Does Your Town Have “Bicycle Benefits?”
There’s a guy on a bike riding up and down the east coast pitching a program called “Bicycle Benefits.” The guy is Ian Klepatar and BB is his program to encourage businesses to reward customers who arrive by bicycle.
Simple and effective are two words to describe this program. A business chooses what reward to offer a customer who arrives on bike, the customer gets rewarded and everyone wins.
The program is so brilliant and effective that I’ve asked Ian to send in updates from the road. He left his hometown near Saratoga, New York two weeks ago to start his trek around the east coast, talking up the benfits of “going by bike.” Klepatar attended the Washington DC Bike Summit then lit out for Boston. The first of many entries on his travels follows.
Boston, MA: Today was like so many days that cyclists and bicycle advocates know all too well. Whether we are pushing for bike lanes on a new street in our community or getting cut-off, doored or disrespected among traffic flow while commuting to work, we know the feeling in others just “not getting it.” Unlike the past three days since I arrived in Boston, business owners didn’t really seem to be that interested in the benefits of bicycles. ‘You know there aren’t really that many bikers that come in this restaurant’ they tell me. I guess in my eyes, if somebody knows how to ride a bicycle, they are automatically a biker. At the same time just because we ride bicycles, it doesn’t make us bikers. So I go on to tell the uninterested owner the benefits of participating in a program which promotes physical activity, helmet use, alleviating congestion and parking hassle. The concept of the program is pretty basic. Businesses in the community offer discounts/rewards in order to entice community members to jump on their bicycles and visit the restaurants/businesses by bicycle. Upon arriving by bicycle and showing the affixed Bicycle Benefit helmet sticker, the individual receives the designated discount/reward. However, just as we often struggle to convey the many benefits of bicycle paths connecting neighborhoods to community centers or the importance of complete streets http://www.completestreets.org/ legislation to our elected politicians, I too wonder why some people don’t get it…Perhaps it’s been a while since we all felt the joy and benefits of riding a bicycle.
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Denver Benton Says:
I am a Coach and Personal Trainer in Baton Rouge, LA. I am also an avid cyclist. I would love to push 1 World 2 Wheels here and any info that you can send me would be great. I think the Bicyclist Benefits Member for local business is also a great idea. Being that Baton Rouge is the home of Louisiana State University there are allot of students that are just waiting for a noble cause to be a part of. Not to mention Louisiana is one of the most obese states in the country.
Anyway, I love what ya’ll are doing, and if I can be of any help please let me know.
Ciao,
Denver Benton CI-PTr
Emily Says:
Is he coming down the post road (US 1)? If he is we’d be glad to help out if there’s anything we can do when he hits here.
Ian Klepetar Says:
I set up Bicycle Benefits in a way that it can be brought into any city, state and town that wants to give discounts/rewards to encourage people in the community to begin using their bicycle as a mode of transportation to local businesses and restaurants. The site has all of the tools. One needs only passion and time to bring Bicycle Benefits home. Everyone benefits!
cwj Says:
Hey, man, people in La. aren’t obese – they’re just big-boned.
Actually, I’m from North Louisiana, and there are some great hilly rural roads – if we can get people so slow down, that is.
Big up Ian and BB.
cW
Syed Saiful Alam Says:
Fuel Consumption and Environmental Impact of Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka
Most trips in Dhaka are short in distance, usually one to five kilometers. These trips are perfect of Rickshaws. Rickshaws are cheap and popular mode of transport over short distances. Rickshaws are safe, environmentally friendly and do not rely on fossil fuels. Rickshaws support a significant portion of the population, not only the pullers, but also their families in the villages, the mechanics who fix the rickshaws, as well as street hawkers who sell them food. From the raw materials to the finished product the Rickshaw employs some 38 different professions. Action needs to be taken to support the Rickshaw instead of further banning it in Dhaka. The combined profits of all Rickshaws out earn all other passenger transport modes (bus, rail, boats and airlines) combined. In Dhaka alone, Rickshaw pullers combine to earn 20 million taka a month.
