Hello - In efforts to become a more 'green' company, we are beginning to focus on educating our employees on the benefits of commuting and are encouraging them to commute to work by bike.

Does your company offer any incentives for commuters (monetary, rewards programs, showers, lockers, etc.)?? Would love to hear some ideas of programs that are motivating and actually work to encourage commuting.

Thanks!

I save money by commuting by bike so I can keep being underpaid at my job. Is that an incentive?

I save money by commuting by bike so I can keep being underpaid at my job. Is that an incentive?


LOL....thats gotta be one the best posts ive ever seen. :thumbsup:

They tried something like that at my work. It didnt work. There just to many people that just dont see the benefit of commuting. I find it very sad that a program like that doesnt work. I might be sterotyping, but think these are the same type of people that give you "the finger" and cut you off on the way to work on your bike.

LOL....thats gotta be one the best posts ive ever seen. :thumbsup:

They tried something like that at my work. It didnt work. There just to many people that just dont see the benefit of commuting. I find it very sad that a program like that doesnt work. I might be sterotyping, but think these are the same type of people that give you "the finger" and cut you off on the way to work on your bike.


Yeah, I know what you mean. Commuting isn't for everyone. I think at my company there are some people that might try it, especially if the incentives were right. At least the company sees it as an option, and on they think it is worth supporting.

Anyone else have any experience with commuting initiatives at your work?

My company supports alternative commuting by providing a bike rack and by offering a local transit pass (bus, light rail) at a tremendous discount. All buses and light rail trains are bicycle friendly. My monthly pass is $24.00. By using blended transportation modes (bike, bus, light rail) I am able to travel all over Denver seamlessly, and in many cases quicker than if in a "coffin" (car).

I initiated a commuter program at my work about a year ago. Our community had one, but it was cut because of funding. I did some research into it, and proposed it to my boss. We pay $1.00 for every day that you ride your bike to work. We keep track of trips and miles and award prizes to the riders with the most number of trips and also for the most miles ridden (given that someone who has a two mile commute is more likely to ride than someone riding 20 miles.)

Points are earned for every trip. One point per bike ride or walk, and a half point per bus or carpool. One dollar is paid for every point earned.

In it's first year it was very successful.

No incentives here....it took bikes getting stolen for them to put in a bike rack. :(

Now that we have one, we'll likely need a second before the summer is up as I already know of enough people in my office alone (we share the building with 3 other companies) to fill the rack when they start commuting.

My main personal incentives are getting in shape and being faster in getting home...traffic is nasty at quitting time and I often pass many co-workers as they sit in their cars waiting for traffic.

I'm in the Armed Forces so we have showers and lockers at work. I don't shower in the morning unless it's hot out and we aren't there yet here in Edmonton. When I was over at the helo squadron we had a covered bike rack which was nice, Also on the base there is never any need to lock your bike, and this goes double for my fixie which scares regular people. We have a program that awards points for running, biking, etc so many km's but I am too lazy to keep track. You can get a bronze, silver, or gold certificate though.

Give them a secure, safe place to lock there bikes. The lack of showers also discourages some so give them a shower and lockers if you can. I have heard of companies that will give money towards a bike if the employee commutes on it.

Best thing would be to mock those who drive their lazy ass to work.

I get no incentives to ride to work but there are no downsides either. This is the way I see my commuting situation(I don't work in a bike shop btw):

1. I get to bring my bike into work with me so it's 100% secure. Security is very key!

2. There are lockers and showers here too. This is also very important to commuters.

3. If there is something wrong with my bike, I have access to a bike stand and all the tools I need to fix my bike at work. I like this but it's probably overkill.

4. There is a commuting/cycling club of sorts. Nothing official but I know everyone at my worksite that commutes or is an avid cyclist. There are enough of us that none of us get looked at weird anymore. This definitely helps.

I don't need a monetary incentive. I save around a little more than a gallon of gas for everyday I commute based on my 4 cylinder subcompacts gas mileage. I save one round trip through a toll-booth as well. This ends up being $5 per day I commute. So around $80 a month for me since I try to ride 4 days a week. This doesn't take into account the reduced wear and tear on my car which is probably considerable. Also, I'm keeping my body in shape which is really priceless.

I get access to my underground parking lot (secure, keycard access - only given to those riding or allowed to park down there) where they have taken out a few parking stalls and put in some bike racks. Also get access to a shower facility with lockers which is a very nice bonus.

