The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is BizCycle Gold

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As Fred Hutch states, “We are a world-class research organization and our bicycle commuting program is world class as well.”

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a world leader in cancer research and has been on the cutting edge of treatments, prevention methods and therapies since 1975. The organization has also been on the cutting edge in another health-boosting arena: bicycling.

BizCycle is proud to announce that Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center certified as a  Gold level bicycle-friendly workplace. As Fred Hutch states, “We are a world-class research organization and our bicycle commuting program is world class as well.”

Fred Hutch has one of the highest employee bike commuting rates in Seattle for a workplace of its size. Of over 2600 employees, seven percent bicycle to work regularly. Employees who bike are supported with showers, locker rooms, towel service, secure parking and even a twice yearly maintenance subsidy. The Hutch also supports bicycle commuting with a multi-modal approach, outfitting their shuttles with bicycle racks and working with the South Lake Union Streetcar to improve transit access to the facility.

Externally, the research center has advocated for improved mobility and safety in South Lake Union for walking, bicycling and transit as corridor and intersection redesign projects move forward in the neighborhood. They have been providing comments on the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan Update and partner with PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Children’s and the University of Washington on the South Lake Union Road Safety Group.

Fred Hutch earned 35 out of 50 possible credits for its bicycle-friendly best practices. While BizCycle certification presented an opportunity to applaud the organization’s tremendous efforts to support bicycling, even a Gold level workplace came away with some strategic reflections and a to-do list. As the center reflected, one of the organization’s biggest barriers to encouraging bicycling is still the weather and perceptions of safety on the street. While the former may be out of our control, employer involvement in the conversation about safer streets for all modes of transportation can help tip the scale toward infrastructure improvements that make bicycling an attractive and accessible option for people of all ages and abilities. Additionally, planning for future growth is now on their radar. Fred Hutch set a goal to increase bicycling to 9% of commuters. According to the facilities department, “We recognize that as we grow our bicycle commuting population, we’ll need to grow our facilities to support that growth! We are looking at ways to add more capacity for racks and lockers in future renovation plans.”

Congratulations to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center! Whether your company is already bike-friendly or looking to become more so (or both!), BizCycle certification is simple and effective. Join Fred Hutch and 20+ other organizations in the region as BizCycle-certified workplaces. Contact bizcycle@cascadebicycleclub.org today or visit bizcycle.cascade.org to learn more. 

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