Inaugural Bike Friendly Business Awards — Recognizing Local Leaders

On February 5th, we highlight the 2013 achievements of Metro Vancouver companies reaping economic benefits of cycling

Vancouver, BC - Growing cycling makes good business sense for many companies, and next week, we recognize the region's bike friendly leaders in a special awards ceremony.

The Inaugural "Bike Friendly Business" Awards event will take place on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at ING Direct Café in downtown Vancouver, recognizing the achievements of top local companies that supported cycling in 2013.

What: HUB 2013 Bike Friendly Business Awards & Reception

When: Wednesday, February 5th 6-9PM

Where: ING DIRECT Café, 466 Howe Street (@ Pender Street), Vancouver

Who: 80+ bike friendly business leaders from 50+ Metro Vancouver companies

Winners were selected based on effort and investment put towards bike education and incentives for employees, on-site bike facilities, and bike-to-work programs.

"Businesses themselves have put a lot into making biking to work and shopping easier," said Donna Chen, HUB Bike Friendly Business Program Manager. "Our 2013 award winners are local employers who made that connection - biking and walking makes people healthier and happier, and builds loyalty with customers and employees. We want to celebrate their achievements publicly."

Award winners include a range of private and public organizations, including BCIT's aerospace campus, Dillon Consulting Limited, Vancity, Vancouver Community College, Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Airport Authority. Some of the award categories included Most Bike Friendly Building, Most Bike Friendly Workplace, and Best Bike Parking & Storage.

Awards will also be awarded to 'best-in-class' winners from last fall's Bike to Work Week, including teams from Arc'Teryx Equipment, Bruce Carscadden Architects, Eric Hamber Secondary School, legal firm Gowlings, and MEC.

"We're proud to have been identified by HUB as a bike friendly business," said Alex Taylor, Community Planner at Richmond-based engineering firm Dillon Consulting Limited. "Our vision is to be recognized by our owners, employees, and clients as a leader in our industry in corporate sustainability, in part through increased use of alternatives to commuting by single occupancy vehicles."

"Cycling is a good way for our students to work exercise into their busy schedules and stay healthy while helping the planet," said Wendy Avis, Environment and Sustainability Manager at Vancouver Community College's downtown campus. "VCC supports all staff, faculty and students who bike to campus."

"Vancity is proud to be recognized for our bike friendly facilities and programs that support our employees and members to bicycle and reduce their carbon footprint,' said Jeremy Trigg, Director of Facility & Environmental Management. 'We've developed a variety of options to promote sustainable transportation, like providing bicycle maintenance services for our members, showers for employees and bicycle storage facilities. We're also about to introduce a pilot program for staff to use bikes, free of charge, on their lunch hours or to commute to other offices for meetings."

"We're honoured to receive HUB's award for our efforts to make Vancouver Airport Authority a bike-friendly business," said Anne Murray, Vice President, Community and Environmental Affairs, Vancouver Airport Authority. "As a community-based organization, the Airport Authority strives to operate YVR responsibly and that commitment includes support for sustainable transportation options."

ING DIRECT, winner of HUB's Most Bike Friendly Workplace in 2012, is presenting the Awards. "It was an honour for us to take home the award last year. This year we are excited to host HUB's annual "Bike Friendly Business Awards" and are proud to continue being a bike friendly workplace. It is great to see so many businesses stepping up their bike initiatives and we are looking forward to sharing our experiences with our peers." says Meena Sandhu, ING DIRECT.

RSVP for the 2013 Bike Friendly Business Awards & Reception by email to: events@bikehub.ca.