Companies encourage riding bikes

(KXAN) - A growing number of companies are offering employees incentives to ride a bicycle to work. The government is helping to sweeten the pot. Congress passed the Bikes Commuters Act as part of the bailout plan.

It gives companies a tax credit of up to $20 per month per cycling employee, beginning in January. The Clif Bar food company in California goes a step further offering $500 toward the repair of an old bike or purchase of a new one if an employee pledges to ride it to work twice a month.