Bicycle Friendly Business

Great River Energy | Bronze Level

Business Highlights: National Bike Months extend to May and June for Great River Energy during which the organization offers three days of discounted onsite bike tune-ups, with a raffle for one free tune-up each day. On Bike to Work Day, they hold an employee Brown Bag luncheon on the health benefits and positive environmental impacts of biking. Bike commuters were given raffle tickets for commuting to work during the month of June in exchange for prizes at local bike shops. There are four available employee bicycles, which are used for workouts around local trails and local errands. The employee bike club communicates about planned office rides. Throughout the year, Great River Energy's commuter bike group tracks their miles to/from work on a shared internal site for all to see. This encourages and challenges others to bike more and is a way to keep a running track of total miles biked. The office has a bike repair station, filled with maintenance tools for bike commuters and a volunteer bike coordinator to organize rides and answer any bike related questions. Great River Energy health incentive program, Simply Well, requires employees to view an allocated number of educational videos pertinent to health and safety, which also cover bike safety and the health/cardio benefits of biking. Great River Energy's Maple Grove headquarters has locker rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness center including LeMond spinner bikes for winter training. Since 2000, Great River Energy has sponsored the Minnesota Bicycle Festival. This eight day biking extravaganza continues to be a top professional event anticipated each year by bicycling enthusiasts from around the country.

Most Compelling Bike Related Accomplishment: Great River Energy partners with the Mesabi Trail Tour in northern, Minnesota to put on an event that gathers nearly 1,000 bikers together to ride the midwestern's premier biking trails, the Mesabi Trail. Riders sign up to bike either 12, 27 or 51 miles and all bikers culminate at the same park at the end of their ride for food, live music and fun!

Most Compelling Bike Related Accomplishment: Great River Energy has a company-wide commitment to match up to $200 in pledges for every employee who raises money for charity rides, such as the MS 150 ride.