Competitors step up for the Bike to Work Week title

By Milly Winn

This year, Bike to Work Week had more participants than ever before. With 478 companies and nearly 5,000 individuals joining the two-wheeled commute, there was no telling who would prevail in the fight for the Bike to Work Week title.

Of course, there were those companies we expected to be victorious, but among them were many surprises. See the full results here.

How did these companies motivate their employees to bike past our predictions?

“I posted signs very early and started enthusing at every opportunity until the week of the event,” said Sarah Dandelles, team leader of Old Town School of Folk Music. “I also approached neighborhood businesses for contributions of small prizes to raffle off to participants.”

Along with Old Town School, other champions like Upshot and the Village of Arlington Heights stepped up to the plate to overtake the competition. See the complete list of winners here.

Kate Patterson, team leader for Kaplan University, said she motivated her office by emphasizing how good they would feel biking to work. “There was definitely a lot more fun and high fives in the office during Bike to Work Week,” she said.

She even got one co-worker to become a regular bike-rider.

“He was a staunch train rider living in Edgewater and wasn’t even thinking about buying a bike until I started pestering him about it this winter. Spring saw him at the bike shop buying a new hybrid,” she said. “We talked through April about getting ready to bike to work, and he is now a frequent bike commuter. “

Patterson is ready for next year’s challenge.

“I’m so proud of my department for winning in our first year of participation,” she said. “I’m definitely looking forward to years of Kaplan domination.”

Are you ready to let Kaplan get away with that?

It’s never too early to start talking up Bike to Work Week. Get ready for next year’s competition. Will your company have what it takes?

Milly Winn is a ModeShift contributor.