Active Transportation
What are the benefits to me as an employee?
Biking and/or walking to work can provide you with health benefits as well as reduce the cost of getting to work. Not only can you arrive to work relaxed and ready to work, you reduce the stress generated by driving in congestion, having to find a parking space or purchasing gas. In addition to personal health benefits, you will also help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. The best reason yet to bike or walk to work is that your employer may provide you with a financial incentive to do so such as a parking cash out.
What do I need to do?
- Check with your employer about incentives offered to bike or walk to work
- Determine how far you need to travel to access another transportation mode or if you will walk or bike all the way to your destination
- Make sure your bike is tuned up and fits you or that you have comfortable walking shoes
- For biking, obtain necessary bike equipment such as bike pump, blinking tail light, pant leg band, lock and other equipment needed such as a water bottle
- Both walkers and bikers should wear weather-appropriate clothing such as breathable fabrics and a hat during cooler months. Don't forget your bike helmet.
- Plan your route then do a test ride or walk
- Find a secure place to park your bike
- You might consider taking a change of clothes or keep a change of clothes in a locker at your destination
- Check the weather before you go
Case Study:
Robyn in Madison, Wisconsin uses the great bike paths in her local community to make a daily seven-mile commute to and from her job at the university even though she is seven months pregnant. "My pace may be slower than usual, but it is a real joy to be able to get a little fresh air and exercise on a daily basis." She likes to spend time thinking about the day ahead on the morning commute and then un-winding from her day on the afternoon ride home. She finds that Madison's city streets are wide enough to accommodate both her and motor traffic, and many streets have dedicated and well-maintained bike lanes making it easy to get where she wants to go on a bike.
Source: http://www.activetransportation.org/champions.htm
Biking/Walking Resources:
www.activetransportation.org -- Active Transportation
www.slcbikecollective.org -- Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective