Bikes save the planet and people, too!

That's the concensus at Seattle Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center where they've just initiated a program that loans bikes out to employees so they can bike, instead of drive, to work.

According to the local news article on the Seattle NBC-TV news affiliate, K5 (King5.com), the hospital's program provides locker rooms, a bike pass, commuting bonus and a free emergency cab ride if ever needed. Some employees are calling the program hard to resist.

The goal is to get 10 percent of their employees biking to work by 2009. If they sign a pledge to ride at least two times a week, employees can even get a free bike. So far, six percent participate. The hospital hopes to give away 100 bicycles this year.

My response to that is sign me up! What a great idea to encourage employees to not only take care of themselves but also the planet on which they live--not to mention help save the hospital the $40,000 it costs to build each additional parking space. More will be needed as the hospital expands, unless they can find additional ways to get employees to commute. The bike program is just one of them. Instead of paying $50 a month to park at the campus, the hospital's bike loaning plan pays employees $50 a month not to park there.

Do you know of any other programs like this? If so, post a comment and tell us about it.

All my best,
Jackie