As an avid rider, I would be riding in even without these facilities and amenities and it seems like your company is trying to encourage more people to go the green route (people who are currently driving) and also trying to get more people to change their current habits.

Depending on the number of people in the company perhaps try to start up a good natured challenge between the different departments. Walking or biking in to work gets 3 points, catching a bus or other transit gets 2 points, carpooling gets 1 point, and driving in by yourself gets -1 point. Based on points per number of people in a department offer a bonus every month (free lunch, get out 2 hours early on Friday, etc.).

Individually it's hard to enlighten people on the benefits of not driving to work, but when you get peoples competitive spirits into it you may have a better chance of peer pressure helping you out. ("C'mon Jim, if you'd have cought the bus in this month we could have won our group a free lunch. We need your help next week if we're going to have a chance of winning").

Like I said, as an avid rider I'm going to be commuting in no matter what, but I'd love to be able to change the minds of the people that are currently driving in by themselves.

The incentives will need to be good. In all the places I've worked, I think the majority of the people are too lazy or too hardheaded to even try riding to work. People are very strange and sometimes think it will hurt their image becuase it makes them look dorky or look like that guy who rides his bike becuase of a DUI. Then they think, it's too far or the weather sucks or this or that. The excuses never end. Offer good incentives that will piss off the people who don't ride, like letting those who ride leave early on a weekly basis or let them come in later. Or provide points toward earning things like money, but I think office equipment would catch on quicker. If you offer something like a new computer chair, or a 28" monitor to whoever hits x-miles or x-commutes first. You would have to cap the mileage though as some people will blow everyone else away on purpose and discourage others to try.

Thanks for the input! Some great ideas - I really like the idea of a points system for all 'non car' commuting options. I know that not everyone in the office is going to change their habits, but if we can create more interest through a competition of sorts, I think some people will.

Keep the ideas coming if you have more! Once again, I really appreciate the ideas. :)

Right now I work for FIAT here in Italy. They tell me that there are incentives in their German branch, but only during the summer. No incentives here in Italy. In any case the $8/gal gasoline is a good enough incentive !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We feel it as $16/gal since our salary is about 50% then US one.
They still have the bike parking lots from the 1940s. So, pretty nice bike parking lots. We are little by little going back to fill them up as in the 40s.

Hello - In efforts to become a more 'green' company, we are beginning to focus on educating our employees on the benefits of commuting and are encouraging them to commute to work by bike.

Does your company offer any incentives for commuters (monetary, rewards programs, showers, lockers, etc.)?? Would love to hear some ideas of programs that are motivating and actually work to encourage commuting.

Thanks!

The only thing I get when I ride my MTB to work is funny looks :eek: from my boss and some of my co-workers. :madman:

The only thing I get when I ride my MTB to work is funny looks :eek: from my boss and some of my co-workers. :madman:

Funny, that's about what I get right now too, but I really want to change that perception. With gas prices on the rise this summer, I'm hoping that more people will be willing to at least try riding their bike to work.

Incentives are for carpoolers and busriders. Companies can usually get a tax break or government reimbursement for those people, but not for cyclists. When I get to work, I sneak my bike into a closet, and hope nobody sees me in my cycling gettup before I hustle off to the bathrooms to change. If I'm caught, its a flip between getting a blank stare, or being questioned on how far I ride, followed by "wow, thats a long way." These are incentives to NOT RIDE, fotunately, riding is so much fun, I can't stop.

The job I am at offers free commuter passes i.e, BART and Caltrain (Bay Area, CA). I used to use it all the time but I moved closer to work so I can just bike now.

Our office offers a commuter challenge every year with prizes including TVs, bikes, lap top computers. The program lasts 3 months i think then prizes are randomly given out. I would participate if we ever got a bike rack. Kind of pointless to ride if you have no where to put your bike

How about docking the pay of anyone who drives by $10 a day. If that doesn't get people riding...

I'm happy my company has lockers, showers and bike racks. That's enough incentive for me... but I wouldn't complain if they gave me $$$ to bike to work!

My current employer offers incentives only for public transportation. Past employers of mine would do monthly prize drawings for anyone who took alternative transportion during the month (bikes, car pool, bus, electric golf carts, etc). It was fun.

My company gives out movie tickets. 1 ticket for riding up to 7 days a month and 2 tickets for anything over 7 days. I tried to talk them into miles - maybe 2 tickets if you ride over 100 miles a month - (we have one rider whose round-trip is 36 miles) but they have no concept of riding - they just do it as part of their HR thing.

