Bicycle Plan - Part 10

Bicycle Promotion Programs

REVIEW OF PROMOTION PROGRAMS

In the present climate of mandated reductions in automobile use, a variety of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs have been implemented by state and local governments and private industry. These programs have focussed on education, information and incentives to get people to stop driving alone to work. Carpools, vanpools, and transit are the most popular alternative modes. Bicycle commuting is often an overlooked or underutilized opportunity for attaining these trip reduction goals.

For this section, we have researched existing bicycle commuting encouragement programs in the Bay Area and around the country sponsored by both government agencies and private industry. Responses to our investigation have turned up a wide variety of programs and, to our pleasant surprise, much interest by those surveyed in the results of our study. We also found that, in many instances, the development of bike commute promotion programs is being limited by company concerns for employee safety and employer liability. Many companies feel that bicycle access to their facilities is severely compromised by barriers and dangerous traffic conditions. They, in good conscience, do not feel that they can promote such a dangerous activity as bicycle commuting. Also, they are concerned about their liability if an employee was seriously hurt or killed while participating in a company promoted activity such as bicycle commuting. Whether or not these are legitimate concerns, they were expressed by commute coordinators at several companies and has resulted in company policy of not actively promoting the bicycle as a commute alternative.

The success rate of these promotion programs was difficult to assess in numeric terms of how effective they have been in encouraging new bike commuters. Unfortunately, information on the number of bicycle commuters before and after implementation of the program is not available. Therefore, commute coordinators were asked to estimate the current number of bike commuters as a percentage of the employee base and to evaluate their promotion programs on the basis of demand for the services, i.e. how many bicycle lockers are checked out, how full are bicycle parking rooms, how many participants in incentive programs. The complete database from our research is included in Appendix I.

A bike commute promotion program can be implemented by a city, company, university or other organization. The specifics of each program will differ based on the potential audience, but we have found that an effective bicycle commuting promotion program must include the following:

_ The TDM program must identify bicycle commuting as an option;

_ The TDM program must provide an incentive to use bicycle commuting; and

_ The TDM program must support and applaud bicycle commuting.

Identify Bicycle Commuting as an Option

Before the bicycle can be considered as an alternative mode of transportation, the availability, feasibility and benefits of bicycle commuting must be known. Many people are unaware of the opportunities that bicycle commuting can provide. An extensive advertising campaign must be developed to get the message out. The actual components of this campaign will depend upon what group is being targeted, i.e., employers, city officials, city employees, students, and/or the general population. A campaign will be most successful if it is tailored to a specific group and can address the questions and doubts of that group.

This campaign should include information about monetary, environmental and health benefits of bicycle commuting. It should also address and attempt to dispel many of the perceived obstacles to bike commuting. Many of the TDM programs currently in effect use newsletters, special events, and workshops to educate potential bicycle commuters. Information should be included on what kind of bicycle and other equipment is needed, where the safe and secure bicycle parking is located, where bike shops are located, and the available transit-access options. Bicycle route maps, safety information, effective-cycling pamphlets and flyers of upcoming bicycle events can be distributed in employee paycheck envelopes or mailed with utility bills to reach the population of a city, county or region.

Some of the existing programs go even further and provide a bicyclist information network. These networks can be used by the potential bicycle commuter to learn what the best commute routes are for their personal needs, to locate experienced bicycle commuters in their area who are willing to advise and escort them during their first bicycle commutes, and to find out what events and activities are coming up.

Provide an Incentive to Use Bicycle Commuting

Many of the existing TDM programs use monetary or other incentives to lure the prospective participant out of their single-occupant-vehicle (SOV) and into a carpool or transit. Many TDM programs include similar incentives for bicycle commuting, but these can often be expanded using the existing transit and carpool incentives as a guideline. The most effective incentives for bicycle commuting currently being used are:

Bicycle Infrastructure - Good bicycle routes providing access to the locations frequented by the bicycle commuter are critical to an encouragement program. Bicycle route maps and an identifiable route signage system are necessary to support the route network. Obviously, developing a bicycle route network to serve its employees is beyond the ability of the company to provide but is rather the responsibility of the local city and/or county jurisdiction. However, a company can lobby the local agencies for improvements to bicycle access for its employees or institute an "Adopt-a-Lane" program to construct, maintain or beautify bicycle facilities in the area. Interest and support by the business community in the bicycle as transportation will serve to increase the interest and support of local governments and potential bike commuters.

