American Bicyclist- March/April 2014

Page 17

BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA

NUMBER OF BFBs BY RANK PLATINUM BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS 2012-2015

PLATINUM

GOLD

BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS

GOLD

SILVER

Microsoft

keep everyone informed of city updates and have a clear line of information when trail and street repairs are identified. Part of this process happens through attendance at bike organization meetings, rides, and shop visits. When new trail maps are printed, staff distributes them to the local bike shops and at club meetings. A couple of clubs have even donated bike repair stations for NLR’s bike trails and many club and local advocacy group members assist with in educational programs. We know our efforts pay off. By supporting large bike events like Tour de Rock or the Big Dam Bridge 100, the city has benefited from increased local revenue, but also from increased media coverage of bicycle safety and education. So it’s no surprise that NLR is home to a diverse group of cyclists who, not only want to ride their bikes, but also assist the city in creating new bike facilities to encourage more people to start cycling.

BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESSES » MICROSOFT

Encouraging thousands to commute by bike every single day BY JEFF AUMELL

On any given day, more than 40,000 people commute to our Redmond, Wash., campus, which encompasses 10 million square feet of office space in 79 buildings across 468 acres. Reducing drive-alone commuting is important both to Microsoft’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and to promote healthy lifestyles. That’s why Microsoft supports bicycle commuting — and has risen to the ranks of a Silver Bicycle Friendly Business. Our goal is for at least 40 percent of employees to use a smart commute each WILLA WILLIAMS IS THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES COORDINATOR FOR workday. As such, the company offers a THE CITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK robust bicycle program, along with free transit passes, carpool parking, vanpool subsidies, a free employee bus service

BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS

SILVER

»9 »54 »196 »372

BRONZE BICYCLE FRIENDLY BUSINESS BRONZE

(The Connector), an intra-campus shuttle system and educational programs. On a typical day, more than 1,500 Microsoft employees bicycle to work. How do we make that happen? Several initiatives stand out.

1» WE MAKE BICYCLING CONVENIENT AND COMFORTABLE.

»» Microsoft converted 115 single occupant vehicle stalls to 27 covered and seAMERICAN BICYCLIST 15


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