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Local companies pay employees to leave car at home

11:34 AM PDT on Thursday, May 1, 2008

By WILSON CHOW, NWCN Staff

PORTLAND – It is the start of a new day. The sun barely breaks through the clouds above as Alex Dupey walks out his front door.

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Dupey is dressed in bright yellow bicycle attire. He is difficult to miss.

“We’re going to ride to work,” said Dupey. “It’s about two and a half miles, takes about 10 minutes, about the same as driving actually.”

The land use and environmental planner rides his bicycle to his office at David Evans and Associates a few times each week.

On this day as he rides through southeast Portland, Dupey moves briskly along the side streets heading towards the Hawthorne Bridge, which crosses the Willamette River. Only stop signs and traffic signals slow him down.

As Dupey gets closer to downtown he was joined by more bicyclists also heading into the heart of Portland.

Just 10 minutes after leaving home, Dupey arrived at his downtown office.

This ride into work will get him more than just exercise. “For each trip I take on bike I get $3, so for two trips each day that’s six bucks. That’s lunch or whatever and it's nothing I have to do that’s different,” said Dupey.

David Evans and Associates is generous when it comes to supporting alternative forms of transportation. Employees who walk to work also receive $3 for each trip and for those who carpool or take the bus, they get $1.50 per trip.

More local companies are encouraging its workers to park their car at home.

City of Portland workers receive parking vouchers worth $30 a month if they carpool. Some city workers can even cash in on the $30 incentive if they bicycle or walk to work. Chris King Precision Components even offers extra vacation for bicyclists.

While there are many benefits to community on two wheels versus four, there are some dangers. “You got to be more careful for sure, because people aren’t watching out for you and likewise cyclists sometimes aren’t watching out as well,” said Dupey.

Despite the dangers, the avid bicyclist said he is not giving up his two wheel mode of transportation any time soon.

“We’re committed to being a one car family and we make it work,” said Dupey. “That makes us think about how we get to work and how we can reduce trips.”

On this day Dupey took one more car off the crowded streets.

With is bicycle in hand, Dupey eventually rolls it into a storage room, provided by his employer, and locks it up.

After a quick change from his bright yellow bicycle attire and a hot shower, it is time to get to work.

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