Parking - The provision of secure, protected, convenient and inexpensive bicycle parking is crucial to the success of bicycle commuting promotion. Suitable bicycle parking can be provided with bicycle lockers, bicycle storage rooms, locked cages, and attendant parking. Allowing bicycles into the workplace is the least costly for the employer to provide. However, space is not always available in the workplace for the parking of bicycles and often bicycles are not allowed into the building itself. It may be necessary for the employer and employees to work with building owners/operators to negotiate for permission bring bicycles inside or for a suitable bicycle storage room.

Cash Incentives - Several varieties of a cash incentive to the employee to encourage the bike commute were found in this research. As part of many TDM programs, a subsidy is given to employees who use transit or other alternative commute modes. Several companies have also made this cash dividend available to bicycle commuters for each day that they commute by bicycle. Discounts or credits at bicycle stores and/or company stores and cafeterias is another means for providing an incentive to employees for bicycle commuting. The City of Palo Alto reim

Other programs have been developed aimed at recruiting new bicycle commuters. In some of these programs, companies provide company bikes for a trial commute by the employee. Other companies assist the employee in the purchase of a bicycle. This latter program has taken many forms, including reimbursing the employee for the purchase after commuting for a period of time, providing financing for a new bike, or offering an easy payroll deduction plan. Other possible encouragements might include paying employees for their bicycle commute time in excess of the time spent in the auto commute or giving bicycle commuters 15 minutes of additional vacation time for each day that they bike commute.

A parking cash-out program is another opportunity to provide a cash incentive to employees while perhaps reducing costs to the employers. Under this program, the employee is able to "cash-out" their parking privileges and receive the cash-equivalent or transit pass equivalent of the parking spot. Employers who lease parking spaces for their employees can reduce the number of spaces they require and pass this savings on to their employees while promoting commute alternatives.

Convenience Incentives - One of the primary obstacles to transit and bicycle commuting is the perceived inconvenience factor. TDM programs have addressed this concern with the Guaranteed Ride Home. In the event of sickness, family emergency, or even inclement weather, the bicycle commuter is provided with a taxi voucher or other means for a ride home. This is a small price to pay for the peace of mind of the employee and the increase in number of bicycle commuters. Fleet bicycles are provided by many cities and companies for the use of the employee during business hours. Shuttles between company facilities have also been improved to include bike racks. Fleet bikes are often also available for the employee to use for their commute on a trial basis as discussed above.

Other convenience incentives which have been popular in existing TDM programs are on-site bicycle repair kits for flat tire and broken chain emergencies, on-call repair services with a local bicycle shop, flex hours so the employee can avoid rush hour or darkness, showers and locker rooms for clean-up and changing after the commute, closet space for storage of clean clothes and relaxed dress codes for bicycle commuters.

Support and Applaud Bicycle Commuting

Endorsement of bicycle commuting by those in charge is a significant aspect of a promotion program. Prospective bicycle commuters are more apt to try out this unconventional mode if it is acceptable to the supervisors, elected officials and peers. Organized and advertised rides such as "Ride with the CEO" or "Ride with the Mayor" clearly demonstrate their support and enthusiasm. At one of the most successful state rides, Cycle Oregon, the Governor of Oregon gave the opening statement and then rode along with participants for a portion of the first day. Advertising campaigns aimed at informing commuters on the merits of bicycling should include endorsements by key officials as well as interviews with peers who currently commute by bicycle. Programs by a city or company to promote bicycle commuting should be as comprehensive as the programs established to encourage transit use. If cash subsidies are offered for transit use but not for bicycling, the message that bicycles are not as acceptable as transit is clearly being given.

Implementation of the programs discussed above will do a great deal towards encouraging bicycle commuting. Other activities which could be used to generate interest are monthly prize drawings for participants in the bicycle commute program. A Bike-to-Work day should be organized in conjunction with the annual national event in May. But one day a year is not enough. Bike days should be held on a regular basis, perhaps once a month. Competitions between departments or companies could be set up. A bicycle commute coordinator is essential to provide the information and encouragement for prospective bicycle commuters. Also, bicycle buddy programs to match new commuters with experienced commuters are helpful.

