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-   -   Work Commute sponsorship?? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/980358-work-commute-sponsorship.html)

PatrickGSR94 11-10-14 12:03 PM

We have a shower at work and I can keep my bike next to my desk. That's about it. Small architecture office with about 10 people total.

And yeah people think I'm nuts for cycling to work 31 miles round trip, nearly 100 miles a week. :)

loky1179 11-10-14 02:11 PM

We get to fill out a "Wellness Survey". You have to fill it out, unless you want to pay $10 more for insurance co-pays.

My results: Not exercising enough. I should strive for vigorous exercise 5 days a week. (I work a 4 day work week, bike commute nearly every day, and will have over 3000 commuting miles. I guess that's not enough for them!)

RubeRad 11-10-14 03:04 PM


Originally Posted by KenshiBiker (Post 17283214)
A couple of years ago, someone who worked for one of the boards (under the same agency my department is under) got the idea to design bicycle jerseys and shorts with the agency logo and the names of all the BDOs. I don't know exactly what hoops he had to jump through to get approval, but he finally got the OK from the Powers-that-Be. However, the kit came with "guidelines". One of the conditions of wearing the kit is that if anyone asks we need to make it clear that no state funds were used to design, procure or distribute these items. I was expecting the guidelines to say something about obeying traffic laws, being respectable representatives of the agency, or something like that, but it was mainly about no state funds being used.

That's interesting. I work for a pretty large multinational company (I think there's about 1000 employees at my campus, maybe 100K worldwide?), and I get no monetary incentives, I'm happy I have a shower and locker (that I can keep stuff in, not just day-use). The company seems pretty willing to give away branded trinkets though. A friend of mine is in charge of the "cycling club", and he keeps asking for stuff, and corporate keeps saying yes. So far I got two jerseys, a pair of socks, a bunch of water bottles, a seatbag/flat kit, and a full tri-suit (along with registration fee for an event).

As for rules, on lunchtime group rides, we are told that while sporting the company logo, we are expected to strictly obey all traffic laws, so kind of the opposite of your situation!

RubeRad 11-10-14 03:07 PM


Originally Posted by DiabloScott (Post 17285099)
The $20 per month rebate is a federal program - all the employer has to do is fill out a few forms and then they give the bike commuter the check and take it as a credit on their taxes - doesn't cost anything except some administrative labor.

You got a link I can share with my HR?

DiabloScott 11-10-14 03:14 PM


Originally Posted by RubeRad (Post 17294129)
You got a link I can share with my HR?

Bicycle Commuter Benefit | sfenvironment.org - Our Home. Our City. Our Planet

Apparently, my company is kind of loose with the requirements - the letter of the law says the bicycle commuter must show actual expenses (annual basis) at least equal to the benefit (bikes, tires, locks, whatever) and I've never had to do that.

I-Like-To-Bike 11-10-14 09:47 PM


Originally Posted by velocity (Post 17293380)
OK My Employer is crazy enough to know that work related accidents cost this company a lot of money. Time loss on the job, possible law suits while trying to figure out how to keep OSHA happy and off our hinds. Insurance premiums are huge. It is acknowledge here that healthy employees work better, GET TO WORK ON TIME, and do not get hurt as much as ones limping around the plant overweight and in a aging workforce. You may not care for your employees ( Booger1), but that is going to cost you in the long run. So I wanted to know what you "forward thinking individuals" get from your employer on these very issues which are driving them to think out of the box. Right now we get health club reimbursements and have a Nurse here twice a week to check blood pressure and answer questions on health , fitness and nutrition. A massage therapist that comes in and opens an office for scheduled appointments. But we need health and safety and all that to start at home and once we leave it to come to work for sure. I am appreciative on all the feed back even those negative.
V

Then the bottom line is that your forward thinking employer offers nothing to its employees for riding a bicycle to work, why did you think less forward or "crazy" employers would?

velocity 11-10-14 11:45 PM


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 17295289)
Then the bottom line is that your forward thinking employer offers nothing to its employees for riding a bicycle to work, why did you think less forward or "crazy" employers would?

incorrectly sumerized

MikeyBoyAz 11-11-14 10:34 AM


Originally Posted by alan s (Post 17282730)
Would you really want your company name in the hands of a bike commuter? Think about it for a minute.....yeah, probably not a great idea. You may be a responsible rider, perhaps even a model rider, but how would the company know? You could be a red light running jackass. Or someone who Airzounds peds.

I have my company name on my jerseys, but that's really because we have a cycling team.

Maricopa County mandates a Trip Reduction Program for companies over 50 present employees; so anyone who uses a [carpool, bus, bike or walk] gets to be put in a monthly raffle for each plant to which they TRP commute. First prize is usually $50 gift card, second is $25. We have a gym and showers for employees and a pretty tasty breakfast at the Cafe, so that seems like enough incentive for me. I also get to keep my bike at my cube.

wphamilton 11-11-14 10:40 AM


Originally Posted by MikeyBoyAz (Post 17296437)
I have my company name on my jerseys, but that's really because we have a cycling team.

Maricopa County mandates a Trip Reduction Program for companies over 50 present employees; so anyone who uses a [carpool, bus, bike or walk] gets to be put in a monthly raffle for each plant to which they TRP commute. First prize is usually $50 gift card, second is $25. We have a gym and showers for employees and a pretty tasty breakfast at the Cafe, so that seems like enough incentive for me. I also get to keep my bike at my cube.

