Mazda Recommends Employees Walk to Office

The following came through one of the other lists. Funny coming from a car company. We have a similar "rideshare" program here at CSULB, where you earn points every time you use alternative transportation (bus, carpool, bike, walk), points that can be redeemed for gift cards at various retail stores (like Lowe's Home Improvement). Only recently did the State of California deem this incentive a form of earned income and made it taxable. I haven't seen the damage yet, so I don't know how less appealing they've now made ridesharing. Doesn't matter to me much anyway, since I'll walk to work regardless.

from: Mazda Recommends Employees Walk to Office
Fri Dec 2, 2005, 10:04 AM ET, Associated Press via Yahoo News

Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. is recommending its employees walk to the office, rather than commute by car, as part of an effort to improve their health and protect the environment, a company spokesman said Friday.

Those meeting a set of requirements by going to the office on foot are eligible to receive 1,500 yen ($12) a month, Mazda spokesman Ken Haruki said.

Aimed at improving employees' health and to promote environment protection, Mazda introduced its "Eco-walk commutation allowance" on Thursday, Hakuki said.

Mazda, Japan's fourth-largest automaker based in Hiroshima, is the first Japanese car company to encourage its employees to walk and offer a monetary incentive, he said.