Staying decidedly bi-partisan, health insurance provider Humana will be sending 20 Freewheelin pedal busses to both the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Tampa taking place August 26 – 30, and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina running from September 2 – 6.
Humana’s fleet of 20 pedal busses will require each of the eight passengers, plus a driver, to pedal to get to the next stop. Riders will have to register initially in order to get a card with a QR code. The card will grant convention goers access to use the bus, pick up free local fruit and bottled water, and talk to a health advisor present at each of the stops. The health adviser will be on hand to provide biometric health screenings such as blood pressure and BMI checks.
Maps and schedules will be posted on Humana’s Freewheelin2012 website. Humana estimates that spending 30 minutes pedaling a bike at a leisurely pace can burn between 140 and 380 calories. Those who crank their way from one stop to the next at the conventions will benefit from the time they spend on the bus.
Freewheelin started by Humana – based in Louisville, Kentucky – as a means to help employees get from one building on the company’s campus to another. From there the initiative spread to encouraging biking as a means of exercise and transportation. Freewheelin took 1,000 bikes and multiple bike stations to Denver for the DNC and Minneapolis-St. Paul for the RNC conventions four years ago.