By Detroit City Councilman Scott Benson, Special to Michigan Chronicle
Photo Caption: Councilman Benson helps a bike recipient to get a proper fit on her helmet. Photo Credit: Henry Ford Health.
As a pro-growth Detroit City Councilmember and an avid bicyclist, I am always looking for ways to get Detroiters employed, promote sustainable transportation and reliable, inexpensive platforms for commuting to and from work. That’s why I am proud to lead Bikes for Employees (B4E), a program that aims to promote reliable, sustainable transportation, employee well-being, and community engagement by removing barriers to access to high-quality bicycles for employees.
Over the past few years, we’ve successfully provided high-quality bikes to numerous employees and students facing transportation difficulties. We partner with employers to promote workplace cycling, offering support services to both the companies and their employees who benefit from the program. B4E operates on a simple premise: we want transportation-insecure Detroiters to have an affordable, healthy way to commute to and from work. Through the generosity of the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, the Detroit Greenways Coalition for incubating B4E through 2024, the Cultural Wellness Center, our recruiting partners, and the Trek Bicycle Corporation, we provide bicycles and gear to employees who don’t have reliable transportation or who want to switch to bicycle commuting.
We work with Detroit employers and social services agencies to identify employees or clients who could benefit from the program. Bike packages are paid in part through voluntary payroll deductions, employer wellness benefits, grants or transportation assistance funds.
At our bike distribution events, we set up our new bike commuters for success by providing free, hands-on training on bike safety and education, including safe cycling practices, route planning and basic bike maintenance. Our relationship with the bike commuters doesn’t end there. We continue our outreach by helping to organize company-wide or inter-company cycling challenges and events to encourage participation and build community.
This program benefits both the company and its employees. For the employer, it means reduced parking costs as demand for parking decreases. It improves employee productivity because employees who are happier and healthier tend to be more focused and productive. In 2024, 95% of our recipients reported improved health and 82% were able to get to work or school more reliably Bike commuting also helps demonstrate a company’s commitment to sustainability and employee well-being. There are also potential tax incentives for employers who support employee commuting programs.
For employees, the benefits are plentiful. In 2024, 82% of recipients reported saving money by biking. These cost savings are a result of reduced expenses on fuel, parking, car maintenance, Uber/Lyft or bus fares. Many B4E participants report better cardiovascular health, reduced risk of chronic diseases, and improved mental well-being. Cycling can be a relaxing and enjoyable way to commute, so stress is lowered. Bicycling can be a convenient transportation method, bypassing traffic congestion, especially in urban areas. And there is also the chance to build community by connecting with other cycling employees.
B4E works closely with employers to provide everything they need. All employers must do is invite employees or clients to complete a B4E bike application, approve their list of bike recipients recommended by B4E, complete a post-program survey, and then select a method to support B4E such as voluntary payroll deductions, employer wellness benefits, transportation subsidies, general funds, or a combination of these.
The City of Detroit benefits from B4E as well. By encouraging bicycle commuting, we help transportation-insecure Detroiters get to work. We reduce our reliance on single-occupancy vehicles. We enhance the health and wellness of our residents through increased exercise which reduces stress. We promote a greener Detroit by lowering carbon emissions and reducing traffic congestion. B4E helps our employers offer a unique and attractive employee benefit that can improve morale, productivity and retention. In addition, by working with Jason Hall and Trek, we support a local business.
Recent research by the University of Glasgow in Scotland has shown that biking to work is a game-changer. A study showed that bike commuters have a 47 percent lower overall risk of early death. They are also less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, or mental health problems. The same study also looked at those who walk to work, but the health benefits to bicyclists was greater.
If you or your employer are interested in learning more about B4E, please visit B4E.bike and don’t hesitate to contact Councilman Scott Benson at 313-269-1224.
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