'Healthy competition' encourages commuters to bike

Employers throughout the suburbs are getting a little creative and a little competitive to encourage employees to participate in the sixth annual Bike Commuter Challenge as part of Bike to Work Week.

"I just sent out an e-mail to all employees about it and I've already got people responding to me and saying 'Let's win this year,'" said Dave Gorman, the village of Lombard's assistant director of public works. "We're a little competitive."

Groups can win their category and size division of the contest, which begins Saturday and ends Friday, June 19, by having the highest percent of members bike to work at least once during the week.

Those not on a formal team can participate in Bike to Work Week by biking to certain Metra stations for giveaways of bike path maps, air for bike tires, cycling tips and coffee, said Margo O'Hara, director of communications for the Active Transportation Alliance, which is hosting the week.

For employees of Baxter Credit Union in Vernon Hills, biking the commute comes with benefits including permission to wear jeans or shorts to work, said Jeff Johnson, leader of the company's Bike Commuter Challenge team.

"We're trying to encourage as many people as possible to try it," said Johnson, who regularly bikes a 10.5-mile commute to and from his office. "Maybe a little healthy competition helps."

Although competition motivates some riders, others cite exercise, stress relief and limiting pollution as main reasons for biking.

Kyla Jacobsen, who is leading a team of city of Elgin water department workers in the challenge, said the benefits of biking include fitness, transportation and the ability to avoid road construction.

"The big motivator for most of the guys who work for me is gas savings," she added.

Last summer's $4 gas prices forced many to consider biking to work for the first time, said Deborah Fagan, DuPage County chief planner and trail system coordinator.

"It was funny to watch the bike racks get full at that time," said Arlington Heights resident Ron Weiss, who regularly bikes about a mile from his home to the Metra station. "It's since calmed down a little."

Still, Fagan said some people who experiment with bicycle commuting make more permanent changes to their commuting habits.

"Bike to Work Week actually does help increase the percentage of employees who look for alternative transportation at least one time during the week," said Gorman, whose Lombard team had about 20 employees, or 8 percent, participate last year. "I've seen people carry it through the year, so it does work."