Bike Reimbusement Programs – Are Any Other Federal Agencies Offering?

[consularrider]

In case you missed this on Wednesday, the Washington Post’s In the Loop column reports on the State Department beginng to offer a Bicycle Transportation Reimbursement.

Topic

[eminva]

@DaveK 12752 wrote:

Not that I know of, I have to fill out a dead tree form to switch my benefits each time and submit it to HR.

You must not — you would know. There is a website you use to make any changes. Our company also uses it to administer the Health Care FSA.

Liz

[Tim Kelley]

@FFX_Hinterlands 12755 wrote:

The bicycle check itself is valid for over a year, so you could stock up a few of them for use later.

I just used $200 worth of Commuter Checks I’d been saving up at Revolution Cycles this weekend on a pair of new shoes. Felt good!

[eminva]

Inspired by this thread, I just asked our Benefits Department if they would consider offering the Bike Benefit. Here is the reply I got:

“This was reviewed recently and participation in this option of the program would be low and management feels that the administrative costs are too high for such low participation rates. However, since the plan is reviewed periodically, there may be a chance that this option may be included sometime in the future.”

Oh well, I tried.

Liz

[FFX_Hinterlands]

@eminva 12884 wrote:

Inspired by this thread, I just asked our Benefits Department if they would consider offering the Bike Benefit. Here is the reply I got:

“This was reviewed recently and participation in this option of the program would be low and management feels that the administrative costs are too high for such low participation rates. However, since the plan is reviewed periodically, there may be a chance that this option may be included sometime in the future.”

Oh well, I tried.

Liz

Liz, ask 5 other bike commuters to email the same question, then you’ll have given it a good try.

[Arlingtonrider]

I’m another one of those who uses metro just enough to make the metro subsidy much more worthwhile than the bicycle reimbursement program. Rather than reimbursement, I’d like to see Federal agencies become more bicycle friendly by working on things like indoor bike parking, showers, and getting management to encourage bike commuting. I have those benefits at my office, but I know others don’t.

[eminva]

@FFX_Hinterlands 12896 wrote:

Liz, ask 5 other bike commuters to email the same question, then you’ll have given it a good try.

That is a good idea, but complicated. Most of the bike commuters I know are moving to our facility in Rockville in a couple of months (only accessible by car). At the same time, I’ll be moving to our main building across the street so I will have to figure out who my fellow bike commuters are at that facility. But I will hit them up.

Liz

[Author]

Replies