LA Launches Bike Sharing Program For Downtown Employers

LOS ANGELES, CA — Metro announced a new "Bike Share for Business" program Thursday, offering businesses discounted bike share passes for employees in downtown Los Angeles.

To be eligible for the program, a business must purchase five or more bike share passes every month for six months, with the cost split between the business and employees or paid in full by the company. There are three different pricing plans available for the program.

"Downtown L.A. is the No. 1 employment center in the county, so the potential is huge for companies, hotels and others to offer this extremely cost- effective program to their workers," according to John Fasana, Metro Board chair and mayor pro tem of Duarte. "Businesses that take advantage of this program have the opportunity to reduce the expensive fees their employees must pay whenever parking anywhere in the downtown area."

The bike share program was launched downtown last July, and Metro plans to expand it this summer to Pasadena, the Port of Los Angeles and Venice.

"Metro's Bike Share for Business Program is the latest Metro effort to transform transportation in the L.A. region" Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said. "Our program allows businesses to add bike sharing to existing employee sustainability or wellness programs, and helps reduce travel demand at the worksite. It's a win-win solution that improves a company's bottom line and encourages workers to lead more active, healthy lifestyles."

Information on the program can be found at https://bikeshare.metro.net/for-business.

City News Service; Photo courtesy of LA Metro