Introduction
Resources for Employees Walking or Biking to Work
Resources for Employees
As a public service, WalkSacramento and the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) have collected the information and resources below to encourage people to walk or bike to work.
There are a number of benefits to walking or biking to work. First, you are doing something that is very good for your health and, possibly, the health of others. The Surgeon General and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have indicated that the lack of physical activity of many Americans poses a serious public health problem. They further state that our health can be significantly improved by 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. Walking briskly or biking to work helps to promote good health. In addition, the British Medical Assocition determined that the health benefits of this type of exercise outweigh the added risk of personal injury. Also, someone who walks or bikes, unlike a person driving a car, is much less likely to cause serious injury to others.
Second, you are doing something that is very good for the environment. You are reducing vehicular traffic congestion and the related air and noise pollution. Other benefits of reduced traffic congestion include decreased respiratory ailments, prevention of global warming, preservation of habitat and open space, and decreased dependence on foreign oil. Under our section on Walkable Livable Communities , we describe the enormous negative impact auto dependence can have on a community. By walking or biking to work you gain the satisfaction of knowing you are doing your part to make your community more livable.
Another major benefit has to do with your finances. Owning and maintaining a car (or often two or more cars) is the largest financial expense, after housing, that most of us have. The average annual expense of operating a car in 1996 was $5,654.00 ). Today it is over $8,000 with gas prices rising steeply in the last year. This amount may vary from year to year depending on inflation, cost of gasoline, insurance, etc., but it has been steadily increasing. Much of the justification for driving a car to work is that you can travel much faster. But when you look at the concept of Social Speed and all the costs (including the indirect costs) associated with each transportation mode, you will find that a bicycle and car travel at about the same speed. A report titled the Real Price of Gasoline examines the indirect cost of auto use in more detail.This report was written in 1998 and the real costs today are even greater. Eliminating the use of a car, or just reducing the use of one and extending its life, can result in very significant $$$$ savings over a period of time for both you and society.
Employers also benefit from their employees walking and bicycling to work. Many organizations have recognized that the benefits of having healthy workers are so great, they have subsidized the cost of various physical activities for their employees. Another direct benefit for employers is requiring less parking space when more employees regularly walk or bike to work. Also, by promoting walking and biking to work and making the surrounding community more livable, employers are showing they are good "community citizens".
Resources for Employees Walking or Biking to Work
Bikeway Maps- detailed bikeway maps for the Sacramento area
Bike to Work Day for 2006, organized by SABA will be May 20. Click here for more information. For information on bike to work month and million mile May click here.
Regional Transit Routes and Schedules- Combine your walking or biking with taking a bus or light rail. Note: Current RT policy on bikes is as follows: Bike carriers on busses can be used anytime of the day with a limit of two bikes per bus, which is carrier capacity. No extra charge for bikes and no permit required. For Light Rail, two bikes are allowed per car except during peak hours in the prime commute direction, i.e., towards downtown in the a.m. and away from downtown in the p.m.
Incentive Programs- Ask your employer what kind of incentives are available for walking, biking or taking public transit to work. If no program exists, get a group of like minded people together and petition your employer to start a program. WalkSacramento and SABA believe that employees should aim high when asking for incentives. For example, the best incentives would include: a monthly cash payment for employees who don't drive equal to the full cost of parking (capital cost plus operation and maintenace) for those who do drive; a guaranteed ride home by taxi, or other means, in case of emergency for those who don't drive; showers, lockers and bike parking for employees biking to work.
Living Near Your Workplace- The following links are provided to help employees find suitable housing near their workplace, whether employees are new to the area or wishing to re-locate. Remember, if you live near where you work and eliminate or significantly reduce the use of a car, you can save many $$$$ per year.
Houses for Sale
Sacramento Bee Classifieds
Davis Enterprise Classifieds
Real Estate Buyer's Guide
Rentals
Sacramento Bee Classifieds
Davis Enterprise Classifieds
Apartments for Rent
Walk or Bike to Other Places- We have described above why it is important to walk or bike to work. In order to get the full benefits of these alternative modes of transportation, people should be able to walk or bike to other activities in their life. People should be able to walk or bike without great difficultly and safely within their neighborhood, to a retail store, an entertainment, to a nearby park and many other places they may choose. If you find it difficult or unsafe to walk or bike to work, or other places, join WalkSacramento and SABA in advocating for better pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Go to Voice Your Opinion and let newspapers and elected officials know what you think. WalkSacramento, SABA and the California Bicycle Coalition urges your support for bills before the California Legislature that relate to walking and biking (Go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html to see find the details on each bill). None are listed at this time.
Incentive Programs- We mentioned above the benefits for employers supporting their employees walking and biking to work and the best type of incentive programs. As an example, the Sacramento Council of Governments (SACOG) offers employees $45 per month for commuting to work using a non-motorized means of transportation. SACOG also offers incentives for commuting by transit or carpool.You may also get information and assistance on incentive programs from one of the Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) listed below serving your area.
Folsom/ElDorado/Cordova TMA
Sacramento TMA
South Natomas TMA
North Natomas TMA
Power Inn BTA (Business Transportation Association), 3801 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826, Ph. (916) 453-8888.
Guidelines for Pedestrian/Bicycle Friendly Workplaces- Check the recommended guidelines SABA has developed for people biking to work. If you have a small businesses and are unable to furnish the recommended facilities, you should as a minimum furnish the bike rack designs recommended by SABA. Contact SABA for more information. The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) currently has incentive funds for bike racks only (not lockers). They can provide a 75% rebate for the cost of purchase and installation of bike racks, up to $1500 per business location. Any business location in the County of Sacramento, including incorporated cities, is eligible. Funding is limited and available on a first come-first served basis. For more information, contact Peter Christensen at 916-874-4886.
Affordable Housing Near the Workplace- Finding affordable housing in the Silicon Valley has become a problem making national news. The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group and the Greenbelt Alliance have become strong partners in developing a plan to increase housing production in the Silicon Valley that addresses business and environmental concerns. Both organizations recognize the importance of having housing near the workplace so that employees can take alternative transportation to work; and they agree that an ever-expanding urbanized area is neither a sustainable nor an acceptable way to solve the housing crisis. Go to the Silicon Valley Manufacuring Group web site and read their 1999 report titled Housing Solutions for Silicon Valley. There are important lessons we can learn from this effort for our Sacramento region.