Are you one of those people who would ride to work IF there was a place to lock up your bike and a place to clean up? Or maybe you’ve begged for a bike rack at work only to get no response? Fear not….you now have a resource to turn to for help.

Our good friends at the Bike League (.org) have launched the Bicycle Friendly Business program.  BFB provides technical assistance to companies and organizations so they may foster a healthier workplace.

The BFB evaluates applicants but just because a company applies doesn’t mean they will earn the designation “bicycle friendly business.”  Still, they just might learn what it is they need to do to become bike friendly.

Send this link to the decision makers in your company:www.bicyclefriendlybusiness.org. You might try putting “how to lower company health care costs” in the subject line. And, if you do work for a Bike Friendly Business, tell me what your company does–I’m interested in knowing what works.

Here at Trek we have showers and a “commuter room” to store our bikes.  In our cafeteria, all the “healthy” food (salads, yogurt, sandwiches) is rather cheap and the less healthy food (chips, fries, soda) cost enough to make it easy to choose the better food.  If you really want that big gulp, it’ll cost you a buck fifty! Milk or juice however, is just .50.  The weight watchers food score is on the menu next to each item so those on the program can select the best choice.

What’s in your lunchbox??

I got an email from the brilliant bike advocate, Tim B. (Bikes Belong.org) who was watching PBS Evening News Hour last night. On the show Professor John Cochran of the University of Chicago singled out the “Bicycle Commuters Benefits Act” which is included in the credit bailout bill that the House will vote on tomorrow, as THE prime example of what’s wrong with the revised bill that the House will consider.

I would have to agree with Tim that extra stuff tacked on to a rescue plan (presumably to broaden the bill’s appeal) isn’t the best light to put bicycling in, especially right now.  But it is politics.  Timing is everything.

Still, an election year is a good time to stay focused on growing the bike piece of the transporation pie. If you ride a bike to work or for exercise there has never been a better time to raise your voice in support of bicycle infrastructure.

When’s the last time you wrote a letter to your local or state lawmakers? Hummm?  If the answer is “more than a year” giddyonup to your desk and google your state legislator’s name and address and start writing . Not sure what to say? Here’s a simple, short message:

Dear ____; I ride bikes and I vote.  What is your plan to increase the safety for bicyclists in (town/state)?

Feel free to ad lib, of course. Then, after you’ve sent your letter you can follow along on who ISN’T supportive of bikes at the Bike League.org.  They’ve got a new page to track trash talking politicians and arms you with data so you can talk back.  That’s courtesy of another brilliant bike advocate, Andy Clarke.  This is good stuff:

http://www.bikeleague.org/action/trashtalk/