CH2M Hill is BizCycle Silver

Congratulations to CH2M Hill for earning a Silver Level BizCycle certification at their bike-friendly Bellevue workplace.

An engineering, construction and operations firm with offices worldwide, CH2M Hill’s Bellevue office demonstrated that even in a city with low rates of cycling, a little bike-friendliness can go a long way. A little over one percent of CH2M Hill employees regularly bike to work—indicating a bicycle-friendly culture as only 0.7 percent of commuters bike to work citywide.

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CH2M Hill receiving their BizCycle plaque at the May 2013 Bike to Work Breakfast

CH2M Hill supports its bicyclists with ample secure bicycle parking, showers, incentives and a bicycle club. Because Bellevue still lacks a connected network of safe infrastructure, connecting bicyclists to transit hubs is especially important at CHM2 Hill. Five years ago, the office launched a loaner bike program as a way for employees to access the transit stop a half mile away from the office.  The  bike fleet offers free bicycles for employees to use temporarily, equipped with helmets and locks. The initiative was the first of its kind in Bellevue.

Dave Sturtevant, Area Manager at the Bellevue office, has been an active leader in discussions about bicycle access to transit in Bellevue,  bike lockers and the City of Bellevue Bicycle Plan.

In 2007, under Dave’s leadership and in partnership with the Mountains to Sound Greenway,  CH2M Hill funded the creation of a set of regional I-90 bicycle trail maps and computerized renderings of the trail to build support from the City of Bellevue Planning Department, City Manager, Council members, WSDOT and the City of Issaquah for a new regional trail on the south side of I-90 from Factoria to Issaquah.

CH2M Hill demonstrates that businesses can lead discussions about bicycle infrastructure and planning. The firm also is a great example of how providing end-of-trip facilities and an fostering a bike-friendly culture can make a serious difference in encouraging employees to bike to work, even when a connected bicycle network in Bellevue is lacking.

Congratulations to CH2M Hill, and keep up the great work!