, or fitness, it is important they know that bikes are also vehicles on the road and that sharing the road is a responsibility of cyclists and drivers.

What’s your favorite Bike Month memory or experience?

Oh so many! But one of my favorites was a day that the League staff rode to the newly opened Woodrow Wilson Bridge Bike Way.  We started out with a very ominous sky above us and of course it wasn’t but five minutes after we had left that the clouds opened up and it poured down.  It should have been miserable. Had we been walking or driving certainly I would have looked around and thought “what a crummy day.” But because we were all on our bikes and because even the most novice bike riders in the group were still smiling, it was loads of fun.   Really, being on a bike gives a totally different perspective; it can turn even the ugliest weather into an enjoyable experience.

Let’s get down to business, Bicycle Friendly Business, that is. As the Bicycle Friendly Business specialist, what are some BFBs that stand out for having great Bike Month events?

I’d love to spend a Bike Month in Anchorage, Alaska with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium! Bike to Work Day is celebrated with morning coffee, treats, prizes and a live two-hour radio broadcast. At lunch they do a blessing of the bikes, then in the evening riders from the community and hospital gather for pizza and a live blue grass music party.

Another standout is National Geographic.  The business provides an elaborate breakfast spread for employees that ride in on Bike to Work Day. Throughout the month they have bike safety seminars and repair classes to get employees ready to ride.  Ameriprise Financial in Minnesota features commuter profiles on their intranet.  Last year rider experiences ranged from the racer whose daily ride to work is 40 miles round trip to the mother who transports her son in a Burley trailer and drops him off/picks him up at daycare midway through her daily commute of less than five miles.

When and why do you ride your bike?

I ride my bike every chance I get and with three small kids, the youngest being three months, the chances don’t come as often as they used to. It’s very hard to find the time to go out to just ride for fitness so these days I have to work it into my daily or weekly errands.  I just found a great bike route to our church where we celebrated Bike Month with a Bike to Church Day, the turn-out was amazing and no one looked the wearier because of it!  I also regularly bike my oldest daughter to pre-school  and ride to the occasional neighborhood meeting at night.

What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?

My longest ride was not an organized ride but rather a training ride for an event.  I pedaled 120 miles throughout the North Shore of Boston, one of my favorite places to ride, in preparation for competing in Ironman Lake Placid. That was before the three kids!

What tips do you have for new bike commuters?

Bike commuting can be for everyone. It is not limited to avid riders, athletes, or cycling kamakazis. It’s really for anyone who likes a healthy lifestyle.  Even if you live farther than you think is feasible to bike, consider using a bike/bus combination. There are a growing number of cities putting bike racks on buses to accommodate the increased demand in using bikes during a commute. Bike commuting may seem intimidating but if you seek out a co-worker who is already doing it, I bet they will tell you different. Odds are they will even help you on your first few commutes.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?

It’s worth it to pay a little bit more for a good bike. And using your gears makes the ride a lot easier.

What do you typically wear to ride?

It really depends where I am going, how far my destination is, and what my destination is. My ride to work is a good 17 miles so I typically wear a bike jersey and bike shorts and change when I get to work.  You’ll often see me in an awesome pair of bike capris that, I think, look quite fashionable and have a chamois for riding comfort – though looking at them you’d never know it. If I am going to a neighborhood meeting or on a local errand, I wear whatever I am wearing that day.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.

In celebration of May as National Bike Month, we are asking League staff members why they ride and how they make the most of Bike Month.

Next up is Bill Nesper, Director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program.

Hi Bill, this is your ninth Bike Month with the League. How have you seen the event change over the years?

I think the biggest thing has been the growth in the number of communities and businesses that are promoting National Bike Month. There are a lot of creative ways to do it, too. Bike Month offers all sorts of opportunities for communities, states, businesses and universities to promote bicycling, from simply proclaiming May as Bike Month to community rides and offering incentives to cyclists. Everybody can find a way to celebrate.