We think that over the coming holiday of Eid du Ajah, new Rickshaw bans will be put into action on roads in Dhaka. Eid was used in the past to place new bans on roads in Dhaka. Last Eid many roads were declared Rickshaw free without public support or approval. By banning Rickshaws roads are clogged with increased private car use as well as increased parking by cars. Banning of Rickshaws on major roads increases the transportation costs for commuters. Not only due to longer trips to avoid roads with bans in effect, but also due to actually having to take more expensive forms of transport such as CNG or Taxi, where in the past a Rickshaw would suffice. The environmental impact of banning Rickshaws is obvious because it exchanges a non-motorized form of transport for a motorized form of transport, thus increasing the pollution and harming the environment. Rickshaw bans harm the most vulnerable in society, mainly the sick, poor, women, children and the elderly; generally those who can not afford or do not feel comfortable on other forms of public transport. To ban Rickshaws also hurts small businesses that rely on them as a cheap and reliable form of transporting their goods. Rickshaws are ideal for urban settings because they can transport a relatively large number of passengers while taking up a small portion of the road. In 1998 the data showed that Rickshaws took up 38% of road space while transporting 54% of passengers in Dhaka . The private cars on the other hand, took up 34% of road space while only transporting 9% of the population (1998 DUTP). This data does not include the parking space on roads that cars take up in Dhaka . If included this would further raise the amount of space taken up by private cars. Every year the Rickshaw saves Bangladesh 100 billion taka in environmental damage.
The government makes many efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka but with no success. Blaming Rickshaws for traffic congestion and subsequently banning them from major roads has not had the desired affect. Traffic is still as bad now as it was before the Rickshaws were banned on major roads. Rickshaws thus can not be seen as the major cause of traffic congestion. Instead one should look towards private cars and private car parking on roads as the major cause of traffic congestion. The space gained by banning Rickshaws is often used for private car parking. The current trend in transport planning reduces the mobility of the majority for the convenience of the minority. The next time a ban on Rickshaws on another road is discussed please take into consideration who is being hurt and who is being helped. For a better transport system in Dhaka we need to create a city wide network of Rickshaw lanes. If this is done Dhaka can reduce its fuel usage dramatically as well its pollution. We ask your help in our fight to keep Dhaka a Rickshaw city. Any information or help is very much appreciated and sought after. I write you this letter to describe the difficulties we are facing and some solutions but they are by no means exhaustive and we look forward to your help and input.
Volunteer of
Save Environment Movement
Sally Robertson Says:
I am a bike commuter in Mt. Juliet, TN. I promote bicycle commuting whenever I can. I live 24 miles from the college where I am a librarian. I take the train into Nashville a ride my bike the rest of the way. (9 miles) I love it. I would love to promote Bike Benefits to businesses in my hometown. How can I do this.
Jim Fowler Says:
Hi Folks:
I live in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada and this idea seems fantastic to me. I would be interested in having more information so that I can promote this in our city.
Alberta is very car friendly, and it is time we get out and promote our bicycles. I have been actively doing this for the last 5 years.
Jim
Gary Palmer Says:
I ride my bike everyday in my home of Jackson Hole Wyoming. My town has built over the last 20 years many miles od bike lanes and bike paths that follow the main routes in and around town plus some route that go other places that cars can not go. There are competitions that include or are bicycle based. People of all ages ride for pleasure, to go to work, school and just to do thier normal activities. Even Grand Teton National Park is building a bicycle trail along its main roads inside the park.
But in my personal case I have never driven a car or even owned one. I have bicycle toured all over the USA since 1982 with a 7000 miles tour of the U.S. and many other crosscountry tours.
David Wilkins Says:
Ian,
Great job. I love the concept.
I’m a bike commuter, and I love every minute of it. I’m certain, however, that most people wouldn’t have the commitment/fitness to do the commute I do. Pelham, AL isn’t designed for biking. Most of the subdivisions have heinous hills, there are nearly no bike lanes, there aren’t any nice/safe places to park a bike at local businesses, and it gets *really* hot in the summer.
