Bicycle Friendly Business

REI Northbrook, IL| Silver Level

Business Highlights: REI, Northbrook provides employees with showers, secure bike parking, in-house bike maintenance tools, prize incentives for commuting, and discounts on bikes and bicycling accessories. The business partners with local nature centers such as forest preserves and the Chicago Park District to host rides for community members. REI, Northbrook supports Mayor Daley’s Bicycling Ambassadors and Bike to Work Day by providing rest stops in the area.  Nearly 30 percent of staff commute at least once a week and cumulatively commute over 1000 miles every month! Because of this high ridership, the business has won consecutive commuter challenges with other REI locations.  In addition to having a fleet of bikes at the business for employee use, REI, Northbrook has coordinated massive bike donations from local police departments to various community partners that either fix and use the bikes, or donate to people in need after repair.

Most Significant Recent Accomplishment: Members of the REI, Northbrook staff have formed a bicycle committee to develop programs and promotions to encourage and enable more employees to use bicycles! They are looking forward to a series of classes for the staff, as well as contests, organized rides and more!

Most Innovative & Effective Recent Achievement: In 2008 REI, Northbrook hosted a series of free bicycle related classes to help educate customers and staff. Topics ranged from basic bike maintenance to winter bike commuting and were held at the store. REI, Northbrook staff also took the class to educate and promote cycling in schools and other kid-focused organizations.