Bike-commuting systems, such as Chicago’s DIVVY system, are prompting more people to use two-wheeled transportation —even if they don’t have their own bikes handy. Echoing this popular trend, G/BA Evanston has purchased its first loaner bike to help staff handle nearby travel in a healthy, sustainable, and enjoyable way.
“Given our company commitment to being green, and to make life a little easier in terms of getting around, the bike is available for all employees to use,” says VP John Villani. “It’s specifically aimed at helping staff get to and from the office to Northwestern University but is open for all errands.”
NU is one of G/BA’s longstanding repeat clients, and many buildings on the Evanston campus are less than a mile from G/BA’s office. Given the city’s sometimes heavy traffic and its plethora of one-way streets, biking can often be faster than driving. The bike, which is kept in the office’s dedicated bike-storage area, is a medium-sized hybrid designed to be comfortable for people of varying heights. Features include a folding combination lock, a quick-release seat for easy height adjustment, bungee cords for securing items to the rear rack, and (most important) a universal helmet with simple dial adjustment.
The purchase builds on existing sustainability measures for G/BA, as well as many initiatives that promote employee health.
“Within one week of our loaner bike deployment, demand was so high that we implemented an electronic sign in/out calendar to let people know if it’s available,” reports Villani, who also notes that the company’s number of daily bike commuters has risen steadily in the past few years.
Shown: Project Engineer Ben Andes is one of the frequent users of G/BA’s shared bike.
