I recently wrote a letter to the activity and health coordinator at the hospital I work at. I thought it was a good idea (a co-worker helped formulate some of the details)...but it fell flat on it's face before getting off ground level.

The idea was for a Bike to Work Week that could be held several times throughout the year. Employees could fill out a pledge card to ride their bikes to work for the entire week and then each pledge card would be used in a drawing for a small prize ($20 to Jamba Juice, movie tickets, best buy...or something to that effect). Different prizes during different ride weeks would keep things interesting perhaps motivate people to ride that otherwise wouldn't. I pointed out all the advantages of employees riding bikes to work: reduced stress, better health, less congestion in hospital parking lots, etc, etc.

While researching the idea I found out through one of the departments that 50%+ of the 1000 employees at the hospital live less than 10 miles away. I am sure there are a few dozen that live less than half of that.

The response I received was disappointing to say the least. Basically the activity and health coordinator stated that "in her experience" bike to work programs never work long term and just fizzle out after a short period of time. That's it.

I thought that a well researched idea would received more than just a simple one scentence disregard for the program. I guess my experience of working with two companies that have similar programs going strong after several years counts for nothing.

I could understand it if it was a money issue or that it had been tried before and failed miserably; but none of the those are the case. Your talking about a BOD that annually rewards themselves with bonuses that are into the six figure range.

Personally, I think this is nothing more than a case of the coordinator being yet another "Corporate Yes Men". They wont stick their neck out for anything or institute any level of change even if it's for the better. They are too busy saying "Yes" to any idea the men/women above them come up with.