I got stimulated
 

I am getting the bike commuting benefit. Our hr person :love: says that I can get it all right now since I have already spent more than $240 on bike stuff this year. It is all coming in my next paycheck tax free for me. Yippee:D:):D:)

My company choose not to participate. I am disappointed, because I could put that to good use. I figure they will be paying out one way or another. If not to support my healthy lifestyle, they will pay out to the insurance company because of some other slob's excessive use of the health insurance plan.

That's great, BroadSTPhilly!! I'm trying to get this moving at my company but having a tough time getting traction. You've got a PM. :-)

:thumb:

Good on ya Mate!

My company couldn't figure out how it's supposed to work so they gave up.

We have showers, locker room and a gym. Bike rack in the parking lot by the door (not covered though). Also, we have a pretty casual dress code. I get a free bus pass that's good for a year and they also have a site to track your alternative commuting days and you get a gift certificate after so many days commuting without driving alone.

can anyone elaborate about this benefit or provide some links? I'd love to bring this up to my company HR dept.

My company is currently stalled on getting this implemented. Looking for guidance from anyone who has had success. Here's a letter I lifted from the LinkedIn group "Bicycle to Work!":

Subject: H.R.1424 SEC. 211. TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

The purpose of this memo is to request the support of the university in implementing the above listed Bicycle Commuter Act, signed into law and effective January 1, 2009. Eligible employees (a portion of whom are listed above) at (WORKPLACE) would like to receive this benefit. The process of setting up benefits for bicycle commuters could be similar for employees who take public transportation or park on campus as detailed on pages 19-20 of IRS Document Publication 15-B: Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits - For use in 2009. This could increase the number of employees who receive considerable relief for their commuting or parking costs.
Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision: Frequently Asked Questions can be found here: http://www.bikeleague.org/news/100708faq.php
Thank you for your time and we look forward to discussing this further. Please contact (MY NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION).

That is an interesting take on it from your HR person but at least you got it.

I wonder if you are the first and whether it will actually be filed properly to show up somewhere in the government. Yes President Obama we have _1_ bicycle commuter in the US so ... ;)

Wow, sounds like you hit the commuting jackpot without the stimulus. What's next there, laundry?

My company has a 3rd-party benefit provider to support the mass transit/vanpool commuter benefit. That particular provider does not, at present, support this new bicycle commuter benefit. I've seen other 3rd party providers that are all over it. So glad my company went with the lowest bidder.

The HR people at my company told me I had to claim it on my individual taxes. I told them that wasn't the way I read it, but they insisted that they looked into it and that's the way it it really is. They seemed pretty uninterested in it, so I think they just held on to the info I gave them for a couple of weeks and then came up with that lame-o story to cover their butts.

They keep pushing all of these "healthy lifestyle" brochures on us, they pay for new equipment and upgrades to the exercise room, and they spend loads of money on fruit that just seems to go to waste. When I try to suggest something that I was sure would benefit myself and the company, they just wrote it off. I've even offered to lead group rides out of the office, but everyone thought I was joking, or being a wise-*ss. Oh well, I enjoy my daily commute, regardless of their ignorance.

Good for you! Too much accounting for me. The whole point is to motivate people, like the health club benefit. The only thing is I have a gym membership and bike commute when I can because of my own personal choices and values and it has nothing to do with "the man". Is that contempt?

I was told that federal employees are not eligible for the bicycle commuter benefit, does anyone else have more information on this?

Congrats BroadSTPhilly. Unfortunately, I have not gotten stimulated. No bike money for me. :(

Do you guys send this to your HR or payroll people? Big company with different people in different departments I don't know who to go to but I figure either someone else already has or could benefit from it as well.