Truck doors opened, bicycles were unloaded and the surprise was disclosed. IKEA US co-workers across the country each received a brand new bike to take or ride home.
"It's been a good year for IKEA, so what better way to celebrate our success than to thank our IKEA co-workers who made this happen. Our big reveal today will be a fun day as we unload 12,400 new bikes at IKEA US locations. This is our way of saying 'thanks IKEA co-workers for being strongly committed to working together.' We hope this bike will be taken in the spirit of the season while supporting a healthy lifestyle and everyday sustainable transport," commented Mike Ward, IKEA US President.
With a strong commitment to good health and being environmentally conscious, IKEA selected an all terrain bike as the holiday co-worker gift for 2010. What makes it even more special is that the delivery of bikes is a total surprise for all co-workers. Hopefully, all stayed mum until Tuesday, Dec. 7.
Why a bike? Because when it comes to sustainable transport, a bicycle is a great option. And when it comes to healthy living, riding a bike is one of the best cardio forms of exercise. Here are some facts.
- Bicycling is an excellent cardio-vascular exercise, which promotes heart health. Just like in any other aerobic workout, bicycling makes your heart pump harder. Also blood circulation increases and eventually, your resting heart rate will decrease. (Helium.com; Benefits of Bicycling by Erich Rosenberger M.D.)
- On average, commuting 10 miles a day by bike in 30 minutes, instead of driving a car burns 110,250 calories (keeping off 30 pounds of fat each year). (Sources: Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, RailstoTrails.org, Fitsugar.com, Adultbicycling.com
- Cycling just 20 miles a week can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. (Sources: Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, RailstoTrails.org, Fitsugar.com, Adultbicycling.com Countries with the highest levels of cycling and walking generally have the lowest obesity rates. (Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia)
For Sustainable living, bicycling also has many benefits.
- Bicycling reduces polluting emissions. A short, four mile round trip by a bike keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe. (WorldWatch Institute, www.bicyclinginfo.org)
- In 2001 walking and bicycling accounted for 23 billion miles traveled, worth billions of dollars in fuel savings alone. (Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia)
- In one year, riding a bike versus owning and driving a car will save an individual $8,000 in gasoline and general car maintenance and insurance costs. (Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia)
3 comments:
Seems like they would like to see more people riding bikes, well that surprises me considering the bicycle parking at their store in Ybor City.
Lots of racks, all of which are located in a lovely location that invites thieves to have a good time. Just like Hillsborough County Libraries, they want the bikes out of sight out of mind, and therefore in a location that invites them to be stolen. The design & location of bike parking tells you if they REALLY want cyclists, just take a look at the bike parking at the Clearwater Library at Coachman Park. On a weekday morning I have seen fourteen parked bikes, with room for more. Build them & they will come, build them badly & hide them, and they will not.
Exactly, on the bike rack location.
Bike racks? I've never even seen bike racks at Ikea...I just lock up at the customer loading area.
Not all of the HCPLC libraries have "out of sight, out of mind" racks. The new North Tampa branch has 'em right up front, and they're well-utilized.
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