When bicycling is infused in an office or corporate culture, great things happen. People who are encouraged to commute by bike to and from work, run errands by bike, take a spin at lunchtime, or bike in their leisure time perform better at their jobs because they’re energized and alert.

Studies have shown that people who lead an active lifestyle have significantly lower costs for health care. Since employers typically pay a significant portion of health care costs, it benefits employers and the employees to promote healthy living. A healthy workforce also reduces the rate of absenteeism.

Businesses that promote bicycling are recognized for being green and socially responsible. They are conscious of their carbon footprint, aware of their impact on the environment, and are willing to think and act creatively in order to improve the quality of life for employees, their families and the greater community. A Bicycle Friendly Business attracts and retains employees, because people want to be part of a positive environment.

The Bicycle Friendly Business program also provides technical assistance on how to become more bicycle friendly. The program offers great resources to help improve a business’s bicycling accessibility, promotion and awareness within the workplace.

The Bicycle Friendly America resource page contains several reports on the benefits of cycling, design guides, case studies and other useful information to aid your application process and bicycle-friendly efforts.

Applications submitted by January 16, 2014, will be considered for an April 2014 designation. There are two application deadlines per year, one in January and the other in June.

No. Thanks to the generous support of Trek Bicycles, we are able to waive all application and renewal fees.

The Bicycle Friendly Business program welcomes applications from any business, corporation, organization, association, government agency, or nonprofit group located in the United States with more than two employees. We encourage applications from large and small businesses with single or multiple locations.

A business with multiple locations may submit a Bicycle Friendly Business application by selecting the Multiple Location application when logging in. Only businesses located in the United States will be considered.

Review the Getting Started page to learn more about the application process.

To complete the most comprehensive application, the applicant should be aware of all aspects of the business's bicycle-related activities and efforts. We encourage the applicant to consult workplace cyclists to help advise on the business's true environment for cycling.

Please be certain that the leaders of the business (for example the CEO, CFO, CSR) are consulted before applying.

New and renewing applicants fill out the same application form. However, if you applied in Fall 2012 or later, you will be able to transfer the data from your last application into the new application.

If you have started an application and missed the deadline or are reapplying, you can transfer your data as soon as the new cycle opens.

To do so,

• access your application desktop and click on “Copy Form” next to the last application you have been working on.
• Select the new cycle you want to transfer your data to. Click “Submit.”
• You can now edit the new application.

Applicants that fall just short of a designation receive an Honorable Mention. The names of applicants that do not receive any recognition are not published. All applicants that do not achieve Bicycle Friendly status still receive a detailed feedback report that can be used to work towards a designation next time the business applies.

The BFB designation is given on a four-year basis, after which time the business must reapply to maintain or improve their status. Businesses will be reminded to reapply through email. If your business has significantly improved its bicycle-friendliness prior to the four year duration, we welcome you to pursue a higher designation before the expected renewal date. Businesses that do not maintain their cycling environment over the years may also lose their BFB status.

A committee of specialists reviews each application and considers feedback from cyclists in the workplace and local bicycle advocacy groups in order to determine an organization’s level of recognition. Qualifying organizations are then awarded Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze status.

The League’s Bicycle Friendly Business staff is available to provide assistance throughout the application process and will continue to work with awardees to implement bicycle friendly programs and practices. Organizations that do not yet meet the standards for a Bicycle Friendly Business award may also receive assistance in order to encourage improvements and earn program designation.

Contact us at info@bicyclefriendlybusiness.org or 202.822.1333.

The League of American Bicyclists recognizes a newly designated Bicycle Friendly Business with an award and a formal national press announcement. Awardees will also be profiled on the League website and in annual publications of winners.

An important part of the BFB designation is the official presentation of the award to the business. The following steps are usually involved in setting up an award ceremony:

1. Choose a date and location.
2. The League will identify a representative to present the award – the representative may be a League staff person or board member, the head of a local club, a member of the bike industry, or other appropriate person. If you have a preference, please let the League staff know. The League will provide talking points for the presentation.
3. The League can assist you in developing a press release for your business’s announcement of the award ceremony. Most businesses use their communications department to distribute the press release.