Corporate program...

[Rambo1976]

Hi Everyone,

New to the forum, but got a Business idea I have seen implemented overseas (Germany, to be exact...) And wonder if the US would be open to it:

"Corporate program, that offers high end e-bikes to employees (for inner City use)".

Similar to leasing, the companies hire the bikes (5, or 10 pieces) for 12 to 36 months, and get a full package deal: Brand new top of the range Bikes, racks, service, Insurance, app etc etc etc.

Could you see this in the US? Or is the driving culture entrenched that a company would rather Finance a car?

 

[Kurt in CT]

Hi Everyone,

New to the forum, but got a Business idea I have seen implemented overseas (Germany, to be exact...) And wonder if the US would be open to it:

"Corporate program, that offers high end e-bikes to employees (for inner City use)".

Similar to leasing, the companies hire the bikes (5, or 10 pieces) for 12 to 36 months, and get a full package deal: Brand new top of the range Bikes, racks, service, Insurance, app etc etc etc.

Could you see this in the US? Or is the driving culture entrenched that a company would rather Finance a car?

IMO, would take a rather innovative, progressive company here. They exist, but are on the rare side. Also requires a few bucks that it can throw at employee benefits. I love the idea though, and I think it's a wonderful perk for a business to offer his employees. I would think that it would go over very well and be one of the more unique incentives to stay at or join a company.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I can imagine this, but I think there are lots of moving parts to think about that you'd have to get right.

My first thought is that monthly parking in SF is between $250 and $500 per month. Whatever service you pitch is going to need to be in that price range. Many companies, but not all, subsidize employee parking to varying degrees.

My other thought is that the great markets for this service are high-density urban cores with outrageous parking prices and poor parking generally. So that is basically SF, Manhattan, and Boston. Note that all of those have astronomical rates of bike theft.

Another moving part is that you'd probably want to partner with the office buildings for secure bike parking, which is rare in American office buildings. I understand that NYC has a requirement for secure bicycle parking.

This might be a good idea, and might make you some money. As always, how well you execute the idea is probably just as important as how good the idea is in the first place.

 

[Rambo1976]

IMO, would take a rather innovative, progressive company here. They exist, but are on the rare side. Also requires a few bucks that it can throw at employee benefits. I love the idea though, and I think it's a wonderful perk for a business to offer his employees. I would think that it would go over very well and be one of the more unique incentives to stay at or join a company.

Not so sure that it would have to be a incentive (so looking at serious stuff $$$), as the costs are hovering around 100$ a month per Bike; keep in mind that one of the models is actually a scheme where the bikes are of use to everyone in the company, so use for deliveries/meetings/short hops is for everyone...

Of course you can offer a Stromer for the Executive level, a Riese Müller for the mid level and a Raleigh for everyone... Lots of twists here.

To your point: you are right about Innovative, but don't even big Corporates care about their green image at all nowadays?

 

[rich c]

Bicycling magazine had an article a few months back. Something like top 20 companies to work for with cycling benefits. Ranged from Portland to Des Moines, Iowa with companies that go as far as providing bikes to others with monthly incentive payments based on cycling commuter miles. Edit; Found the article https://www.bicycling.com/news/a20038229/the-25-best-companies-for-cyclists/

 

[Rambo1976]

I can imagine this, but I think there are lots of moving parts to think about that you'd have to get right.

My first thought is that monthly parking in SF is between $250 and $500 per month. Whatever service you pitch is going to need to be in that price range. Many companies, but not all, subsidize employee parking to varying degrees

Point is not just savings for the company in parking costs, but if you can get to work on a top of the range e-bike and forego parking - the company could reimburse you in cash as enployee.

My other thought is that the great markets for this service are high-density urban cores with outrageous parking prices and poor parking generally. So that is basically SF, Manhattan, and Boston. Note that all of those have astronomical rates of bike theft. That's something that I have thought about, many solutions out there nowadays but if underground parking space can be allocated that would do the trick for sure.

Another moving part is that you'd probably want to partner with the office buildings for secure bike parking, which is rare in American office buildings. I understand that NYC has a requirement for secure bicycle parking.

This might be a good idea, and might make you some money. As always, how well you execute the idea is probably just as important as how good the idea is in the first place.

 

[Rambo1976]

Bicycling magazine had an article a few months back. Something like top 20 companies to work for with cycling benefits. Ranged from Portland to Des Moines, Iowa with companies that go as far as providing bikes to others with monthly incentive payments based on cycling commuter miles.

These guys have already done it, I am after those who have not done it yet

 

[rich c]

These guys have already done it, I am after those who have not done it yet

Sure you do, but why reinvent the entire process? See what works and build from that. But maybe you are a successful entrepreneur already, that wouldn't benefit from program ideas that are successful. Another hurdle you would have with upper management is the safety concern of cycling. The corporation I retired from protected their upper management. Rules about how many could fly on one airplane at any given time, etc.

 

[Rambo1976]

Sure you do, but why reinvent the entire process? See what works and build from that. But maybe you are a successful entrepreneur already, that wouldn't benefit from program ideas that are successful.

I agree with you 100%, but (maybe I got you wrong?) you mentioned a link to companies who are already "biker friendly". My view, as entrepeneur, is to go after those 99% who have not done it themselves and provide a full package deal for a fixed Monthly Recurring rate.

Forget about health benefits, beating traffic and all other classic Bike benefits: we have a premium Bike that doesn't make you arrive half dead into the office due to the 750W motor!

 

[rich c]

I agree with you 100%, but (maybe I got you wrong?) you mentioned a link to companies who are already "biker friendly". My view, as entrepeneur, is to go after those 99% who have not done it themselves and provide a full package deal for a fixed Monthly Recurring rate.

Forget about health benefits, beating traffic and all other classic Bike benefits: we have a premium Bike that doesn't make you arrive half dead into the office due to the 750W motor!

Oh, so you are selling a premium bicycle. Got it.

 

[Over50]

It isn't quite the same thing as transportation for employees' personal use/commuting but I think the fleet purchases of e-bikes will be a big driver of increasing sales. Police departments are the obvious one but I bet there are a lot of other fleet use-cases that will drive purchases by businesses and public agencies. From seeing the Trek Police model and just saw this video from Bulls about their police model it looks like some manufacturers are stepping up to get the business: