Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009
17 CLAIM PRIZES FROM BIKE2BENEFITS
MINNEAPOLIS – (Feb. 6) – Seventeen men and women from across the region won prizes through Metro Transit's Bike2Benefits program, which offers commuters incentives for commuting on two wheels instead of driving alone.
The Bike2Benefits, which launched in May 2008, asks participants to commit to bicycling once a week for any eight-week period. The program offers an online tool for tracking bicycle trips and mileage. By the end of 2008, more than 2,100 people had joined the program and logged more than 388,000 miles. Those who completed the eight-week program online were automatically eligible for a prize drawing.
Members recorded more than 50,000 bicycle commutes. In addition, they logged 6,200 commutes that combined bicycle riding with transit. All Metro Transit buses and trains have free onboard bike racks that allow commuters to combine bicycling and transit. A recent survey found that the use of racks is increasing dramatically, with hundreds of bicycles being loaded on Metro Transit buses and trains every day of the week.
The top prizes were gift certificates to bicycle shops. Other prizes included kits with headlamps, patch kits, commuter bags, maintenance books and apparel.
"Bike2Benefits is a great way for commuters to try getting around by bicycle, and it benefits the environment," said John Siqveland, program manager. "By bicycling instead of driving alone, these members saved 185 tons of CO2 and more than 19,000 gallons of fuel."
Bike2Benefits is open to anyone 18 or older who lives or works in these counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington. There is no fee to participate.
Information about the program, along with other bicycling resources, can be found at metrotransit.org/bike. A new how-to publication, Bicycling as Transportation, is available at area bike shops and online.
The Bike2Benefits program is partially funded by a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Metro Transit, a service of the Metropolitan Council, is the transportation resource for the Twin Cities, offering an integrated network of buses and trains as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike.
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(Editors: For information call Bob Gibbons, director of customer services, 612-349-7509 or via e-mail at robert.gibbons@metc.state.mn.us)
