10 Essential Tips – Justin W. Moore, League Cycling Instructor (#2817)

Promoting Bicycle Commuting

Who is Justin Moore? ¨  Bicycle Commuter

¤  Over 6,000 miles of transportation cycling

¨  League Cycling Instructor ¤  Teach 8-10 Traffic Skills 101

courses in San Antonio

¨  Photographer & Blogger ¤  The “Bike Geek” Blog

n  www.bikegurus.com

…to Promote Bicycle Commuting in your Community

10 Essential Tips

Tip 1: The Bicycle for Transportation ¨  Help your employees, citizens and even existing cyclists recognize the bicycle as more than a fitness device.

n  Do not assume this awareness exists n  Debunk the “you’re crazy!” myth

n  Fellow employees often fascinated with my bicycle commuting

n  “You’re the one that rides your bike to work, right!?”

Tip 2 : Incentives Work ¨  NuRide Program

¤  Rewards Program ¨  Bike Month

¤  $1200 overall investment ¤  Weekly Gift Card Prizes

n  Each bike ride = 1 weekly entry ¤  Overall Grand Prize

n  Most mileage ¤  Net Result – 50% increase in ridership

¨  75 bicycle commutes in a 365 day calendar year = 75% refund on gym membership

Tip 3 : Defining “Bicycle Commuter” ¨  “Bicycle Commuter” means

you actively try to replace car trips to work with bike trips ¨  It doesn’t mean you have to

ride your bicycle to work every day.

¨  It doesn’t mean it “doesn’t count” if your commute is less than “X” miles

Tip 4 : Bike Mentor Program ¨  Pairs an experienced rider with

a new one ¤  Increases safety ¤  Increases new rider confidence ¤  Helps eliminate barriers

n  Where do I park my bicycle? n  What’s the easiest way to get to

work from my house? ¤  Increases odds of a very

enjoyable first bike commute n  Critical for repeat ridership

Tip 5 : Facilities ¨  Convenient bicycle parking

¤  Covered ¤  Secure ¤  Near building entrance

¨  Showers and/or gym ¨  Cycling infrastructure

¤  To facilitate “safe passage” ¤  Big barrier for large employers

in busy transportation corridors

Tip 6 : Bicycle Education Critical ¨  Train Bike Mentors as…

¤  They set the example for new riders

¤  “Experience alone” not enough ¨  Train new commuters to…

¤  Increase their safety n  Need to be competent on their

bikes before commuting ¤  Help them understand their rights ¤  Make them tomorrow’s cycling

advocates

Tip 7 : Create a Local Community ¨  Employee cycling team

¤  Training opportunities for new cyclists

¤  Opportunities to get comfortable with a new bike before commuting

¨  Employee cycling portals ¤  SharePoint or similar online

collaboration system n  Cyclists can ask questions,

share routes, post events

Tip 8 : Extend your community ¨  Social media

¤ Gathering people of like interests with Twitter

¤ Using hashtags (#TTAT) n  Conversations around a topic

or conference n  Promotes remote participation

& interest ¤ Cyclists become advocates

Tip 9 : Identify & Support Advocates ¨  There are at least a few in every

organization ¤  They’re passionate about bicycle

commuting ¤  They are usually actively recruiting &

supporting other riders ¨  Groom them for greatness

¤  Give them a forum ¤  Let them “champion” the cause with

tools & support ¤  No better example to others than a

fellow employee/citizen

Tip 10 : Seize the Moment! ¨  Money motivates ¨  High gas prices

¤ More bike commuters ¤ Conversion opportunity

n  “Set the hook” n  Increase “evergreen”

bicycle commuter population

Questions & Answers : Speak up!