EMPLOYER FAQ

Some of us are returning to working in the office full time, some are staying fully remote, and some are going with a hybrid model. No matter which model you choose, you can encourage your employees to get on bicycles throughout the month of May as part of Bike to Wherever Days, on Thursday, May 16th for Bike to Work Day, and then all year afterwards.

Encouraging your employees to commute by bicycle can help save your company money, while making your employees healthier and more productive. Here are some ideas to help your employees switch to bicycle commuting.

WHY SHOULD I ENCOURAGE MY EMPLOYEES TO BIKE TO WORK AND TO WHEREVER?

Because biking is a great form of exercise and will help your employees get or stay healthy. Studies have shown that healthy workers are almost three times more effective at their jobs than unhealthy employees. And that’s great for business!

HOW DOES ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO BIKE TO WORK SAVE OUR COMPANY MONEY?

Businesses lose money whenever critical staff miss work due to health problems. Bicycling provides the doctor recommended 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, which keeps employees healthier, health insurance costs down and prevents unproductive sick days. As businesses grow, they often run out of parking spaces before they run out of office space, requiring expensive leases of additional parking space or expensive construction costs for multilevel parking structures. And even if employees are working from home, encouraging them to take a break and go for a ride, pedal to meetings or ride to work is a great way to ensure they get some exercise and stay healthy.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PROVIDE FREE PARKING TO EMPLOYEES?

Donald Shoup estimated that companies pay about $750 per employee per year to provide free parking so it pays to promote biking to work. Read The High Cost of Free Parking for more information.

WHAT SAVINGS IN HEALTHCARE COST CAN COMPANIES ACHIEVE BY ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO USE THEIR BICYCLES TO COMMUTE, RUN ERRANDS, ETC.?

“People who exercise regularly have 14 percent lower claims against their medical insurance, 30 percent fewer days in the hospital, and 41 percent fewer claims greater than $5,000.” (Feasibility Study: Corporate Wellness Program, City of San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, 1988).