Still better than a flat tire in 100 degree heat....

my work will by you a bus pass if you give up your parking space.
Maybe they should do something for me, but i dont wanna give up my parking space.

tons of credit to your company for the progressive thinking. i wish my company had any sort of forsight. nice work

I won a bike horn this week after participating in "Bike-to-Work" day.

[yawn]

Meanwhile, nothing else. I asked for some office furniture to be removed from my office to help me fit my bike in my office - no dice, plus some attitude. No help from my employer, my local government, or the federal government. In fact, I just noticed the feds will let you deduct your abortion costs, but not your new commuter bike - too bad I'm a responsible citizen instead of a stupid promiscuous chic!

My work's got nothin'. But if more people started riding, I bet something would develop....


@Ryder1:
A little bitter there, Ryder1? Because, obviously, a woman who has had an abortion can't be a responsible citizen. And only a "stupid promiscuous chic'' would ever have one anyway. Certainly not your sister, mother, girlfriend, wife, or about a third of all women in the United States.

Sorry to be harsh, but you came across kinda ignorant and sexist. I'm sure that's not how you meant it.

Check the link:
http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/06/abortion_by_the_numbers.php

my office just proposed an alternative transportation incentive.. The amount is uncertain right now. I have a reserved spot that they pay about $280 per month which I really enjoy and I like the convenience of being able to drive to work when I need to. I asked them if it meant i'd get the amount they pay for my parking spot if I commuted on bike and they said it wouldn't be the full amount, but much less. That would mean if it were raining and I had to drive I wouldn't have a parking spot. So for me, I don't know if its worth it to give up that parking for just a small incentive.

I live in a very rural area. However, my work is only about a mile from my home. I work at a community bank as a loan officer, and I have been very frustrated by the lack of support I've received for commuting by bike. Some of my coworkers applaud me, but most make fun. My boss has already told me to take it outside after I parked it in my office for a week (even though it's nicer than many of the junker cars our customers drive and by no means in anyone's way). There are no racks to lock it up to, no place to clean up (unless a whore's bath in the men's room counts) and no lockers. It's very discouraging.

I'm not saving the world or that much money by commuting that short of a distance. The incentive for me has been purely physical fitness. A happy sidenote, living in the country, I get to smell the flowers and honeysuckle this time of year. Can't do that in my truck.

I'm jealous of you Metro area folks. At least the people in your towns have seen a bike commuter before.

Spanky - Perryville, Arkansas

my work will by you a bus pass if you give up your parking space.
Maybe they should do something for me, but i dont wanna give up my parking space.

thats really cool of your employer...good idea

At my company we get paid $1/trip no more than $2/day for cycling, carpooling, or mass transit. We get paid out quarterly. We don't have lockers, but we have showers and bike hooks lining the walls.

Ryder1: I just noticed the feds will let you deduct your abortion costs, but not your new commuter bike - too bad I'm a responsible citizen instead of a stupid promiscuous chic!


A little bitter there, Ryder1? Because, obviously, a woman who has had an abortion can't be a responsible citizen. And only a "stupid promiscuous chic'' would ever have one anyway. Certainly not your sister, mother, girlfriend, wife, or about a third of all women in the United States.



It boils down to what the government is supporting/subsidzing.

I'm pro-choice, and realize abortions are common, but the fact that the responsible choice of commuting by bike is not subsidized while the irresponsible choices that lead to an abortion are subsidized is a bit disconcerting, no?

so my work is now participating with other large corporations and the city a "Walk and Roll" contest.
we are giving some sweet prizes, ipods, $100 gift certificates and some random drawing prizes in the catorgories of biking, walking, bussing and carpooling.
I had the biking one locked up till one guy here has startedd bussing in and biking home, 18 miles.
beats my 12. humm, anybody know where I can find Tanya Hardings ex?

Thanks for the responses! It's been awesome to hear that there are quite a few companies out there that offer incentives for using alternative methods of transportation. With gas prices on the rise, I'm hoping that others will be motivated to change their habits and carpool, use public transportation, or ride their bikes to work.

I've proposed a "commuter challenge" contest that would last throughout the summer with weekly prizes and a grand prize at the end.

