City peddles bikes to its employees

From the Star:

Police do it. EMS workers and bylaw officers do it. But the city wants more of its employees to use sustainable transportation on the job.

That’s why Toronto’s Smart Commute office has set up a bike-sharing program where employees can sign out two wheels instead of four from Toronto’s fleet if they must get to a meeting.

Launched in June, the $10,000 pilot project includes 10 “very funky” Batavus commuter bikes, said Mark Singh, program manager in the Toronto Environment Office.

So far, the bikes have been used only 28 times and only 28 employees have completed the Can-Bike safety training that is a requirement of their use.

But the program will be relaunched in the spring, and there’s already a waiting list for the eight Can-Bike courses being scheduled then, Singh said.

City departments such as police and the licensing standards division have their own bike fleets.