Bicycle Friendly Business

Quality Bike Products | Platinum Level

Business Highlights: Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) employees earned nearly $22,000 in bicycle commuter credits from the company in only seven months; additionally the company raised $80,000 for World Bicycle Relief. They host a pancake and bacon breakfast for bike commuters on Bike to Work Day, how-to-clinics, a commuter mentorship program, and a bike loan program.  The business provides shower facilities, locker rooms, bike tools and supplies, and lots of indoor bicycle parking. There is an innovative pallet rack to create high density indoor bike parking with an indoor/outdoor thermometer to help bike commuters choose proper riding gear.

QBP hosts yearly bike classes on bike commuting and bike commuters are encouraged to log their trips on an internal website, which includes trip dates, distance, total distance, and credits earned. Of the 453 employees, 15 percent ride to work. In 2007, they cumulatively logged 287,000 miles, a 50 percent increase from the previous year, in 2008 they logged 325,000 miles! QBP has developed a Commuter Bicycle League, which consists of 10 teams of 10 riders. The teams face off in commuter competition during a 20 week season and have a six week playoff period to determine the overall winner. QBP works with local, state, and national advocacy groups to help promote bicycling facilities and programs. The Hyland Park bike trail connects directly to the QBP parking lot, where they offer free parking to all trail users. 

Most Innovative & Effective Recent Achievement: QBP is a leader in promoting bicycling through innovative means. The business made a large donation to help launch a statewide Minnesota bicycle advocacy group, donated over $4000 to World Bicycle Relief  through individual commuter credits, sponsored the Greenlightride.org website launched by one of their brands to encourage more bike commuting through friendly competition, and helped fund the new Cayuna Recreation MTB trail in Northern Minnesota, which IMBA intends to make a national destination trail system.

Most Compelling Statistic: In 2008, QBP employees commuted 325,000 miles by bike, equivalent to 13 trips around the planet; 288 employees rode to work at least once and logged 27,600 trips for an average one-way commute of 12 miles.