What are you enjoying about this year’s Bike Month?

I am enjoying seeing social networking become such big tool for organizing and promoting events. Already this month we have seen tons of events popup on our event calendar.

You can follow Bike Month on Twitter with #BikeMonth.

As the director of the Bicycle Friendly America Program, can you give a few examples of cities that really impress you with their Bike Month festivities?

There are so many. A few to bring up are Eugene, OR, Greenville, SC, and Pittsburgh’s CEO Bikepool Challenge. Also, Bicycle Friendly Business Kimberly-Clark, in partnership with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, has launched a statewide Scott Brand Get Up and Ride Wisconsin Bike Challenge.

Lots of public officials participate in Bike Month events. Any notable examples?

A big Bike Month highlight for me so far was kicking off Bike Month in Minneapolis at the Active Living Bike Expo where I presented Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak with the Gold Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Mayor Rybak is a real champion for bicycling and has made the city a model – in a all-weather environment. One cool thing he has done is compete as a bike commuter in the city’s Commuter Challenge – see the video (warning: It’s long and shaky).

When and why do you ride your bike?

Biking for me has always been primarily about transportation, first as a teen getting the freedom to get out by myself to now getting to work, going to the store and transporting my two year-old to the better playgrounds in other neighborhoods. I have to add that there was a period of childhood recreational riding which was based on making ramps to jump on the street in front of my house.

What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done?

I don’t want to point any fingers but my longest rides are those done in places where bicyclists are not accommodated or worse, driven out of the transportation system by angry drivers, poor planning/engineering, etc. We all know these places.

Happier answer: A century…ehem, metric century that is. Sixty-something miles at El Tour de Tucson a few years back.

What tips do you have for new bike commuters?

If you want to be a bike commuter, make a commuting buddy who is already doing it in your neighborhood or workplace give you the lowdown. Bikeleague.org is great for learning important riding tips and finding a cycling class near you. Also, it is important to be visible but do not worry so much about what you wear. If you like Lycra go for it, if you like riding in a sport coat or dress, or whatever, go for it. Lastly, if you want to commute and your town is really not giving you what you need, show up at council meetings, write letters, find an advocacy group near you to join and use the Bicycle Friendly Community program as a roadmap for improvement.

What do you know now that you wish you knew before you started to ride frequently?

Most trips that we make are pretty short and easy to do on a bike. Honestly, my nine-mile commutes, which are the biggest trips of my week, take about 35 minutes and I feel great when I get there.

What do you typically wear to ride?

For my work commute, I usually wear shorts and a tee shirt (add a couple layers and wind pants/jacket in the colder months) and change when I get there.

For most other trips I wear what I am going to want to be in when I get there.

Thanks, Bill!

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.

How do you fill out your NCAA college basketball tournament bracket? Do you follow historical trends? Maybe you use a complex algorithm. More likely you go by mascot or uniform – because let’s be honest, who’s really seen all these teams play?

But what if you could use your love of bicycling to guide your choices and possibly lead you to bracketological glory? Well, that’s where the official 2011 Bicycle Friendly America Bracket Guide comes in. Thanks to our new Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) Program, we can tell you which schools are champions of bicycle-friendliness.

The first ever Bicycle Friendly Universities were announced last week at the National Bike Summit. Five of the 20 Bicycle Friendly Universities made it to the tournament, along with four campuses that received an Honorable Mention. To make sure we had representation from each region on the bracket, for tie-breakers, and to make things more interesting, we also consider Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status and whether the campus is a Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB).

We put all this data into our computers – we have a room full of statisticians on hand just for this purpose – and arrived at the dead-on, can’t miss, sure thing Bicycle Friendly Final Four.

Before we show you the results, let’s see how BFU’s are distributed across the bracket’s regions. All predictions are based solely on bicycle-friendliness. We’ll leave basketball predictions to ESPN. Note that Bicycle Friendly University status is favored over Business and Community recognition in our predictions.

