Federal Transit Benefit Bicycle Program

[Judd]

Are any of you other Fed types using the Bicycle Commuter Subsidy? I currently get the mass transit subsidy as an emergency backup, but I’ve only used it maybe four days in the past year. From a pure money standpoint, the bicycle benefit is more advantageous ($240 versus ~$16). The thing that I’m not sure about is the administrative burden. My agency requires submitting a paper form with copies of receipts. The form also includes checkboxes with every single day of the year, in which I’d be required to check each day that I rode my bike to work (so ~220 check boxes after holidays and leave). I’m curious if other agencies have created as onerous a process and whether other folks have found it worthwhile.

Topic

[dasgeh]

Thanks for the reminder – it’s bike subsidy submitting time!

At my agency (Federal Reserve Board), we get $20/month if we
1) don’t get any other subsidy (Metro, parking)
2) submit for reimbursement during September 1-15 and/or March 1-15
3) in the submission, check the box for each eligible month, put in the amount and describe what the amount is for (e.g. I bought $60 lock in February, so for March, April and May I could put in $20 each)
4) include in the submission receipts for any purchases above $75
5) certify to these things:

Quote:

I certify that while enrolled in the bicycle subsidy program, I will not receive other transit subsidy benefits such as the vanpool, Board carpool, or the permanent parking program for the same months.
I certify that I am eligible to receive reimbursement up to $20 per month for expenses incurred, not to exceed, $240, during the calendar year.
I certify that I can only claim reimbursement expense for the months that I regularly used my non-motorized bicycle for a substantial portion of travel between my residence and my official work location.
I certify that failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary or adverse action, up to and including separation from Board employment.
I accept this policy.

The process takes all of 5 minutes to sign up the first time, then maybe 10 minutes twice a year to get the max reimbursement. None of this is taxable.

[Judd]

@dasgeh 164966 wrote:

Thanks for the reminder – it’s bike subsidy submitting time!

At my agency (Federal Reserve Board), we get $20/month if we
1) don’t get any other subsidy (Metro, parking)
2) submit for reimbursement during September 1-15 and/or March 1-15
3) in the submission, check the box for each eligible month, put in the amount and describe what the amount is for (e.g. I bought $60 lock in February, so for March, April and May I could put in $20 each)
4) include in the submission receipts for any purchases above $75
5) certify to these things:

The process takes all of 5 minutes to sign up the first time, then maybe 10 minutes twice a year to get the max reimbursement. None of this is taxable.

Sounds like our agencies shared policies.

[dasgeh]

@Judd 164968 wrote:

Sounds like our agencies shared policies.

Maybe, but ours is 100% electronic (you scan receipts, and don’t need them if no items are >$75). And no check boxes for every day. That’s silly. So not much hassle.

[LhasaCM]

@dasgeh 164982 wrote:

Maybe, but ours is 100% electronic (you scan receipts, and don’t need them if no items are >$75). And no check boxes for every day. That’s silly. So not much hassle.

Agreed – we just have to state (under penalty of fine/imprisonment/etc.) that we biked more than half the time for whatever month we’re claiming the benefit, though we need receipts for everything. And since it’s handled like a local travel voucher, while the transit subsidy coordinator had to approve my application, it’s my manager that has to approve my reimbursement claim.

The bigger issue is the underlying IRS regulations (based on the laws Congress passed) that only allows $20/month for bicycling, but $255/month for parking a car. 😡

[anomad]

Well I poured over the FEMA Intranet, asked two people smarter than me (not hard to find) and sent an email to a shared transit benefits email address from a memo today. Couldn’t find squat. So if I find out the scoop I will report back.

How often are the bike paths too icy and snowy to ride but the metro is still open? Weeks on end or just a few days here and there? Last winter was a non-event obviously.

[mstone]

@anomad 164994 wrote:

How often are the bike paths too icy and snowy to ride but the metro is still open? Weeks on end or just a few days here and there? Last winter was a non-event obviously.

Depends on where you’re coming from. If you depend on VDOT-maintained trails in Fairfax, weeks on end is about right, especially since VDOT uses them to store snow mountains that would otherwise impact road medians.

[Judd]

@anomad 164994 wrote:

How often are the bike paths too icy and snowy to ride but the metro is still open? Weeks on end or just a few days here and there? Last winter was a non-event obviously.

Definitely depends on where you live. After the blizzard two years ago, it took three days before I could commute from Columbia Pike in Arlington to downtown DC, but some of that was due to my inexperience with alternate routes.

[anomad]

I ride the MVT from Alexandria to l’enfant. I need to explore alternative non-MVT routes through crystal city.

[Emm]

@anomad 165023 wrote:

I ride the MVT from Alexandria to l’enfant. I need to explore alternative non-MVT routes through crystal city.

Here you go.

I take this route sometimes when the trail is flooded or there is a ton of glass everywhere. Takes a few minutes longer than the MVT, but works great otherwise. You’re only on the MVT a very short distance using this route. I’m happy to show it to you sometime if you want someone to ride with. I bike from S. Alexandria to HHS in SW DC. My building is right next to FEMA.

[consularrider]

I got everything ready to participate the first year the Department of State was going to offer the $20/mo benefit (it would have been for the 21 months before I retired). First I had to formally withdraw from the Metro subsidy program (my benefits had been suspended because I hadn’t downloaded anything to my card in over four years and only took Metro four times in seven years and was driven in for the 13 days I had a sprained ankle and wasn’t allowed to drive), then I had to provide receipts of my expenses that I would submit on a quarterly basis, and our admin service office had no idea what I was to do then, so I just didn’t bother.

[CPTJohnC]

Sorry I’m so late chiming in. HHS makes it pretty easy. I had to cancel my transit benefit, and then apply for the bike subsidy. There was a slight hiccup because my supervisor had never heard of it, and it took her a couple of months to finally just approve my application. Then another 30 days to get enrolled. Then I didn’t get a check for 90 days, but they sent me 3 at once. Since then my $20 comes like clockwork. Both Bikenetic and Bikes@Vienna take them with no hassles. But: For me, 2 days a month of metro costs more than the bike subsidy brings in. So…. when I work really late or if the weather is terrible (ice and snow ) and I don’t want to just telework, there’s some serious disincentive for me to stick with that.

But… I’ve take metro for work / commuting purposes about 4 times this year, so…. maybe a non-issue.

There’s no paperwork drill or other hoops.

[dbb]

HUD seems somewhat behind the curve, at least here at the HQ. They want receipts and accept the form for reimbursement twice a year. So far, I’ve submitted two requests, totaling about $200 and have seen no reimbursement. They certainly didn’t have any problem taking me off the transit subsidy program however.

I’ve been reminding the program managers of the issue and will likely bump it up in the next month or so.

[Author]

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