REVIEW OF EXISTING SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE EVENTS

During the year there are many sporting and other theme events held in San Francisco. These events can attract a lot of regional and even national attention and offer the City and other organizations an opportunity to reach many people while providing a good time. To make the most of the promotion potential of these events, it is preferable to first determine who is the audience and what message is intended to be conveyed. For example, is it to reach bicycle commuters, bicyclists who do not bicycle commute, or non-bicyclists* Is it to educate and inform the audience about how to share the road, bicycling safety or the advantages of bicycle commuting?

Perhaps the most well known and well attended bicycle events in San Francisco are the Macy's/AYH Great San Francisco Bike Adventure, the Tour de San France-isco, and the AIDS Bike-A-Thon. These events are charity fund raisers and attract bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Promotion efforts could be directed towards safety education and the advantages of bicycle commuting. Event directors could use the opportunity to teach participants the rules of bicycling courtesy.

Another well publicized bicycle event is Critical Mass, which is held on the last Friday of the month. Critical Mass seeks to increase the public's awareness of the bicycle as a legitimate transportation mode and to demonstrate how safe bicycling can be when bicycles comprise the majority of the traffic.

There are several other bicycle events held in or passing through San Francisco. Among these are Giro di San Francisco, Go Greenbelt (a 7-day around-the-Bay tour), California North Tour (a 4-day tour from Sacramento to San Francisco), and Silent Night Bike Ride. Although these events are not as well known as those discussed previously, they do provide an opportunity for distributing safety and bicycle commuting promotional materials.

Another opportunity for bicycle commuting promotion and education are those events which are directed at changing our commute habits. Bike-to-Work Day, Beat-the-Backup, and Earth Day are existing events which could be expanded to encourage more participation. Instead of having only an annual Bike-to-Work Day, it might be preferable to have Bike-to-Work Week or a monthly Bike-to-Work Day.

Other events in San Francisco such as street fairs, Festival d'Italia, Cherry Blossom Festival, and July 4th fireworks should provide good bicycle access with free secure bicycle parking. As part of the event advertising, the best bicycle route to the event should be published along with the location of the bicycle parking.

RECOMMENDED PILOT EMPLOYER OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

San Francisco is one of the biggest business centers in the world, with a densely compacted central core, heavy automobile traffic patterns and extreme parking deficiencies. Business employees who commute to their jobs in the City via automobiles and other forms of transportation are confronted daily with traffic jams, costly parking fees and an inadequate number of parking spaces.

Bicycling is an ideal commute alternative in San Francisco, a city seven miles wide with 80.4 percent of the residents also working in the City. Unfortunately, only one percent of the employees in San Francisco chose a bicycle as their form of transportation in 1993. This percentage ranked only sixth among the eight counties in the Bay Area Region. Only Solano and Contra Costa Counties had fewer citizens using bicycles to commute at 0.8 and 0.3 percent, respectively.

The following Outreach Campaign is designed as a pilot program for use by the City to educate and assist San Francisco companies in promoting bicycling as a viable commute alternative. The campaign would be conducted by the City's Employee Commute Coordinator with assistance from the Bicycle Coordinator. Means of funding for this and other recommended programs is discussed in Chapter 4.

Objective

The objective of the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign is to introduce bicycle commuting to San Francisco businesses and provide them with the tools to promote the bike-commute among their employees. The most imperative element to the success of this program is to have the support of key City officials, i.e. the Mayor and Board of Supervisors. The attitude of the City needs to clearly demonstrate its enthusiasm and support of bicycle commuting. Every City department must get the green light directly from Mayor Brown to prioritize bicycle commuting as a viable solution to the City's traffic and parking problems. A commitment from the City to improve safety conditions (i.e: bike routes, traffic obstacles, prosecution of motor vehicle violation in biking accidents) and provide secure parking is crucial to this endorsement. It is also important that the public see the City and City employees take the lead in demonstrating the positive aspects of bicycle commuting by doing it themselves. How can the City of San Francisco expect the business community to encourage bicycle commuting if they have not already done so.

