A bike repair station at the Pittsburgh Whole Foods. Photo: Lou Fineberg
tive Officer Brock Johnson. This work has lead to camaraderie outside of the office, where everyone from surveyors to senior management are all bicyclists at the end of the work day.
Cranks of Commerce
Bike Pittsburgh’s Bicycle Friendly Employer (BFE) program is a great complement to the League’s program. “It’s a way to build a foundation, a relationship between companies in town and advocates,” explains Lou Fineberg, Program Director for Bike Pittsburgh. The organization reviews applications, conducts a site visit, and prepares an extensive bike action plan for the business. The plans have provided several companies the feedback they need to get more employees bicycling to work and gain recognition as a BFE. The program also offers a way for the business community to profile
progress. As Fineberg notes, “Making improvements at their company and then seeing how bicycling is taking off citywide, businesses can be proud to be a part of this movement.” These efforts are paying off – Whole Foods recently installed a bicycle maintenance facility and the Priory Hotel built some beautiful covered bike parking. To learn more visit bike-pgh.org/ campaigns/bike-friendly-employer/.
University as Advocate
College towns are typically associated with fun times, new ideas and creativity. Chatham University, outside of Pittsburgh, is a local leader as both a BFB and now a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU). “It seemed like the natural next step and the recognition as a bike-friendly
Bike parking and maintenance space at Garver USA.
employer made it a lot easier to make the campus itself more accommodating for bicycles,” explains Assistant Music Professor Michael Boyd. An existing sustainability committee worked to incorporate transportation improvements, including bicycles, into the university’s net zero carbon footprint goals. This means new bike racks, an expanding on-campus bike co-op, and incentives to leave the car at home. Bicycle Friendly America Guidebook 2012 21
THE ROLE OF ADVOCACY
Bike Pittsburgh’s Bicycle Friendly Employer (BFE) program is a great complement to the League’s BFB program. It allows Bike Pittsburgh to work closely with local businesses.