Jimmy John’s “Freaky-Fast” bike deliveries – July Bike-Friendly Business!

If you live or work downtown, you’ve probably seen people zooming around on bikes wearing Jimmy John’s bike jerseys. Here at BikeDenver, we think that’s pretty neat, so we are awarding them the honor of being our July Bike-Friendly Business!

The store motto is “Freaky-Fast delivery” and the bike messengers do not disappoint. Sometimes their bags are holding upwards of 50 sandwiches that will arrive quickly and full of tasty goodness no matter what the unpredictable Colorado weather is doing. The sandwich chain is rumored to have first begun using messengers in Chicago, Illinois because there were parts of town that were virtually impossible to deliver to in busy, traffic-crammed streets. Bikes could zip around and get there in much less time and didn’t have to run around looking for parking. A lot of Jimmy John’s stores around the country have bike messengers, especially in college towns and in urban areas where stores are located in the heart of businesses, stores, public spaces and homes. In these compact delivery zones, it makes sense to take advantage of two-wheeled sandwich transportation.

It takes a certain kind of person to be a bike messenger, according to the store manager at 16^th and Welton. They’re tough and they really love to be on their bikes. Nearly all of the 12 messengers at this store commute to work and many of them are involved in the bike community in other ways too. Even though the job can be grueling, a few of the folks at this store have been pumping their pedals through downtown Denver to deliver your #6 sandwich for three to five years. The store manager admitted that there are injuries a few times a year, but the messengers are covered by Worker’s Compensation and get paid well. They apply for jobs as messengers and get trained in many other areas of the store, so they know what they’re getting into and gladly take on the challenge. This store in particular understands the importance of having bike messengers and treating them right because it is the busiest store in Colorado. Without the bold, brave spirits of the bike messengers at Jimmy John’s on 16^th and Welton, your gourmet sandwich might get there just fast, instead of Freaky-Fast.

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BikeDenver’s Bicycle-Friendly Business (BFB) of the Month Award highlights organizations that are making standout contributions and offering great success stories from among BikeDenver’s Bicycle-Friendly Business (BFB) Program members. The BFB program, with more than 140 honorees to date, recognizes businesses, organizations and workplaces that are leading the way to make bicycling an easy and accepted form of transportation in Denver. Nominate a workplace as a Bicycle-Friendly Business here.

BikeDenver is Denver’s bicycle advocacy organization. BikeDenver promotes and encourages bicycling in Denver and works to make Denver a better place to ride your bike. Why? Because more bicycling has great benefits for you, and for Denver! www.bikedenver.org

Clif Bar & Company started on a bike ride. Founder Gary took a bite of another energy bar and thought he could make a better bar. Today, Clif Bar is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks.www.clifbar.com

Bicycle Friendly Business of the Month Awards: Since partnering in July of 2009 to launch the monthly awards program, Clif Bar and BikeDenver have recognized over 35 work places for their bicycle friendly practices.

May 2012 – Trips For Kids

April 2012 – Cactus Advertising

March 2012 – Denver Bike Cafe

February 2012 – Cake Crumbs Bakery

January 2012 – Hi*Rise Bakery

December 2011 – greatBIGcolor, Inc.

November 2011 – Kentwood City Properties

October 2011 – Gates Corporation

September 2011 – Wash Perk

August 2011 – TIAA CREF

July 2011 – Pedal Hopper

June 2011 – Illegal Pete’s