Biking/Walking
Active Transportation Benefits
- To the environment - reductions in rush-hour congestion, vehicle emissions and fuel consumption while improving air quality
- To employers - reduce parking needs, increase employee satisfaction, promotes better health
- To employees - reduce stress during commute, reduces fuel consumption, improves employee morale
Getting started on an Active Transportation Program
- Provide incentives and/or an award program to encourage and recognize employees that walk or bike to work. Incentives or awards could include additional vacation time, free breakfast or lunch once a month, financial based rewards or a club card that provides discounts from local merchants.
- Make sure there is free and secure bicycle parking.
- Provide on-site showers and lockers so that employees can freshen up before starting their workday.
- Encourage employees to live closer to work so that they can take advantage of biking or walking options.
- Offer employees a Guaranteed Ride Home benefit. This can be accomplished relatively inexpensively by simply paying for cab fare when an emergency or sickness arises. In reality, Guaranteed Rides Home are not often used by employees and the cost of providing this security is minimal.
- Check with your HR department or accountant about recent federal tax code changes offering deductions for monthly bicycle allowances up to $20/month.
For case studies of successful active transportation programs for employers click here.
Helpful Links
www.activetransportation.org -- Active Transportation
www.slcbikecollective.org -- Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective
udot.utah.gov/walkingandbiking -- UDOT Walking and Biking