Bike-Sharing Program Free of Charge to Anyone 18 and Older
HENDERSON, Nev.--(Business Wire)--
Do you remember the pure joy of hopping on a bicycle and going for a ride?
Starting today, residents of Henderson, Nev., will be able to experience the
health benefits and fun of bike riding thanks to Freewheelin, a bike-sharing
program created by Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM).
The Humana Guidance Center in Henderson, a community resource that enables
Humana to meet people in the community where they live, will house a Freewheelin
bike station with 18 bicycles. Anyone 18 or older can check out a Freewheelin
bicycle between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, free of charge by
presenting a valid photo ID and credit card. Humana also will allow all riders
to borrow helmets and bike locks for free.
"We`re incredibly excited to bring a permanent Freewheelin bike-sharing station
to the Humana Guidance Center in Henderson," said Curt Howell, president of
Humana of Nevada. "Bicycles are a fun way to get some exercise and a great way
to get around town while doing something good for the environment and your
health. We`ve seen a lot of success and enthusiasm with Humana`s Freewheelin
program, and we expect to see many more delighted Freewheelers in Henderson."
As part of the Freewheelin program, Freewheelers will be able to participate in
scheduled bike rides. Each of the planned bike rides will leave from the Humana
Guidance Centers, but will vary from an easy, slow, scenic cruise to a longer,
more athletic workout.
How Freewheelin Works
Bicycles will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Humana Guidance
Center in Henderson. Riders must present a credit card and a photo ID to check
out a bike; no charges will be placed on the card, provided bikes are returned
by 5 p.m. to the Humana Guidance Center. Freewheelers do not need to be Humana
members to check out bikes. Humana also will allow all riders to borrow bike
locks and will give out helmets free of charge. All riders will participate in a
bicycle safety information session and be fitted to their bicycles and helmets
before heading out to the streets to pedal away. The Humana Guidance Center in
Henderson is located at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 720, Henderson, NV
89074.
A celebratory "community ride" is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27,
at the Humana Guidance Center in Henderson. Anyone in the community is welcome
to participate in this ride, on their own bikes, or on a Freewheelin bike.
Freewheelin`s Road to Success
In 2008, Humana and the bicycle-advocacy group Bikes Belong took 1,000 bicycles
to each of the national political conventions. Over eight days, riders in Denver
and Minneapolis-St. Paul took more than 7,500 rides, pedaled nearly 42,000
miles, burned 1.3 million calories and reduced their carbon footprint by 14.6
metric tons. It was such a success that Humana decided to keep the Freewheelin
program rolling, taking it to other events, including recently logging more than
2,400 rides during the 2009 Senior Games. And now Humana is bringing Freewheelin
into local communities via Humana`s Guidance Centers. The Freewheelin
bike-sharing program will now be available in Humana Guidance Centers in Mesa,
Ariz., Henderson, Nev., and Tamarac, Fla.
Bike-sharing is the international social movement where bikes are situated at
designated stations throughout cities for individuals to use for a specified
amount of time. It is a viable transportation alternative for those who prefer
an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and healthy means of traveling,
especially for short trips. Freewheelin is one of a number of initiatives Humana
is developing to encourage people to have fun and get active, including
everything from rewards for walking to video games that promote exercise.
Humana pioneered the bike-sharing program in 2007 in Louisville for its nearly
10,000 Louisville associates. The initiative focuses on fun as well as health by
encouraging people to get on a bike and ride with friends. Twenty-one percent of
those riding at Humana were not previously involved in exercise activity.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation`s largest
publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately
10.3 million medical members and 6.8 million specialty members. Humana is a
full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and
supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and
individuals.
Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet
changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement,
providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience
throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor
Relations page of the company`s web site at www.humana.com, including copies
of:
* Annual reports to stockholders
* Securities and Exchange Commission filings
* Most recent investor conference presentations
* Quarterly earnings news releases
* Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
* Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and
times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional
investors)
* Corporate Governance Information
Humana Inc.
Anna Hobbs, 214-336-1821
ahobbs@humana.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009
