Denver Mayor, with Bikes Belong and Humana, launches Freewheelin bike-sharing initiative Mayor Hickenlooper Leads 100-Cyclist Inaugural Ride
DENVER, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bike-sharing officially rolled
into Denver today as Mayor John Hickenlooper launched the nation's largest
bike-sharing program to date: Freewheelin. Leading 100 cyclists through the
streets of Denver, Mayor Hickenlooper celebrated this joint program between
Humana (NYSE: HUM) and the nonprofit cycling advocacy group, Bikes Belong.
Freewheelin is bringing 1,000 bikes to Denver and to Minneapolis-St. Paul for
the Democratic and Republican conventions, highlighted by free use for all
participants. Registration for bikes is available at
www.freewheelinwaytogo.com.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080824/NYSU003-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080824/NYSU003-b )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080824/NYSU003-c )
"We hope that as the spotlight shines bright on Denver and Minneapolis-St.
Paul during the next two weeks, we can show bikes as a pathway for healthy
bodies, healthy spirits and a healthier planet," said Jonathan Lord, M.D.,
Humana's chief innovation officer.
Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, added that, "The time
is right to highlight the bicycle as an ideal transportation solution. Nearly
40 percent of all trips Americans make are two miles or less -- the perfect
length to go by bike. With soaring gas prices, interest in bicycling as a U.S.
transportation solution has grown. This is a perfect opportunity to
demonstrate the convenience of bicycling for short trips."
Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, also
spoke highly of the Freewheelin initiative.
"Biking is fun, and this innovative program from Humana and Bikes Belong
provides an excellent way for people to exercise, and we all know exercise is
critical to protecting one's health. I encourage everyone planning to attend
the conventions to strap on a helmet and safely pedal their way to good health
during their stay in Denver or Minneapolis-St. Paul."
Bike-sharing is the international social movement whereby bikes are
situated at designated stations throughout cities for individuals to use for a
specified amount of time. It is a viable transportation alternative for those
who prefer an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and healthy means of
traveling, especially for short trips. By providing these bikes to the
Democratic and Republican convention cities, Humana and Bikes Belong hope to
increase awareness of bicycling in the minds of all involved with the
conventions -- from the delegates to the media to even the presidential
candidates themselves.
After its debut in Denver, Freewheelin moves on to the Republican National
Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Humana and Bikes Belong also will
provide 1,000 bikes for free use. In total, Bikes Belong member companies
provided more than $500,000 worth of biking equipment to both convention
cities.
How Freewheelin Works
Bikes will be available in Denver from Aug. 25-28; and in Minneapolis-St.
Paul for the Republican convention from Sept. 1-4. Participants who register
in advance via the Freewheelin Web site -- www.freewheelinwaytogo.com -- will
be ready to check out a bike from one of the multiple bike stations throughout
the convention cities. Online registration and use of the bikes during the
conventions is free, with all related costs paid by Humana and Bikes Belong.
Bikes will be available beginning at 7 a.m. each day of the conventions, and
don't have to be returned to a bike station until 7 p.m. each day. The bikes
can be picked up and returned to any station (locations available at the
freewheelinwaytogo Web site).
Those interested in the program, but unable to register online, can also
register in person at any Freewheelin station. Greeters will be on site at
each bike station to assist with registration and route planning, and safety
specialists will be available to answer questions and address concerns.
Humana pioneered the bike-sharing program in 2007 in its corporate
hometown of Louisville, Ky. The initiative focuses on fun as well as health by
encouraging people to get on a bike and ride with friends, just like when they
were kids. Twenty-one percent of those riding were not previously involved in
exercise activity.
A 'Bike-Partisan' Challenge
On July 30 in Washington, D.C., Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), James
Oberstar (D-MN-8), Thomas Petri (R-WI-6) and Zach Wamp (R-TN-3) issued a
spirited challenge to attendees at the political conventions: join together in
the Freewheelin bike-sharing initiative to generate 10,000 rides and bike
25,000 miles at the conventions.
With on-bike computers that track mileage and the ability to compute
calories burned and carbon reduction for each cyclist, Humana will have
metrics available following the conventions to measure participants' progress
toward the "bike-partisan" challenge.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation's
largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with
approximately 11.5 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. bicycle industry organization dedicated to
putting more people on bicycles more often. Bikes Belong Coalition works to
increase federal bike funding, awards grants to support innovative bike
projects, promotes bicycling and its benefits, and sponsors key initiatives
such as the National Bike Summit. The affiliated Bikes Belong Foundation
focuses on improving bicycle safety, enhancing children's bike programs, and
making communities friendlier for bicyclists by backing national efforts such
as Safe Routes to School and Bicycle Friendly Communities.
SOURCE Humana
