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.

The federal tax benefit for commuters was revised to allow participating employers to deduct $20 per month, from the paychecks of bicycle commuters to cover bicycling related expenses beginning in January 2009. As with the train, bus, and vanpool benefit, employers save by not paying payroll taxes on the pre-tax portion of their employees' paycheck. If the benefit is offered through cash reimbursement, the company can treat this as business expense. Visit www.bikeleague.org for updates.

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 visit wwww.commuterconnections.org. Click on Employer Programs; Overview of Services; Parking Management.

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.

“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.

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

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. Keeps Minds Young. A report from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging has shown that exercise helps maintain mental agility.
   
   
4. Creates Free Time. Employees can save time by combining exercise and commuting.

Increased Longevity. Health benefits from bicycling to work outweigh the traffic safety risk by a factor of 20 to 1.

Washington Area Bicycle Facts: According to the Commuter Connections 2007 State of the Commute Survey: 17% of all commuters live less than five miles from work. The average bike commute is 6 miles each way Mean days per week for bicyclists is 3.2 According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' 2007-2008 Household Travel Survey: 1% of work trips in the region are by bicycle, up from 0.7% in 1994. The District of Columbia has the highest bike commute share at 3.3%, followed by Alexandria at 2.7%. 30% of bike trips in the Washington region are to and from work. There are more than 30,000 work-related bike trips in the Washington region everyday. Bike to Work Day May 2007 Washington Region Event Survey: The Bike to Work Day event increases bicycle commuting- 21% of survey respondents said they never commuted by bicycle before participating in teh annual event. The Bike to Work Day event expands the frequency of bicycle commuting- 12% of survey respondents who commuted by bicycle previous to the event, said they started bicycling even more after participating in the event.

For a printed copy of this guide call Commuter Connections at (800) 745-RIDE