FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Verizon Telematics Takes Top Spot in Atlanta Bike Challenge 500+ Category ATLANTA, GA — November 5, 2014 — Georgia Commute Options is proud to congratulate Verizon Telematics as the winner of the 500+ Employees category in the Atlanta Bike Challenge. Reaching 11% participation, Verizon took the top spot among companies with staffs greater than 500. Thanks largely to the efforts of Verizon Telematics employee Daniel Harris, more than 60 Verizon Telematics employees logged trips in the Challenge, which ran from September 29 through October 19. Says Harris, “In a nutshell, I just bombarded folks about the bike challenge. I printed out an exciting announcement and posted it everywhere. Once people were registered, I found their company email address, created an email group and sent out daily emails directly to the people that registered and counted down the days left in the challenge and ways they could participate. You never know who will participate.” With the help of the Perimeter Transportation and Sustainability Coalition, Verizon Telematics organized a company-wide “Try-a-Bike” event in which employees could take free rides on bicycles provided by Atlanta-based Civil Bikes. “One manager [Sheryl Key] made it a team building event and brought about 15 people with her,” says Harris. Designed to appeal to beginner and veteran cyclists alike, the Atlanta Bike Challenge was a free competition offered in partnership by Georgia Commute Options, the Atlanta Regional Commission and Love to Ride to encourage Metro Atlantans to try cycling for ten minutes or more. Rather than scoring based on who can cycle the most miles, this Challenge focused on which businesses could encourage the most people to give bicycling a try. The Challenge was also supported by People for Bikes, a national advocacy organization focusing on supporting the growth of bicycling across the country by supporting better infrastructure, important research, engaging programs, and innovative advocacy efforts in and across local communities. With this win, Verizon joined the other Atlanta Bike Challenge category winners: Perkins & Will for 200499 employees; Southface for 50-199; Trees Atlanta for 20-49; Park Pride for 7-19; and Kennesaw Mayor & Council for 3-6. Full Challenge results can be found by visiting ATLBikeChallenge.com and clicking “Results”. About Georgia Commute Options Georgia Commute Options, a program funded by the Georgia Department of Transportation, helps commuters, employers and property managers take advantage of alternatives to driving alone to and from work. Georgia Commute Options reports that every day in Metro Atlanta, the use of commute alternatives, such as teleworking, results in 1.1 million vehicle miles not traveled and 550 tons of pollution kept out of the air. For more information, visit www.gacommuteoptions.com. # ##