This Month
SANDAG newsletter
provides information
on key projects & services
SANDAG 2008 year in review
Monitoring report tracks region's progress
Underage drinking and driving:
A local and national concern
New bicycle commuter
benefit available
SANDAG invites nominations
for 2009 Diamond Awards
Actions from the December Board of Directors meeting
New bicycle commuter benefit available 
As of January 1, employers have a new mechanism to support bicycle commuting by their employees. As part of the economic legislation signed by President Bush in October 2008, a bicycle commuter benefit was added to Internal Revenue Code section 132 (f) which will allow employers to reimburse employees who commute to work by bicycle for certain bicycle expenses.
The IRS has not issued guidance on this benefit as of yet, however, the legislation states that an employer may reimburse a maximum of $20 per month for each month to an employee who:
- regularly uses a bicycle for a substantial portion of the travel between the employee's residence and place of employment
- and does not receive another qualified transportation fringe benefit.
Unlike other qualified transportation fringe benefits, such as a transit pass or qualified parking benefits, employees are not paying for this benefit through pre-tax compensation. The bicycle benefit would be funded solely with employer contributions.
If you would like more information on this benefit and how iCommute can assist by logging your bicycle commute trips, call 511 and say RideLink.
Project Manager
Thomas Bruccoleri, Senior Regional Planner
Phone: (619) 699-7381; E-mail: tbr@sandag.org