I've been out of the office for a month (yep - another cool benefit my company offers. Every 5 years, you get a 4 week paid sabbatical on top of your regular vacation!) but return on Tuesday. Hopefully, the challenge has been approved!

Thanks again!

At my company, the four C-level executives (of which I am one) all ride their bikes to work on a regular basis. At minimum this provides a good example and demonstrates that it is acceptable and even encouraged. We allow people to store their bikes in the building. We have showers in the office. We have closets for people to leave fresh clothing in. It has been this way for a couple years, but only now with Gas topping $4/gallon are people beginning to take it seriously.

We've considered offering items like helmets and lights to employees who will commit to bike commuting a minimum number of days per year but quite frankly I'm skeptical that many people would follow through. I also think that the cost of gas is the least of reasons people should ride their bikes to work. It takes a lot of gas savings to pay for a decent commuting setup and year-round gear. I think people should do it because it is good for your body, your mind, and the environment. I'll stop their before I go into a tree-hugging tirade about how bikes could save the world.

In the words of Mrs. Lovejoy, "THINK OF THE CHILDREN !!!"

i just took advantage of ours: $350 rebate on bike purchase for full timers. how's that? :)

Geez guys, you are all making me Jealous. Our bike rack doubles as a dumpster fence and often time you have to be creative when those few spots are filled up. I see no shortage of bikes and even a guy in management rides one. I have asked many times too. Sometimes I wonder in my apartment building or the bike shop next door would mind if i borrowed theirs.
My best hope is to be a bit selfless and build one leave it for everyone else to use. I believe in community and my best suggestion is in addition to company incentives, offer alittle extra of yourself to help those who are on the fence. Talking with other employees about the benefits, taking pools for bike friendly additions, offering advice and mechanical skills, petitions, sugestion box, support group/riding club. Though i will say the best is when companies and employees work together on something.
Its a strange thing about people, if you want them to do something you have to make them feel like it was their idea in the first place. So sometimes Just informing them of health benefits, enviromental impact, fun factor is a great motivator alone. How about sponsoring a weekend event for people and offer to supply bike to those who don't have one.

I'm lucky to work for a very proactive company when it comes to employee health and fitness. We constantly have health and nutrition seminars at work and are strongly encouraged to pursue an active lifestyle. We get a $1000.00 grant every year which can be used for just about any non work related interests , so far this has bought me a mtb hardtail which doubles as a commuter and a 08 fox 36 talas :). On top of this we have a dedicated bike room with racks , lockers , security access and separate showers. I guess they think a fit and healthy worker is a more productive one , either way I'm not complaining.

The Marine Corps gave us a 90 minute lunch break at MCAS Tustin, CA if we worked out during that time. That barely gave us time to pedal from Tustin to the beach and back. Those were my favorite lunch breaks, but it was 15 years ago.

I work at the largest retail store in the country in in N.Z and they dont havean incentive,Out of 130 or so workers there is only two of us that ride to work,I work in the sports dept. so I have bike stand and tools/lube and cleaning product at my use,so even tho i have tools and stand at home I can tweak my bikes at work with a couple of spare minutes here and there.I ride to work cos I want to stay fit,save gas money,and cos since I was 3years old bikes have been my poison/passion and will always be,this year when summer comes(in winter now at least it is sub tropical)I will talk to my boss and try to make a more cycle to work friendly place,we do have national and local events to get the average joe/joeline out on a bike and also good kids programs but the problem is alot of people dont stike to it,they do a days activity and tomorrow its all back to normal and that sucks,we have showers and tons of lockers so the aminities are there and secure areas for the bikes so there wouldnt be any money spent on haveing to upgrade the building,I dont know percentages but I work it out to be around 1% of total workers cycling to work and that sucks,wish me luck and I will let you know in the future how I go

No incentives for us. Although we have 1 bike room and showers, the issue is too many riders (CO) so you have to get early to get a bike hook so it's downright crowded.

My prior company had a monthly drawing that you entered whenever you used alt. transportation. I think the town or state also gave them some kind of incentive for promoting it.

Current company: we are moving buildings and the orignal design included 2 showers.....the showers just got cut out of the design so they could afford to provide more parking spaces. I was pretty much shut out of the discussion.....gonna be a long uphill battle here to get any program going.

Our company is forming a team and offering some excellent prizes in each category.
I would have won the bike cat but was on vacation this week, the first week.
We are really starting to get proactive around my place.
Now if they would just put in some showers.

http://www.walkandrollsa.com/