Bicycle Friendly Businesses Honored In CT

From RWA: Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and mActivity with Bronze Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) awards, earning their place alongside 1,266 bike-forward businesses across the country in a commitment to building a more Bicycle Friendly America. Both businesses are headquartered in New Haven, which was awarded the Bicycle Friendly Community award by the League of American Bicyclists in Fall 2018.

With the announcement of 83 new and renewing BFBs during National Bike Month, the RWA and mActivity join local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in all 50 states and Washington, DC in transforming the American workplace to be more welcoming to customers and employees who bike.

“With each new round of Bicycle Friendly Business awards, we see the movement to create a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone growing. Forward-thinking organizations like the RWA and mActivity are seeing the benefits of encouraging biking, whether it’s happier employees, lower health care costs, or reaching new customers,” says Executive Director Bill Nesper of the League of American Bicyclists.

The RWA promotes bicycling by sponsoring community events, such as the recent Rock to Rock ride in New Haven, and making locker rooms and other facilities available to employees. Residents of Greater New Haven are also invited to enjoy the bike trails maintained by the RWA on the watershed lands that make up the RWA’s recreation areas. As an environmental services company, the RWA carefully protects the more than 27,000 acres of watershed land it owns throughout Greater New Haven. Connecticut residents who purchase a recreation permit from the RWA have access to almost 60 miles of trails, 21 of which are open for biking, alongside the reservoirs from which the RWA sources its high-quality tap water.

mActivity is a health and fitness center that promotes wellness among all its employees and customers. In addition, mActivity also serves as a community hub and event space that hosts multiple local organizations.

Moving forward, the RWA and mActivity will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly. When employees and community members bike, they help reduce the region’s carbon footprint, improve their health and develop a closer connection to the community.

To learn more about the BFB program, or to apply, visit the League online at bikeleague.org/business.