City Market employees are earning extra cash for biking to work.

Thanks to legislation included in the 2008 federal stimulus bill, companies can give their employees a $20/month pre-tax benefit ($240 per year) for bicycling to work.  City Market is the first Vermont company we know to be giving this benefit to staff.

City Market staffer Mary Manghis first read about the commuter benefit opportunity in a Sierra Club magazine and brought the idea to management.  "I appreciated that management was open to the idea."  She estimates that nearly half of City Market employees bike to work on occasion.

"We have limited parking" acknowledges HR Director Meredith O'Neill.  "Every space we can keep open for customers is a win-win for everyone.  Employees think the bike commuting benefit is great!"  City Market also participates in the popular Bicycle Benefits program that gives shoppers 5% off their bill if they pedal to the store and show their Bicycle Benefits helmet sticker at check out.  Cyclists have received over $8,000 in discounts on their food purchases to date.

Get Your Company On Board!

Talk to someone in your company's human resources department about the bike commuter benefit.  If they are open to the idea, give them the following resources:

• Overview of the Bicycle Commuter Act benefits and requirements
• Download City Market's Bicycle Commuter Reimbursement Card here
• Download City Market's promotional poster here
• City Market HR Director Meredith O'Neill ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is happy to answer questions
• Stark Mountain Woodworking Health Plan (bike commuting incentive)
• General Dynamics' Two Wheeled Challenge
• CATMA Bike/Walk Rewards Program

Still More To Do:

Drivers and transit users still can get larger pre-tax benefits than cyclists, but it's a start.  Local Motion, and groups like ours around the country, are pushing legislation that would allow companies to "flex" their commuter benefits and therefore offer greater benefits to cyclists.

Town pride is on the line.

Thanks to Local Motion member Phyl Newbeck, five towns have begun to do battle.  The challenge?  Which of five towns in the Mountain Gazette region can get more residents to participate in the "Way To Go!" Commuter Challenge, May 17-21, 2010.

Help your town get ahead!  Register today for the 2010 Commuter Challenge on the Way to Go! website.

If you're willing to try carpooling, telecommuting, transit, bicycling or walking just one day during the competition, you're eligible to register, earn coupons and be in the running for great raffle prizes!