Inova Hospitals Promote Bike to Work Day and Best Commuting Practices for Employees

Fairfax County Department of Transportation unveils new Bike Map with Inova employees

Four Inova hospital campuses this week welcomed Fairfax County Department of Transportation team members to share tips on smarter commuting to work. Transportation outreach specialists including Marcus Moore, who helps direct employer programs, visited Inova locations at Gallows Road, Fair Oaks, Mt. Vernon and Cambridge to talk about transit benefits with employees, to promote Bike to Work Day May 19, and to release a new county Bike Map. Inova encourages employees to learn more about alternative commuting methods and sustainable living as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The Transportation Demand Management (TDM) team from Fairfax County Department of Transportation works to educate employees on commuting best practices and informs them of the safest and most efficient commuting routes to work. The new Bike Map illustrates bike-safe trails and roads with bike lanes throughout Fairfax County.

Janice Homblad is no stranger to Bike to Work Day. Homblad, who works in patient relations at Inova Fair Oaks, stated that she is looking forward to this year’s biking event. When commenting on last year’s Bike to Work Day she said, “I have a way to get [to work] that I feel is very safe. It’s fun; when I walked-in last year (from my commute), I just felt very empowered.”

Inova Fairfax Hospitals has been honored by Fairfax County for its Commuter Program benefits by naming the system as “Best Workplaces for Commuters” as judged by the National Center for Transit Research, part of the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation. To be honored with this award, the hospitals had to meet a rigorous list of outstanding commuter benefits for employees, such as free or low cost bus passes and vanpool fares and strong telework programs.

Additionally, Inova has been on the list of “100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare” by Becker's ASC Review/Becker's Hospital Review magazine and has been named to the list of Becker's Hospital Review 50 Best Hospitals in America. Achievements like these are obtainable through the commuter employee benefits such as the free commuter shuttle service Inova provides. The shuttle picks up employees at a designated location before work and returns at the end of the day. Commuting by shuttle not only removes a number of single-occupancy vehicles from the roads, but also eliminates commuting-related stresses for employees.

Roy Lewis manages the parking services and the Transportation Demand Management program for the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. The partnership with Fairfax County Department of Transportation helped facilitate the employee shuttle service. “I have worked closely with Fairfax County Department of Transportation over the years. The shuttle service is free to employees and it is fully funded by the Hospital,” stated Lewis.

Christina Quint, Sustainability Analyst for Inova, commented on tips for a green work commute. She said that in addition to other transit benefits, Inova has a teleworking policy that allows eligible employees to telecommute once per week. “It’s great from a work-life balance perspective and also from a sustainability perspective. If you work from home once a week, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions from your car by 20% in a given week,” said Quint.

Inova hospitals make it a priority to help employees navigate transit options to arrive safely, on time and stress-free. Employees are better educated on their commuting options and the associated benefits by partnering with Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

Bike to Work Day will take place on Friday, May 19. Find the best commute for your work by using the new bike map. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov

Pictured: Christina Quint, Sustainability Analyst, and Janice LeBeau, ER Nurse at Inova Fair Oaks