With this campaign in its formative stages, the pilot program is targeted at 10 of San Francisco's largest employers with the City also participating and serving as a role model. The program is directed at the companies' Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs. Companies with over 100 employees are mandated by law to have a TDM program to promote alternative modes of transportation. The Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign will strongly encourage and support inclusion of bicycling as one of the commute alternatives that these companies can offer their employees.

Guidelines for Corporate Selection

In order for the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign to have maximum impact on the bicycle commuting patterns of San Francisco's companies and their employees, the 10 companies selected must be receptive to bicycling as an alternative. To identify and select the companies for the pilot campaign, we recommend a survey of San Francisco's 25 largest corporations to determine which employers are best positioned and will be most receptive to the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign.

The main goal of this survey is to evaluate the strength of the TDM programs currently in place so that the 10 companies with the strongest commitment to finding alternative modes of transportation can be approached about participating in the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign. Another portion of the survey would be addressed to the owner/operators of the buildings which house these corporations to determine their willingness to accommodate the special needs of bicycle commuters.

The survey should be accompanied with an introduction letter from Mayor Brown encouraging cooperation in promoting bicycle commuting. This letter should also state the commitment on behalf of the City to improve safety and route conditions and provide sufficient, accessible and secure parking. The letter should be accompanied by a public awareness campaign through advertising and public relations.

This corporate survey will assess the following information:

Level of Activity/Strength of TDM Coordinator - The survey will reveal information on the strength and vitality of each company's TDM program. Employers that have only a very basic program or that have an under-aggressive TDM coordinator will be eliminated from participation in the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign.

Participation by Employees - The survey will show the level of participation by company employees in using commute alternatives reflecting their potential receptivity to the program.

Types of Programs Offered for Employees - The survey will assess the types of programs each company currently provides for its employees. With this information, the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign can be tailored to each company's specific needs.

Willingness to Use the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign - The survey will probe a company's willingness to incorporate the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign into its TDM curriculum. This is perhaps the most important aspect of this survey. A ranking of willingness will reveal the 10 companies that will be most receptive to the pilot program.

Potential Support of the Building Owner/Operators - This should be a part of the survey to allow the corporations and building owner/operators to be aware of each other's involvement in this process. The questions should determine the willingness of the building owner/operator to work with its corporate tenant to provide easy bike access to offices and/or designated secure parking.

The 10 companies that participate in the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign will provide feedback needed to build the pilot program into a larger one in which more companies will promote bicycles as a viable commute alternative. As previously mentioned, the City of San Francisco will be participating in the Pilot Campaign as one of the 10 companies. It is important enough to repeat that the City must take the lead in this program and through its example, encourage employers and employees to participate.

Tactical Recommendations

Participation of Key Decision Makers - To achieve the greatest response possible, it is imperative to reach key decision makers at each of the 10 companies designated to participate in the program and to solicit their participation in promoting bicycles as a commute option. The letter of introduction to the program from Mayor Brown written and addressed on letterhead from the Mayor's Office will serve as evidence of the City's commitment to bicycle commuting in San Francisco.

* Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) - The Key Contact - The ETC at each company will be the key person in making the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign a success, since they are the individuals designated at their companies to promote commute alternatives. After the 10 participating companies are selected, the Employee Commute Coordinator will hold a meeting with all of the ETCs to explain the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign. The ETC will be able to implement company-wide mailings, on-site bicycle events and other tactical program elements into their company's general participation in the Bicycle Commuter Education Program.

* Human Resource/Benefits Manager - The human resource/benefits manager is the person who can make it easier to put on events and reach employees that will deliver the message that bicycles are a viable commute alternative. Since they are in many cases in charge of internal employee communication, they can work in cooperation with the ETC to promote the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign.

The Employee Commute Coordinator will contact the human resource/benefits managers at the participating companies with a letter asking for their help in promoting the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign throughout their organization.

* Chief Executive Officer/President - Involving the CEO or president will set the pace for the program and gain immediate attention company-wide. While the CEO/President won't be involved in the day-to-day operation of his/her company's TDM program, a company-wide letter from this person discussing the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign will give the promotion a high-profile launch.

Each company's ETC will be asked to approach their CEO/President about his/her participation in the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign.

Employer Resource Kit - To provide the ETCs with the support they will need to launch their bicycle programs, an Employer Resource Kit that outlines the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign will be developed.

