An average car produces about 1.1 pounds of CO2 emissions per mile – a bike releases none. Biking five days a week for a full year could save between .7 – 1.9 Tons of CO2. Not only is biking a green way to travel, it is also great for your health. A San Francisco Bay Area study found that increasing biking and walking from 4 to 24 minutes a day on average would reduce cardiovascular disease and diabetes by 14%.
Biking has increased 60% in the past decade, but it still remains on the fringe. Only 1% of commuters bike to work. Bike to Work Day is an annual event that encourages people to bike to work.
Each year, Symantec partners with Silicon Valley Bike Coalition to support this annual event. Symantec sets up an Energizer Station with snacks, drinks, free goodies, and cheerful support. This year, 215 bicyclists passed by and 141 stopped at the station. We also sponsored three classes for employees to prepare for Bike to Work Day in partnership with Silicon Valley Bike Coalition and Sports Basement. Employees learned about the rules of the road, bike maintenance, as well as practical experience on riding in the street.
While Bike to Work Day has come and gone, there is still more fun in store! Symantec has a Bike to Work Contest each summer that will run from May 1—September 30th, 2015. Each day that an employee bikes to work they log their miles and are eligible for prizes from Symantec’s Applause Program and Sports Basement. There will be prizes for most days ridden, most miles ridden, and plenty of other random winners.
For any questions about Bike to Work Day, please contact Environmental Responsibility at Environmental_Responsibility@symantec.com.
Ashley Savageau is Symantec's Community Relations Program Manager.