Letters: Free bikeshare program good for business, too

On May 9, when the Pacers Bikeshare “IndyRides Free” program was announced, thousands of Marion County residents quickly logged onto the Pacers Bikeshare website to sign up, excited about having a free annual pass to use the gold classic bikes and brand-new white e-bikes to get around town.

IndyRides Free is a first-in-the-country initiative that gives all Marion County residents free access to bikes from any of the 50 Pacers Bikeshare stations. Charges won’t kick in until after 30 minutes, and then it’s only 25 cents per minute until the bike is returned to the station.

Based on our experience at Salesforce, businesses should be just as excited about the program as residents.

As much as this program will benefit residents who use Pacers Bikeshare, the greater benefit might be to the city as a whole, as bikeshare programs get cars off the road and promote healthier living. For example, a study by the Mineta Transportation Institute connected Washington, D.C.’s bikeshare program to a 4% reduction in traffic congestion, and a Colorado State University study showed that bike sharing saved about $36 million a year in negative health-related economic impact, mostly due to increased physical activity.

But the impact goes even deeper, as our robust bikeshare program helps position Indianapolis as a forward-thinking city, an important designation as we compete with other cities for young talent. A recent American Public Transportation Association study noted that younger-generation workers prefer using a bike or public transit over walking or driving, and bike sharing is among the amenities young people want in a community.

IndyRides Free and Pacers Bikeshare also align with what Salesforce believes in, which is why the company has been proud to sponsor the program since it launched 10 years ago. It supports our culture of wellness, and employees have logged nearly 75,000 trips in that time. As a groundbreaking program offering first-ever community-wide free passes, Pacers Bikeshare also aligns with our drive for innovation and sustainability. And, finally, because Pacers Bikeshare has chosen to make its bikes available to everyone at no cost, it bolsters our mission of equality for all.

IndyRides Free is about a lot more than access to bicycles. It’s about a vibrant and healthy workforce, a stronger city, and a promising future. And that’s something to get excited about.

Amy Waggoner
vice president of U.S. state and local government affairs
Salesforce