The Employer Resource Kit will include:

* Letter from Mayor Brown - This would be specifically addressed to employees (different from letter to CEOs and building owners) pointing out the benefits of bicycle commuting while addressing the ways the city will be committed in supporting this alternative to commuting.

* Letter from CEO/President - Text for a letter from the CEO/President explaining the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign and urging his/her employees to consider the bicycle when making commute choices will be developed. ETCs will use the text, fill-in the correct name, and distribute as the program kick-off.

* Pre-Developed Articles - Pre-written articles about bicycling as a great commute alternative will be prepared. These stories can be used in company newsletters, as all-staff memos, bulletin board fliers or any other outreach method in place at the company.

* Ideas for Programs and Events - A list of programs and events will be included for use in designing a plan that works best for each company. The list will provide details of existing events as well as programs that could be implemented at the company independently. City-sponsored event should be included in this list.

* An Extensive Resource List - A resource list detailing books, materials, resource centers, successful programs, bike shops and bike coalitions will be included. Since the ETC may not be versed in the benefits of the bicycle as a viable commute alternative and what resources are available to them, this list will be invaluable.

* Route Maps - To help promote bicycle commuting, route maps showing the best bike commute routes in the City will be included for distribution, posting and promotional uses. Many potential bike commuters could find the option more appealing with information about the fastest, safest and easiest routes to use.

* Bicycle Safety and Roadsharing Brochures - The brochures used for the Motorist/Cyclist Program (described in Chapter 9) will be included in the kit to promote safe bicycling and the safe sharing of roadways between motorists and cyclists.

* Local Bicycle Store Listings - Listings of local bicycle stores will enable employees to find the correct equipment so that they can ride to and from work safely.

Bicycle Safety Demonstrations and Bicycle Events - Special events to highlight the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign will help gain attention to the program and provide an opportunity to educate about bike commuting. Events will motivate employees to consider bicycle commuting and put potential riders in touch with peers who commute by bike. Bicycle safety demonstrations held during lunch hour at each of the 10 participating companies will be a key element of the event program, since demonstrations make concepts memorable. These demonstrations will be sponsored by the City as part of the Outreach Campaign.

Assistance by members of the San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, "Effective Cycling" groups and bicycle safety organizations will be solicited in setting up this program. Funding for the demonstrations will be included as part of the Pilot Campaign or may be available through safety education funds as discussed in Chapter 4.

Participating companies will take part in the "San Francisco Bicycle Safety Week". During this week-long event, employCritical Mass experience. This should be clear in the event's promotional materials and in soliciting participation and support. It will be differentiated by pointing out the following: it is set-up with clear safety guidelines, it is a pre-registered event and it is a supervised event .

This event is a perfect opportunity for employees who haven't been on a bicycle in years to rediscover the joy of riding with their colleagues. This is not a race to see who can cover the course the quickest, but an opportunity for the program's 10 participating companies to compete against each other to see who will have the highest percentage of riders on that day. The company with the highest percentage of participants will be awarded a trophy and each member of this team will receive a 10 percent discount coupon to a bicycle store. Each participant in the ride will receive a T-shirt.

A small entry fee ($15-$20) for each participant will help offset some of the t-shirt and trophy costs. Administrative costs, such as postage and entry processing, should be taken into consideration when setting the entry fee so that a portion of these costs can be covered. The Financial District Ride will be promoted through the ETCs at each company, who will pass out entry forms and returning the completed forms to event organizers.

The goal is for each company to have a fun, non work-related event for their employees to enjoy themselves while providing them with an enjoyable bicycle experience. As a result, some of the participants might consider bicycling as a viable commute alternative.

To maintain interest and attention on bike commuting after the "Bicycle Safety Week" is over, a monthly or quarterly City ride should be organized. These rides would be supervised and designed with clear safety guidelines and a pre-determined route.

On-Going/Expanding Programs - With the groundwork solidly in place to introduce San Francisco companies to bicycling as a viable commute alternative through this pilot program, steps will need to be taken in future years to enhance the Bicycle Commuter Education Program. The City, with the lead from the Mayor's Office should be the first to administer these further steps to encourage and promote bicycle commuting. With the following enhancement plans, this program has the opportunity to make a real difference in the commute choices of San Francisco residents:

Program Expansion - In subsequent years, the program will be expanded to include more companies. With the addition of more employers to the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign each year, the message that a bicycle is a valuable mode of transportation will become more widespread.