This summer, I gave my son (13) a $5/day incentive to ride his bike to the YMCA to workout in preparation for a triathlon and the upcoming football season. He *loves* the freedom (and the money), and I think that he’ll continue once the incentive is over. Your program is bound to enlist some new recruits, which will probably help to address the problems I mentioned above.
Are you looking for local representatives? Is there any literature that I can print and give to local businesses? I know of several cycling friendly businesses.
dhw
Sally Robertson Says:
This sounds like a great program to promote both physical activity and bicycle and helmet use. I am a avid bicycle rider and use my bike to get to work. I love it. We need this program to catch on in Nashville and Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Nashville is having problems with motorists parking, around businesses/restaurants, in the bike lanes.
Jerret Says:
Ian
I want to do this in my area of MI. Do you have any stickers or handouts or anything? I wouldn’t mind purchasing this online. My family owns a successful restaurant where I commute by bike to work. As a leading business in the community, I think we could get the ball rolling quick.
Thanks.
Bellingham Bicyclist Says:
We have a similar program in Whatcom County, called Whatcom Smart Trips. When you sign up and log your Smart Trips (biking, walking, riding the bus and carpooling) you get a discount card good at many local businesses. You also get free gifts for every 100 trips you log. It’s awesome!!
ann s.e. Mi. Says:
I’m also in Mi. like Jerret, Ian, can you set us up with the stickers and info to spread the word??
Sara Says:
Rochester Hills Michigan is a community the required bike paths on all roadways of developing subdivisions starting 30 years ago. Between these paths and the old train trails you can get anywhere without traffic. I walk my bike accross rare but existing major intersections to the next bike path.
Gabe R. Says:
Hey we need that guy to bring Bicycle Benefits in Frederick, M.D. There are too many cars and not enough bikes.
Shawn Says:
A few stores here in Madison WI take part in bicycle benefits, but when I go to the website posted (www.bicyclebenefits.org) for more info, there’s nothing there. What’s the deal? How can I find more info?
Byron Says:
Here’s a report from our local organization “Bike Friendly Oak Cliff”. Oak Cliff is a part of Dallas, but frankly, quite apart from Dallas in many ways – geographically, culturally and otherwise. Oak Cliff is the proud birthplace of Lance Armstrong, Stevie Ray Vaughn and quite a few other great athletes and entertainers. Even here in Dallas, which topped Cycling Magazines list of worst cities for cycling, the bike benefits idea has blossomed quite nicely among the local independent businesses. The rewards are much better than I am familiar with in places like Cambridge/Somerville, MA which only has a “Green Friday” discount card which gets a small discount at a small number of places one day a month.
But here in Oak Cliff, “the Down side of town” of Dallas, for example, a local real estate company gives a 50% discount on your first month’s rent! Not a bad little Texas size incentive at all.
Byron Says:
Here’s a report from our local organization “Bike Friendly Oak Cliff”:
http://bikefriendlyoc.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/ride-your-bike-get-a-discount/
Oak Cliff is a part of Dallas, but frankly, quite apart from Dallas in many ways – geographically, culturally and otherwise. Oak Cliff is the proud birthplace of Lance Armstrong, Stevie Ray Vaughn and quite a few other great athletes and entertainers.
Even here in Dallas, which topped Cycling Magazines list of worst cities for cycling, the bike benefits idea has blossomed quite nicely among the local independent businesses. The rewards are much better than I am familiar with in places I’ve been like Cambridge/Somerville, MA which only has a “Green Friday” discount card which gets a small discount at a small number of places one day a month.
Here in Oak Cliff, “the Down side of town” of Dallas, the rewards/incentives are much better. As an example, a local real estate company gives a 50% discount on your first month’s rent! Not a bad little Texas size incentive at all, if I do say so myself.
rick Says:
My boss hates me riding a bike to work but a little less now that I made it to work in the snow.
Tim Keneipp Says:
The Driftless Region Bicycle Coalition is starting to sign up business in communities around Western Wisconsin to give our members benefits and there are a few businesses that do it independently of our program as well.