MINNEAPOLIS - (Business Wire) To kick off Bike to Work Week in the Twin Cities, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), Bikes Belong and Mayors R.T. Rybak and Chris Coleman took steps with
– or better yet, pedaled
– a new initiative today to residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul, placing the respective cities on the cusp of an emerging global municipal trend promising to improve the health of residents and the environment.
The Mayors today unveiled plans for a new city-wide bike-sharing program called Freewheelin, part of the ongoing efforts of both cities to support healthy living and environmental sustainability.
The Freewheelin program was developed by Humana in partnership with bike industry leaders. As part of the multi-pronged initiative, Humana and the not-for-profit Bikes Belong will bring nearly 1,000 bikes to the Twin Cities during the Republican National Convention in September. The bikes can be used free of charge by anyone looking for an alternative to automobiles while the convention is in town.
“Saint Paul and Minneapolis are well known for our healthy lifestyle and regard for the environment,” said Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “Bringing the Freewheelin program to our cities puts us at the national forefront providing a high standard of living and an environmentally friendly, transit-oriented region.”
Minneapolis/St. Paul joins a small group of progressive cities establishing bike sharing programs. Plans for the Freewheelin program call for 1,000 of the bikes to be sent to the city for use during the Republican National Convention. Seventy of those bikes and the checkout kiosks will remain after the convention and be donated to the two cities by Humana, as part of an ongoing program to support carbon emission reduction and healthy active lifestyles. The program will also establish a lasting legacy and a start to a permanent bike sharing system in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
“With an expected 45,000 visitors arriving here in early September, we need to reduce automobile congestion and 1,000 bikes will help us to achieve that goal,” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. “I will take the lead every afternoon during the convention by riding Freewheelin bikes with delegates to the Xcel Center. I am also using this opportunity to inspire local partners to help establish an ongoing bike share network in Minneapolis.”
Freewheelin bike racks will be set up at various points around the cities, each housing a collection of the program’s proprietary bikes, which are equipped with trip computers. A solar powered kiosk through which participants can “check-out” a bike to use for things such as riding to work or doing errands, or simply taking a leisurely spin will accompany each bike rack.
Once users are finished, they simply return the bike to any Freewheelin rack in the city. Participants can register for the program on the Freewheelin website, and use the site to automatically track things like their mileage, their personal carbon offset and other health information. Riders simply use a credit card or a Freewheelin key fob to check the bike out at no charge during the convention.
“Mayor Rybak and Mayor Coleman and their staffs have helped us with all facets of this program. The Twin Cities are perfect for Freewheelin as a majority of the Twin City residents are already avid cyclists and they are open to embracing new ways of helping improve the health of residents and the health of the environment,” said Lisa F. Tourville, vice president, Humana. “A healthy body and a healthy environment work in tandem and initiatives like Freewheelin can help to improve both.”
Humana piloted the Freewheelin program in Louisville, Ky., in 2008 by installing Freewheelin bikes and racks for use by employees free of charge. More than 2,500 employees registered for the program. Based upon the success of the pilot, Humana is expanding the program to other cities, as well as college and corporate campuses across the country. Bike sharing is a popular alternative used in various European cities including Paris and Amsterdam to encourage “green” and congestion-free transportation.
“This is an exceptional opportunity to show how well bicycling works for short trips in big cities,” said Tim Blumenthal, Executive Director of Bikes Belong. “Considering that 41 percent of all trips in automobiles are two miles or less, bikes are an ideal alternative.”
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 11.4 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 47-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:
- Annual reports to stockholders
- Securities and Exchange Commission filings
- Most recent investor conference presentations
- Quarterly earnings news releases
- Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
- Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
- Corporate Governance Information
About Bikes Belong
Bikes Belong is the U.S. bicycling organization dedicated to putting more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong Coalition works to maximize federal bike funding, awards grants to support innovative bike projects, promotes bicycling and its benefits, and sponsors key national initiatives such as the National Bike Summit and Bicycle Friendly Communities. The affiliated Bikes Belong Foundation focuses on improving bicycle safety and enhancing children's bike programs.
Humana Corporate Communications
Mark Mathis, 630-835-6651
Mmathis@humana.com