Worksite Improvements - Companies that currently don't have a suitable park-and-lock area for bicycles will be encouraged to identify and designate such an area. Employees will have a more positive feeling about riding their bicycles to work if they have a safe space to park.

Incentive Programs - Incentive programs have had success in other commute alternative programs, and the implementation of such a campaign could be the vital link to the overall growth of bicycle commuting in San Francisco. These programs, discussed in detail earlier in this chapter, provide a convenience or cash incentive to bike commute. They include:

_ Cash dividend to bike commuters;

_ Mileage reimbursement for company business travel by bike;

_ Discount coupons or credit at bike stores, company stores and cafeterias;

_ Bike purchase financing;

_ Credit of work time or vacation time;

_ Flexible work hours;

_ Guaranteed ride home;

_ Fleet bicycles for day-use or bike-commute try-out;

_ Showers and clothing lockers;

_ Relaxed dress codes; and

_ Repair kits/on-call repair services.

The Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign is designed to provide San Francisco's companies with an easy-to-use bike commute promotion package to include in their TDM program. This program is designed to inform employees that bicycling is a viable commute alternative. With only one percent of the employees in San Francisco choosing a bicycle as their mode of transportation in 1993, there is a clear need to inform and promote this commute alternative within the workforce.

City Employee Bicycle Pool

In addition to the Pilot Employer Outreach Campaign to promote bicycle commuting, the City can set an example by promoting utilitarian bicycle use among its own employees. A program of providing a City employees bicycle pool, similar to a pool of City motor vehicles should be considered. The Bicycle Program Manager should work with the City Employee Commute Assistance Program Coordinator to acquire bicycles for this purpose. Bicycle parking facilities, helmets, and safety vests would be needed in addition to bicycles. Staff for the check out and check in of bicycles and equipment to City Employees for use on City business and to oversee proper maintenance would also be needed. The City should consider offering a short bicycle safety course to employees before they participate in the program.

 


. Suitable bicycle parking can be provided with bicycle lockers, bicycle storage rooms, locked cages, and attendant parking. Allowing bicycles into the workplace is the least costly for the employer to provide. However, space is not always available in the workplace for the parking of bicycles and often bicycles are not allowed into the building itself. It may be necessary for the employer and employees to work with building owners/operators to negotiate for permission bring bicycles inside or for a suitable bicycle storage room. and Walker, Richer & Quin, Inc. of Seattle both have secure bike storage rooms with card-key access.

. Discounts or credits at bicycle stores and/or company stores and cafeterias is another means for providing an incentive to employees for bicycle commuting atellite System Operations in Glendale, AZ, bike commuters are paid $0.25/day for their bike commute.

. The City of Palo Alto reim for bike services at the campus bike shop or for daily parking fees. The City of Palo Alto distributes monthly $20 vouchers for three local bike shops to any commuter who bikes 60% of the time. Fleetwood Enterprises in Riverside gives its regular bike commuters a safety package including helmet, reflective vest, and headlamp. The University of California at Davis gives regular bike commuters discount bus coupons for non-pedal days. NIKE in Beaverton, Oregon, gives employees a $1 credit at company store and cafeteria for each bike commute day.

. Other possible encouragements might include paying employees for their bicycle commute time in excess of the time spent in the auto commute or giving bicycle commuters 15 minutes of additional vacation time for each day that they bike commute. purchase of a new bike and helmet.

m is another opportunity to provide a cash incentive to employees while perhaps reducing costs to the employers. Under this program, the employee is able to "cash-out" their parking privileges and receive the cash-equivalent or transit pass equivalent of the parking spot. Employers who lease parking spaces for their employees can reduce the number of spaces they require and pass this savings on to their employees while promoting commute alternatives.

. This percentage ranked only sixth among the eight counties in the Bay Area Region. Only Solano and Contra Costa Counties had fewer citizens using bicycles to commute at 0.8 and 0.3 percent, respectively.

. () See Employer Resource Kit, described below, for more details.

. During this week-long event, employ