Biketober is about more than riding bikes and winning prizes—it’s about taking actions that help our region thrive. That’s why metro Atlanta employers play an important role in supporting the annual challenge. Last year 350 workplaces participated in Biketober for a variety of reasons, from boosting morale and encouraging teamwork to promoting wellness and sustainability.
While a growing number of employers support the event, employees don’t have to bike to work to participate. Biketober is open to riders of all experience levels, including those who are new to riding. Employees can ride with coworkers as part of a team, with friends or solo. The whole point is to get outside, get in the saddle and have fun.
Hear directly from local employers on why they participate and how the joy of biking has made a positive impact on their workplace.
Georgia Tech (2,000+ Staff)
With three years of competition under its belt, along with a couple of wins, veteran Biketober participant Georgia Tech is ready to roll with its winning strategy: Recruit past participants and people who ride daily, then motivate and encourage each other by scheduling group rides to help collect those miles. “It’s really nice to see people commute to campus, and we have the right infrastructure for it,” says GIT’s Tatiana Gibson, a 4th year PhD candidate in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.
Georgia Gwinnett College (500-1,999 Staff)
Georgia Gwinnett College has participated in Biketober every year since it kicked off. The main driver? Connection. “Each Biketober is an opportunity to re-establish bonds among team members that often don’t see or interact with each other much the rest of a year,” says Clay Runck, Assistant Professor of Biology. The college plans to defend its title by increasing awareness of how to make cycling a part of one’s lifestyle year-round.
Atlanta Regional Commission (200-499 Staff)
The pressure is definitely turned up for event sponsor ARC, where many staffers regularly bike to work. Among the organization’s goals is to foster healthy, safe, livable communities throughout the region—and getting people out on bikes and finding more sustainable commutes is a big part of that. As Program Director Olivia Haas puts it, “Participating in Biketober supports our mission broadly from health to transportation to opportunity for community connection.”
Trees Atlanta (50-199 Staff)
For Trees Atlanta, Biketober is a natural fit for the company’s purpose and culture—and perfect for team-building opportunities. “As an environmental organization, a big part of our mission is aimed at cleaning the air, and this is a perfect way to help reduce our individual carbon footprint,” says Program Logistics Manager Louie Lewis. “We think of it as practicing what we preach.”
El Tesoro (20-49 Staff)
As a small business located on the Beltline, El Tesoro not only loved and appreciated the region’s biking community but also wanted to show support for it. “We wanted to be a part of Biketober and represent this area. It’s a fun thing for us to do. I think in particular the commuting-to-work aspect is fun, and it pushes us to commute by bike at least one month a year!” says Mitchell Oliver, the company’s department champion.
Biketober kicks off Wednesday, October 1, and runs through October 31. Every ride counts— from a spin around the block to a daily commute—and every ride logged brings more chances to win prizes.
For more information about the Biketober Challenge, including registration details and event updates, visit www.biketober.com.