Bicycle Friendly Businesses: Boosting Creativity and Mental Health

Last week, the League of American Bicyclists announced 114 businesses, agencies, and organizations that have joined the growing list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFBs) around the country. The review process for BFB recognition includes a comprehensive online application, as well as surveys distributed to employees and local bike advocates, and concludes with a feedback report for each applicant.

In addition to covering important topics like bike parking, bicycle commuter incentives and employee bike clubs, we ask every BFB applicant to “briefly describe the most positive outcome of your company’s support for bicycling.”

In honor of National Bike to Work Week this week, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite responses to this question from Spring 2018 BFB applicants.  Read on to find out why your company should support bicycling, too!

“We see a direct relationship between our employees’ creativity / mental health and the cycling culture we’ve created in our office. When we all participate group rides and ride to work, there is a definite productive and energetic quality in our office that would likely not exist to the same degree without cycling.” 

— Bullhorn, Gold BFB, 14 employees, Lexington, KY

“We have drawn a younger and/or more engaged crowd into our employee pool and it draws a social aspect into our company that was not there before.” 

— HNTB Indiana, Bronze, 120 employees, Indianapolis, IN

HNTB’s bike room

“Bicycling acts as a unifying activity among our employees, many of whom commute to work by bike. Group rides, races and bike tune-ups have brought together Formlabs employees who share this common interest, in a practice that is beneficial not only on the individual level but for the community at large.”

— Formlabs, Bronze BFB, 350 employees, Somerville, MA

“Employees who cycle to work arrive positive, energetic and focused. I think that has had the largest impact on our business and we love to see it!” 

— Chimera, Silver BFB, 20 employees, Tulsa, OK

“We have seen first hand the improvement on people’s health and wellness. We have people that come in the shop feeling overweight and overwhelmed with their fitness, and guiding them through the life changes that bicycling can provide is a great feeling. The fundraiser that we held for Bicycle Columbus was also a great accomplishment as it brought together businesses, local government and community members together for one goal … bicycle advocacy!”

— Ride On Bikes, Platinum BFB, 12 employees, Columbus, GA

Ride on Bikes — Ride of Silence 2017

Learn how the Bicycle Friendly Business program can help your business or organization to become more bicycle-friendly at https://bikeleague.org/business. For #BiketoWorkWeek, we’re offering 20% off the BFB application fee. Submissions must be finalized by Sunday night (5/20 at midnight ET). Use the discount code BTWW2018. Apply at apply.bikeleague.org. 

Read more about how Bicycle Friendly Businesses build fresh energy and new relationships …