Engineering firm's bike program earns recognition

ROSEMONT - For the fifth year in a row, Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. has been named one of the nation's Best Workplaces for Commuters, in recognition of its long-standing and award-winning Bike-to-Work Program.

The engineering firm is among a select group of workplaces in the United States that have achieved the Best Workplaces for Commuters National Standard of Excellence by providing an array of commuter benefits, resulting in at least 14% of their employee base not driving alone to work within a 12-month period.

As part of the Bike-to-Work Program, CBBEL pays employees 75 cents a mile biked and provides additional assistance with routes, equipment and gear. Since the program's inception in 2006, more than 180 employees have biked over 400,000 miles, which equates to approximately 800,000 pounds of carbon dioxide eliminated, 18.5 million calories burned and more than $85,500 in gas money saved.

"We've seen over the last few years the increased importance of staying healthy and active and we're proud to be able to provide our employees with the incentives and ability to do just that," said Mike Kerr, CBBEL president and founder of the Bike to Work Program. "We're very proud to have received this recognition for five consecutive years and grateful to Best Workplaces for Commuters for the designation."