More Bike-Friendly Businesses!

Image courtesy of League of American Bicyclists.This month the League of American Bicyclists honored 82 businesses with its prestigious Bicycle Friendly Business designation, and over a dozen of them are from Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties! Some are new recipients and some are renewing, but all are wonderful contributions to creating a vibrant bicycling community.“Business owners across the country are looking for simple, straightforward ways to build their companies, do right by their workers and customers, and contribute positively to their local communities,” says Executive Director Bill Nesper of the League of American Bicyclists. “Boosting participation in bicycling achieves all of that and more, and these 82 exemplary employers are wonderful models of that success. We congratulate this latest class of business leaders for recognizing that one of the oldest and easiest forms of transportation still generates significant economic and societal rewards today.”At the platinum level are Facebook (renewing) and Stanford Research Park (new).“We've built out four bike shops around campus to better serve employees closer to their workplaces,” Program Manager Jessica Burton reported on Facebook HQ’s renewal application. “We have built a mobile concierge staffed by a team of six Bike Ambassadors [four of whom are League Cycling Instructors (LCIs)] ...This mobile concierge is a rolling storage unit/desk that is hauled by an electric cargo bike. We bring this mobile concierge to key intersections and busy parts of campus to increase awareness of Facebook's bike programs, encourage bicyclists who make safe riding choices, and help teach others how to bicycle to campus more safely.”Stanford Research Park has also made amazing strides to reach Platinum level. Their Bike Champion program and incredible staff have invigorated dozens of converted bike commuters. It’s safe to say SRP has a strong bicycling culture.“Bicycling is an important component of the Research Park transportation program,” says Jamie Jarvis, Transportation Manager in this video. “It’s competitive with driving over short distances, it’s a great way to incorporate exercise, and it’s also just fun!”Click here to watch a video about the steps SRP is making.At the silver level are KLA-Tencor (new) and Synaptics (new). According to the League of American Bicyclists, “applicants to the BFB program are evaluated on over 100 data points under the program’s ‘4 E’ Framework: Engineering, Encouragement, Education, and Evaluation & Planning. The latest cohort of Bicycle Friendly Businesses represents a wide variety of employers, destinations, and models for bicycle-friendliness.” Congratulations to these Bike Friendly Businesses, and thank you for making Silicon Valley a better place to ride!