For Immediate Release Media contact: The Field Museum Greg Borzo 312/665-7106 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org Field Museum launches Shared Bike Program for employees Bikes intended for meetings, errands, exercise. Will reduce pollution and save money. CHICAGO—The Field Museum will add to its already extensive “green” record by launching an innovative Shared Bike Program on March 31, 2008—just in time for spring. The Museum is already a trendsetter for employee bicycle use. It encourages employees to bicycle to work by providing showers and bike parking, including a large, secure, indoor bike-parking facility. As a result, more than 100 of the Museum’s approximately 575 full-time employees bike to work on a regular basis. In fact, for the past two years the Field Museum has won the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Bicycle Commuter Challenge for its category (large not-for-profit organizations). Initially, the Museum’s Shared Bike Program will make three bicycles available March through November for any employee to use during daylight hours. Two of the initial three bicycles are Cannondale police bikes that were no longer needed by Museum security forces. More bicycles will be added depending on demand. Employees may use the bikes for personal or work-related reason—whether to run an errand, attend a meeting away from the museum, or just take a spin. The Museum expects to save money with this program by reducing its expenditures for taxis, parking and messenger services. “The Field Museum’s Shared Bike Program is an ideal way to encourage more people to get on bikes,” said Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. “Companies that encourage their employees to ride bikes end up saving money on health-insurance costs. Plus, they get healthier, happier employees.” The Shared Bike Program is the brainchild of Robert Weiglein, exhibitions designer at the Museum. “One day last summer, I was in a taxi rushing to an appointment in the North Loop when it occurred to me that I would rather be on a bike,” he said. “I also thought it would help The Field Museum be more ‘green’.” Weiglein submitted a proposal for the program. After it was approved, he repaired the bikes and added racks, locks and puncture-resistant tires. Continue >>