A Kwik Trip bike-sharing program that offers 16 bicycles for the approximately 4,000 employees on the convenience-store chain’s 90-acre headquarters is looking toward its sixth year in May.
The idea for the program, Kwik Ride Bike Program, which launched in 2019, began in March 2018, when the La Crosse, Wisconsin-based retailer reached out to several bicycle companies to explore a possible bike-share program.
Kwik Trip ultimately selected Wyatt Bicycles, a bicycle manufacturer also based in La Crosse, owned by Wyatt Hrudka.
“The driving factor was to alleviate parking congestion on campus and allow for a fast eco-friendly alternative to commute between buildings,” Hrudka wrote on his company’s website.
The program has experienced growth over the past five years, Ben Leibl, Kwik Trip spokesperson, told CSP.
Kwik Trip is No. 11 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
“As Kwik Trip continues to expand, so too does the number of coworkers on the campus, which in turn contributes to an increase in the number of Kwik Rides users,” Leibl said. “Every year, in the spring, we make a concerted effort to encourage all campus coworkers to take advantage of this valuable service provided by Kwik Trip.”
May to October
The Kwik Ride Bike Program starts each year at the beginning of May and concludes at the end of October.
“Due to the varying weather conditions, particularly the frequent rain during the spring and summer months, the usage numbers fluctuate,” Leibl said. “However, on clear days, multiple bikes are regularly checked out from the kiosks on a daily basis.”
Leibl said that Kwik Trip is “so thankful to Wyatt for his exceptional work in creating the bikes and kiosks for the Kwik Rides program. His expertise and dedication have played a crucial role in making this program a success for the past five years. The high-quality bikes have provided our coworkers with a reliable and enjoyable transportation option. We are so grateful for the positive impact his work has had on our campus.”
The program has been a great resource for Kwik Trip employees, offering a convenient and eco-friendly transportation option, Leibl said.
“Not only does it provide an alternative to driving, but it also promotes physical health and well-being by encouraging coworkers to incorporate more exercise into their daily routines,” he said. “We are truly thankful for Kwik Trip's commitment to enhancing our campus experience, and we deeply value the opportunity to take advantage of such a wonderful service. We are looking forward to many more years of Kwik Rides.”
The task of creating a fleet of custom-colored Kwik Trip cruiser-style bicycles was relatively easy, Hrudka said.
Challenge: Building Large Kiosks
“The real challenge was building the four large kiosks (electronic bike racks) that would integrate with the employee ID badge system,” he said. “Kwik Trip and Wyatt Bicycles worked closely together for a year to develop and test the program, ensuring it met the company’s needs.”
To use a bicycle, a Kwik Trip employee swipes their ID badge on the rack and enters the lock number, unlocking the bike. They can then lock the bike in another kiosk on the campus, swipe their ID badge and enter the lock number.
“The system is fully integrated with Kwik Trip’s security system, ensuring the location and security of the bikes as well as the amount of usage the bikes receive,” Hrudka said.
The program launched June 13, 2019, and is “a popular option for those looking to get some exercise or simply enjoy the outdoors during their lunch break,” Hrudka said. “Additionally, parking has always been a challenge on the Kwik Trip campus, and the company decided to look at healthy solutions for commuting between buildings. The Kwik Rides program was the perfect solution, as it not only provided employees with a healthy and eco-friendly transportation option, but also helped to alleviate parking congestion on campus.”
“The partnership between Kwik Trip and Wyatt Bicycles is a prime example of how supporting local businesses can benefit both parties,” Hrudka said. “Kwik Trip was able to keep the program local, while supporting a small business, and Wyatt Bicycles was able to showcase its products to a larger audience, leading to increased exposure and business opportunities.”
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