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7. Funding for Employer Bike
Programs
The District Department of Transportation
(DDOT) Bicycle Program offers free help and bicycle racks by request.
DDOT will help you select, locate, and install racks in your garage or
on your surface lot. In fact, DDOT will even pay for the racks if you
agree to pay for the installation! DDOT will also supply a free bicycle
parking sign for your facility. For more information contact the Bicycle
Program Manager at 202-671-2331 or
Jim.Sebastian@dc.gov, or go to
www.ddot.dc.gov.
Parking Cash Out: A Tax
Free Benefit For Bike Commuters
Employees who bike, walk, or take transit
often have a parking spot they don t use. A 1998 change in the federal
tax law allows employers to pay employees the cost of that space and
avoid paying a tax on this benefit. For example: Employees at Company D
receive parking benefits worth $100 a month. The employee can either
keep the parking spot, receive a tax free transit benefit, or receive
$100 a month extra of taxable income in his or her paycheck. For more
information contact your human resources department, call (800)
745-RIDE, or see
www.fta.dot.gov and scroll down to “commuter choice”.
Negotiate Bike
Facilities In Your Lease
When you renew your lease, ask
building owners to install bicycle facilities. They can then
market these amenities to prospective tenants and save on
parking spaces.
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“Bike
commuting helps address both traffic congestion and the parking
shortage in downtown D.C. Our new bike room at Metro Square
provides employees with secure, convenient bike parking and
eliminates the need to bring bikes into the buildingís lobby and
elevators.”
Jeff Nokes,
Senior Property Manager, Boston
Properties.
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Federal Employees
The federal government is the
largest employer in the Washington area with over 325,000 employees. In
1993 Congress passed the Federal Employees Clean Air Incentives Act
which encourages alternative commuting at federal worksites. According
to the Act, Public Law 103-172, The head of each agency may establish a
program to encourage employees of such agency to use means other than
single occupancy vehicles to commute to or from work [including]
furnishing space, facilities or services to bicyclists. Each agency must
report on the progress of their program (number of racks, lockers, etc.)
every two years. For more information or to report your agency s
progress, call Rebekah Pearson at the General Services Administration,
Office of Governmentwide Policy (202) 208-1850 or email
rebekah.pearson@gsa.gov
Why Biking to Work is Good for
Your Employees
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Provides Fitness. Biking to work is one of the best all-round exercises
and it doesn't put as much strain on the knees and ankles as running.
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Strengthens Lower Back. Lower back pain is a common cause of visits to
physicians, second only to the common cold. Bicycling exercises the
small muscles that surround the spine which are important in keeping the
back strong and preventing injuries.
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Keeps
Minds Young. A report from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging has
shown that exercise helps maintain mental agility.
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Creates
Free Time. Employees can save time by combining exercise and commuting.
Washington Area Bicycle
Facts:
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According to the Commuter
Connections 2004 State of the Commute Survey:
- 17% of all commuters live
less than five miles from work
- The average bike commute
is 8.2 miles each way
- Biking to work accounts
for 0.4% of all commutes According to COG’s 1999 Household
Travel Survey:
- 27% of bike trips in the
region are to and from work
- There are more than 21,000
work-related bike trips in the region every day.
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For a
printed copy of this guide call Commuter Connections at
(800) 745-RIDE
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