Oracle Ireland, a software company which provides its employees with company bicycles, covered bicycle parks and a commuter centre, has won this year's Golden Pedal award, writes Alison Healy
The awards are organised by the Dublin Cycling Campaign to recognise the companies, schools and local authorities that provide the best cycling facilities.
Oracle Ireland, based in the East Point Business Park in Clontarf, was the first major employer to provide an employee commuter centre in 2001.
With pressures on car-parking spaces, it commissioned Vipre, a mobility company, to encourage staff to look at alternative modes of transport. Its commuter centre now sells bus and train tickets, co-ordinates car-pooling and lends "orabikes" - the company bicycles - to staff.
The bicycles are used by staff at lunch time, and when they need to move between Oracle's four buildings.
"If it's a nice day, we try to encourage people to take a brown-bag lunch and cycle to somewhere nice," said Ms Helen Tynan, human resources manager of Oracle's European development centre.
She said some employees cycled from as far as Ballinteer, but many came from the northside, which had a good network of cycle lanes. Full shower and changing facilities are provided for all cyclists.
Vipre, which shared the Golden Pedal award with Oracle, will soon open its commuter centre to all 5,000 staff in the East Point Business Park. By June, staff wishing to car-pool will be able to find car-pool partners online.
Some 125 staff out of almost 1,000 car-pool while 67 staff cycle to work. Oracle also encourages staff with car-parking spaces to loan them out for a while and try cycling instead. If they don't like it, they get their parking space back.
Mr Billy O'Keeffe, Oracle's commuter centre manager said the award would give a major boost to staff and would show that there were viable alternatives to the car.
Oracle and Vipre also won the Golden Pedal award for large private-sector companies. Eagle Star won the medium private-sector award while the An Post sorting office at Knockmitten won the large public-sector award.
The small public-sector award went to the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham.