Going for GoldHow a Milledgeville IT company became

Georgia’s 1st Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Business

Tom Glover

Cogentes Founder

President Bicycling Club of Milledgeville

2016 Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce Chair

Who is Cogentes?• Georgia-based IT support and services firm

founded in 2007 and headquartered in Milledgeville

• Serve customers throughout Georgia and worldwide

• Provide comprehensive technology services • Network design and support• Server and desktop sales and support• Strategic technology guidance• E-Marketing Services

What started as a way to lose weight…

Quickly turned into a passion

Team Cogentes

Supporting cycling through sponsorships

New office location

Office Facilities• Dedicated indoor bike parking• Showers• Close proximity to local routes and trails

Policy Changes• Guaranteed Ride Home program• Bicycle safety education materials made available• Bicycle route information made available

Fall 2013 Designation by League of American Cyclists

2013 League Feedback• Encouragement

• Office Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit• Provide incentives to bike• Create bike club

• Engineering• Make bike parking Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP)

compliant• Install lockers for employees• Install a bicycle repair station or work stand

• Education• Certify an LCI (League Cycling Instructor) on staff• Distribute information on cycling events, routes and safety

• Evaluation• Appoint a bike coordinator• Conduct annual cycling survey• Collect data on employee cycling

Bike with the boss program

Paid entry to organized rides

Cogentes bike challenge awards

Encouragement for the entire family

Celebrating 100% participation in National Bike Challenge

Spring 2015Georgia’s FIRST Gold Bicycle

Friendly Business!!!!

Why make the effort?

2015 League Feedback• Provide cash incentives for all bicycle commuters• Support national bicycle advocacy efforts• Provide free lockers for cyclists to store personal

belongings during workday• Have one employee certified as League Cycling Instructor• Gather more data on bicycle use at your business, year-

round• Set measurable goals to improve ridership and other key

bicycling metrics

What’s next?

Two New League Cycling Instructors certified Spring 2015

Smart Cycling 101 for all employees December 2015

Partnering with Bicycling Club of Milledgeville to offer Smart Cycling 101 for club members

and community in 2016

Work with other businesses in the community to help them attain Bicycle Friendly Business

designations

2017… Georgia’s First Platinum BFB!