Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A week before National Bike Month in May, bicycle enthusiasts in the Greater Boston area discussed how a program called Bicycle Benefits Boston is encouraging businesses and individuals to bike to their destinations.
Ian Klepetar, the founding ambassador at Bicycle Benefits, explained how the program works.
“The idea is [bicyclists] can purchase a $5 sticker for their bike helmet, and then when they ride to businesses that support cycling, they bring in their helmet and receive a little discount or reward for not taking up a parking spot and using healthy transportation.”
Other benefits of the program include businesses seeing more bike traffic and increased customer loyalty from bike-riding customers, as well as cities having a tool to ease congestion and pollution by encouraging healthy transportation, explained the Bicycle Benefits website.
Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
One of the participating businesses in the Greater Boston area is Mariposa Bakery in Cambridge.
With the $5 sticker, “I even got a free coffee and cookie with it from Mariposa. And every time I come in afterwards, it’s going to be 10% off everything,” said Kevin.
Other program participants include Beantown Taqueria, SKY Bodywork, Third Cliff Bakery, Circus Cooperative Cafe, Ace Hardware in Jamaica Plain, and JUICYGREENS in Jamaica Plain.
Bicycle Benefits Boston listed over 75 participating businesses on their website.
The program has been active for years, but recently it has been relaunched to encourage more businesses and people to get involved for National Bike Month in May.
“During the pandemic, it kind of fizzled out. And I’m very excited to be in the area, reengage businesses, [and] get new support,” said Klepetar.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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