(more…)

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.

The first‐ever Bicycle Friendly University designations were announced today at the National Bike Summit. Among the 32 universities that applied, 20 are receiving designations, with Stanford University earning the only platinum‐level award. The program recognizes colleges and universities that create exceptional environments where bicycling can thrive and provides a roadmap and technical assistance to create great campuses for bicycling.

“Universities have long served as incubators for developing bike‐friendly cultures and practices, and that has a big impact on the expectations that students bring to the workplace and beyond,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League’s Bicycle Friendly America Program. “With the launch of the Bicycle Friendly Universities program, we’re able to highlight the crucial role that academic institutions play in shaping a more bike‐friendly future.”

2011 Bicycle Friendly University Winners

Also, 55 new Bicycle Friendly Businesses from restaurants to law firms will be receiving awards at this year’s summit. USAA, which is receiving the silver‐level designation, has experienced how bicycling can transform a workplace and surrounding community.

“USAA promotes safe cycling as an element of our overall sustainability and wellness strategies. The remarkable results we have seen in positive environmental impacts generated by our employees are mirrored by the positive wellness gains made.” – from their 2011 application.

To find out more about the winners and the programs, read the press release here.

Meghan Cahill
League Director of Communications

Cahill joined the League in December 2008 and has a BA in Media Communications with a concentration in Italian Studies from the College of Charleston.

National Public Radio and New York-based newspapers have been busy with bike-related stories recently.

NPR reports that CEO John Fahey organizes lunchtime bikerides with the staff of the National Geographic Society, a Bicycle Friendly Business. Rutger University Professor John Pucher calls bicycling the ‘in’ thing to do.

Do Complete Streets make you happier?  ”How to Thrive” author Dan Buettner tells NPR that having sidewalks and “making walking easier” contributes to happiness. That and socializing 7 hours a day.

Busy times in New York City:

Last week the New York Times reported on a plan to bring bike-sharing to New York City…

and despite growing numbers of cyclists, we’re told of a bicycle backlash…

Richard Florida says bikes have an essential role…

the Wall Street Journal reported on the city’s ‘Don’t be a jerk’ campaign and compares New York to other major cities…

and today, we learn about City Hall staff who ride to work.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.

The League of American Bicyclists is announcing 63 new Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB) and eight renewing BFBs today, September 23 at Interbike in Las Vegas during the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Industry Breakfast in the Sands Expo Rooms 106‐107. This round of awards was especially noteworthy because of the number of awardees and because “we’re seeing a growing relationship between Bicycle Friendly Communities and BFBs,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League. “Typically what is good for businesses is good for communities, in terms of bicycling.” We are proud to award three local governments the BFB designation – Bloomington City Hall, Ind.; Arlington County Government, Va.; and the City of Fayetteville, Ark.

There was a 45 percent increase in applications this cycle from the last BFB cycle. “Businesses across the country, from hospitals to telecommunications firms, are using the BFB program to measure their bicycle friendliness and to get the tools they need to better promote bicycling,” said Bill Nesper, Director of the Bicycle Friendly America program. “The BFB program has inspired companies to use bicycling as a simple way to improve worker health and satisfaction while promoting sustainability and social responsibility.” Currently, there are 196 awardees in 31 states that span a wide range of industries.

This is the fifth BFB announcement since the program’s inception in 2008 when the League announced the first 13 designees. BFB recipients promote bicycling into their business culture and give employees and customers the opportunity to be active stewards of their personal and environmental health through bicycling.

“BFBs are innovative businesses that demonstrate their commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles, creating more affordable transportation, and leading the way in sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship,” said Andy Clarke, League President.

The Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly University programs are generously supported by program partners Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle’s One World, Two Wheels Campaign. Special thanks to New Belgium Brewing Co. for a grant to develop the BFU program application. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/index.php.

See the new Bicycle Friendly Businesses.

See the complete list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses.

Darren Flusche
League Policy Director

Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.