Best Benefit Ever: Bicycle Colorado’s Access to Ride-Sharing Services

You can get a lot of places with a bicycle, but sometimes your transportation needs require more than that. Check out how Bicycle Colorado is working to attract new members who occasionally need four wheels instead of two.

What’s the benefit? Bicycle Colorado  (opens in a new tab) offers a free one-year membership to Zipcar  (opens in a new tab) to new and renewing members—a cost savings of $85. The association doesn’t cover the hourly fees accrued while driving (averaging about $8-$10 per hour), but with the service available in 30 U.S. cities and on more than 100 college campuses nationwide, it’s a perk that extends far beyond Colorado.

Why it works: It might sound odd for a cyclists’ organization to work with a company that offers access to cars, but Bicycle Colorado emphasizes that the benefit matches its mission. “As car sharing grows in popularity in Colorado, fewer people need to rely on personal vehicles for their car travel needs,” the association’s Mark Erickson writes  (opens in a new tab). “We think this is complimentary to our mission of encouraging bicycling.” It also helps that Zipcar’s vehicles often have bike and ski racks attached.

Other benefits: Bicycle Colorado works to promote cycling , while improving bike trails  (opens in a new tab) and street routes for members. Another automobile-related strategy helps with that: Its “Share the Road  (opens in a new tab)” license plates encourage drivers to play fair with their bike-riding neighbors.

If you’re in the opposite boat—someone who’s mostly a driver but occasionally rides a bike—AAA Colorado now offers bicycle coverage  (opens in a new tab).

(photo by Bobby Hidy/Flickr)