Record numbers of companies turn out in support of employee health & wellness
Atlanta, GA (November 15, 2021) – Healthier employees are also happier, more engaged and productive. That’s why building a positive workplace culture has become a top priority for many metro Atlanta area employers, who turned out in record numbers to support this year’s 9th annual Biketober, presented by Georgia Commute Options (GCO).
For PATH Foundation team captain Beth Marks, cycling is a year-round lifestyle choice. “I enjoy the exercise, getting out of my car, being outdoors and seeing the trails that I’ve helped support for over 27 years. Exercise and fresh air keep me sane, young and healthy.” Marks took 33 trips and logged 345 miles during Biketober.
“I’m riding this October because it’s my exercise routine, commute and favorite way to experience Atlanta!” said Kenneth Cherney, who won the Biketober prize drawing for a $1,000 REI gift card. Cherney works at Smith Dalia Architects. He took 12 trips totaling nearly 70 miles and earned 300 additional points by encouraging his fellow riders to participate.
This year, 376 organizations took part in the challenge, which encourages people to bike to improve their health and the environment. The event attracted more than 2,800 participants who rode nearly 343,000 miles and saved over 31,500 pounds of CO2. Workplaces are categorized by number of employees and compete against others of a similar size. The top three workplace finishers overall laid down serious track, together logging more than 47,000 miles:
- Georgia Tech (30,561 miles)
- Emory University (16,557 miles)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (9,094 miles)
Top workplace finishers in the 500-1999, 200-499 and 50-199 employer sizes were Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta Regional Commission and REI-Alpharetta, respectively.
Participants competed to win dozens of great prizes, including outdoor gear, bike accessories and $20 Visa gift cards. Congratulations to our two top prize winners, Kenneth Cherney of Smith Dalia Architects who won the early registration prize drawing for a $1,000 REI gift card and Taylor Gonsoulin of Pond, Robinson & Associates who logged 24 trips totaling more than 400 miles and was the lucky winner of the drawing for an awesome V2 Edison Electric Bike, valued at $2,399!
For media questions/bookings, contact Joel Wascher, JWascher@AtlantaRegional.org, 470-698-6106; or Tenisha Taylor, Tenisha.Taylor@OdonnellCo.com, 470-552-1414.
About Georgia Commute Options
Georgia Commute Options, a program managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission and funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation, works with employers, commuters and schools to encourage drivers who ride alone to make the switch to a commute alternative such as riding transit, teleworking, carpooling, vanpooling, walking and/or biking, with the ultimate goal of reducing congestion and the emissions that contribute to smog pollution. For more information, visit www.GaCommuteOptions.com and follow Georgia Commute Options on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Get access to cash incentives by logging your clean commute on our website or through the Georgia Commute App, which is available for download via the App Store or Google Play.
“I ride because I love adventure,” says Leigh Anna Young of Emory University, who recorded 48 trips and biked more than 230 miles. Young won a Thousand bike helmet as part of the challenge’s social giveaway. “It feels great and kept my head nice and cozy.”
Beth Marks, PATH Foundation Team Captain