commuting

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Group Health Commute Challenge
Organization Toolkit

Cascade's Group Health Commute Challenge is a fun and effective way to significantly increase bike commuting among your employees. Not only do experienced riders bike to work more as a result of the Commute Challenge, but 20% of riders are brand new bike commuters. This FREE turn-key program is unparalleled for effectiveness. Plus, it's pretty fun.

The Commute Challenge is easy

The Commute Challenge is workplace-based program that aims to increase bicycle commuting by fostering camaraderie and competition with teams and businesses. Cascade Bicycle Club administers the program, team captains recruit their coworkers to participate and riders track their bike commuting online. We have designed this program to be simple and easy for businesses. There are several ways your business can participate:

• Recruit captains. Encourage your employees to start teams at your workplace.
  
• Support your bike commuters. Whether you offer encouragement, education or incentives there are a number of ways to inspire your team.
  
• Issue a challenge (or three). Challenge peers, neighbors, and competitors to step up their game with a custom league.
  

Cascade Bicycle Club supports you

• A comprehensive toolkit with a sample timeline, email and newsletter templates and suggestions.
  
• On-site bike commuting classes
  
• Custom reports of riders, and statistics from your business (on request)
  
• Recognition of top teams (certificates and press release)

TOOLKIT

• Sample timeline
  
• Inspirational ideas
  
• Messaging templates
  
• Graphics and promotional ideas
  

Inspire your employees

Bike commuters definitely respond to support, encouragement and incentives. Below is a list of suggestions to guide your Bike Month planning.

• Host a class for new commuters.
  
• Submit a compelling video about bicycling at your workplace.
  
• Propose theme days (lycra, business suits, tutus, super heroes, tweeds, etc).
  
• Organize free food for bicyclists (breakfast, lunch, or happy hour).
  
• Use your ridematching skills to pair new bike commuters with experienced riders.
  
• Raffle off fabulous prizes.
  
• Get your CEO to participate.
  
• Organize a CEO ride to your workplace.
  
• Stage a bicycle fashion show (demonstrate that bicycling is highly diverse and mostly normal)
  
• Share inspiring stories via company newsletter, intranet, or blog.
  
• Share inspiring stories via the Cascade Bicycle Club blog.

Email templates

Feel free to use these templates to promote the Commute Challenge via email, online, or newsletters. Graphics and additional promotional ideas can be found here.

Recruit captains

Dear ________,

Bike Month is coming up and __________ (organization) will be participating in Cascade Bicycle Club's Group Health Commute Challenge. The theme this year is "Let's Ride" I'd like to encourage you to join the all-star cast of team captains.

As a team captain, you can significantly increase bicycle commuting at _________ (worksite). And we'll be backing you up with some fun events and incentives, including:

• Events
  
• Incentives
  
• Classes
  
• Other
  

Cascade Bicycle Club offers up great support for captains, including a free t-shirt, free stuff to give your team, the legendary Captain's Bash at Pike Brewery on May 9 with free beverages for you and a guest, a comprehensive toolkit, and prizes just for captains.

To start a team, you simply sign up online, recruit three or more coworkers to join your team, and encourage them to ride as much as possible throughout May.

The challenge starts May 1st; start your team today!

________(your name, title, department, contact information)

Encourage executive support

Dear __________ (title)

I would like to propose that ___________________(business) participate in Cascade Bicycle Club's Group Health Commute Challenge. Bicycle commuting makes great business sense.

The Commute Challenge is a simple turn-key program that has significantly increased bicycle commuting among both new and experienced riders. Last year, 20% of participants were brand new commuters. Currently, ____ % of our employees bike to work; with the proven effectiveness of the Commute Challenge, we could double our bike commuting rate in just a few years.

What's more, it's very simple for businesses to participate. Riders track their own trips online, and Cascade Bicycle Club administers the system. Here at _______________ (business), I would like to see an increase in bicycle commuting, and the Group Health Commute Challenge is a fun and effective way to encourage bicycling.

________(your name)

_________(team name)

_________(business name)

_________ Department

Encourage business support

Dear __________ (title)

I would like to encourage ___________________(business) to participate in Cascade Bicycle Club's Group Health Commute Challenge. Bicycle commuting makes great business sense. Bike commuters are healthier and more productive employees. Bicycle parking is a fraction of the cost and space of car parking. Bike commuting is especially valuable to me as an employee because _____________________.

The Commute Challenge is a simple turn-key program that has significantly increased bicycle commuting among both new and experienced riders. Last year, 20% of participants were brand new commuters. That an impressive result.

What's more, it's very simple for businesses to participate. Team captains like me recruit and encourage riders. The riders track their own trips online. Cascade Bicycle Club provides a comprehensive business toolkit with email templates, newsletter blurbs, graphics, and inspiration.

At the very least, I'd like to ask you to promote the Commute Challenge to all staff. Please check out the Bike Month website for information and resources.

Captain ________(your name)

_________(team name)

_________(business name)

_________ Department

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