Press Release Submitted by The Active Transportation Alliance
Chicagoland companies: Are you are up for the Bike Commuter Challenge? Sign up now to be among the greenest and healthiest local businesses by biking to work June 9-15
More and more companies are realizing the benefits of promoting active transportation–lower healthcare costs, happier and more productive employees, and a boost to sustainability efforts–and this annual contest hosted by the Active Transportation Alliance during Bike to Work Week makes it easy for Chicagoland businesses to introduce their employees to everyday bike commuting.
The Active Transportation Alliance’s Bike Commuter Challenge, June 9-15, is an annual celebration of bike commuting. Last year nearly 500 companies representing thousands of employees participated. Participating companies have included Groupon, Orbitz, Motorola, WBEZ, Chicago Sun-Times, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Jones Lang LaSalle, the Village of Niles, and many others.
“The Bike Commuter Challenge is a great way to invigorate your office,” said Melody Geraci, deputy director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “You’ll be amazed at how infectious bike commuting can be.”
Here is how it works: Sign up at www.bikecommuterchallenge.org as either a Team Leader or teammate–it’s easy! A team leader can be anyone–an administrator, staff, president, director, owner, manager–whoever! Team Leaders get a free technical fabric T-shirt, too. The Team Leader then encourages their coworkers to sign up at the site and join his or her team with the goal of having each team member log at least one bike trip during Bike to Work Week. Teams are judged equally based on the highest percentage of bike commuters–so just one trip, even part of the way, counts Active Trans supplies Team Leaders with all the tools they need to make biking an easy choice for their teammates (bike maps, how-to manuals, and a website with real time stats to inspire). The companies with the highest percentage of bike commuters during Bike to Work Week win! A party at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum–which includes VIP access to the new “Bikes!” exhibit celebrating the bicycle’s long history in Chicago–will be held for Team Leaders and honors the winning companies.
Sign up your company and see just how healthy and happy your office can be. Join at www.bikecommuterchallenge.org. The website is also a resource for anyone looking to commute by bike.
Active Trans experts can provide companies that register for the challenge with a presentation on bicycle commuting free of charge. Contact Rebecca Dill by emailing rdill@activetrans.org to make a reservation.
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 7,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.