Me too, and since it was vetted through all the channels I can only assume that they're fine with the logo being seen out on the streets.

It was for the corporate "team" riding in the local Tour de Cure. But I get a kick out of being "sponsored" with the corporate jersey, and with no intention of ever racing.

velocity 11-11-14 11:11 AM


Originally Posted by DiabloScott (Post 17294145)
Bicycle Commuter Benefit | sfenvironment.org - Our Home. Our City. Our Planet

Apparently, my company is kind of loose with the requirements - the letter of the law says the bicycle commuter must show actual expenses (annual basis) at least equal to the benefit (bikes, tires, locks, whatever) and I've never had to do that.

This is cool. I will follow this up. Thank you
V

I-Like-To-Bike 11-11-14 11:23 AM


Originally Posted by velocity (Post 17295482)
incorrectly sumerized

OK, please correctly summarize the incentives your company gives you for commuting by bike to work.

velocity 11-11-14 11:36 AM


Originally Posted by i-like-to-bike (Post 17296595)
ok, please correctly summarize the incentives your company gives you for commuting by bike to work.

nothing yet I am working on it.

Booger1 11-11-14 02:06 PM

I'm a machinist.....your not going to learn anything from me in 6 months....maybe how to sweep the floor....I would advise hanging around 10 years if you plan on getting a real job somewhere else....:)

rpecot 11-11-14 02:28 PM

My company has a free gym, where I shower, clean up etc after my ride in. There are lockers, but they are unassigned and must be emptied after use. They started a bike to work program, where, if you bike in at least 12 times a month, you get an assigned locker the following month. My commute is 20 miles each way, so there is no way I'm going to make 12x a month. :( I've only recently bumped up my commutes to twice a week.

I-Like-To-Bike 11-11-14 02:53 PM


Originally Posted by velocity (Post 17296639)
nothing yet I am working on it.

Good luck!

velocity 11-12-14 10:29 AM


Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike (Post 17297250)
Good luck!

Appreciated,
I got in touch with our BTA (Bicycle Transportation Alliance) Here in Portland and got the "hard to implement" heads up. But they(BTA) may be willing to create a fact and applications meeting on "How to Implement" this win - win offering. My Human resource manager is going to bring it up in the next advisory meeting so its got some ears. I have the feet to work it so fingers are crossed for a good outcome.
V

halcyon100 11-14-14 01:37 AM

I work at a non-profit and there is no incentive at all to ride. I have some friends that work in local tech companies that have all sorts of cycling incentives and I feel a bit jealous sometimes. I would not want to wear a jersey with my company's name as I ride to and from work, even if they paid me. I might do this for a one-time charity fundraising ride...

Maybe more companies would offer incentives if they also received incentives to offer this, like tax breaks, etc.

Saving Hawaii 11-14-14 04:02 AM

50 employees, backwards management, and poverty wages. No transportation benefits to speak of. No benefits of any type for that matter. Or a bike rack (though nobody's told me not to park indoors at least).

The secret benefit is nice though. I ride my bike a lot on company time rather than driving my car. 7-20 miles a day adds up with regard to fuel/maintenance costs (non-reimbursed) and I'd estimate my company pays me about $150/mo for work hours that I was riding my bike. Granted they'd end up paying me about the same amount of I drove my car instead.

locolobo13 11-14-14 05:53 AM

No sponsorship where I work. But my boss allows me to park my bike on my floor in a supply room.

There is some kind of minor sponsorship, discounts, for transit riders. Every year we get a commuting survey. Don't know why. I think various depts get brownie points for having 1 out 10 people use "alternate" transportation. Every year I suggest they provide similar sponsorship for people who bicycle to work.

nkfrench 11-14-14 11:35 AM

We get to park our bikes next to the buildings under covered parking rather than a 5-minute walk to a car across the large parking lot.

myzamboni 11-16-14 09:19 PM

My company uses WageWork to offer commuter programs to susidize mass transit and even carpooling, but not for biking (even though WageWorks offers a bike commute program).

onfloat 11-16-14 09:29 PM

Awesome parking. I get to bring it inside a put it in a closet at work.

tjspiel 11-16-14 11:26 PM

The building has a bike room in the basement and showers. We have bike racks in the office and a pump. ;)

There are some incentives through our health insurance. There's a break on a gym membership and some token discounts at a local bike shop. I say token because it's not hard to find better deals elsewhere.

We are a non-profit in the area of energy efficiency. Alternative forms of transportation are definitely encouraged but there are mixed messages. I'm pretty sure that most every employee can get a transit pass for free. But lots of employees are also provided free parking at a nearby ramp. We do have field and sales people for whom it makes sense to have a car available. There are others though that have less onerous daily travel needs that could be covered by Car2Go/HourCar/ZipCar. In those cases the parking reimbursement is more of a perk related to status.

There are people like me who opt out of the parking reimbursement.

Though not related to a sponsorship or anything like that, at another company I used to work with a guy who turned in a mileage reimbursement form for work related trips he made on his bike. They never paid him, but he refused to stop turning them in. ;)


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