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Bicycle Commuter Reimbursement Program

Any full-time benefits-eligible MIT employee who commutes to work by bicycle is eligible to apply for reimbursement of expenses under the MIT Bicycle Commuter Reimbursement Program. This benefit is based on verified expenses, up to a maximum of $300 per calendar year.

To increase flexibility for MIT commuters, the revised bike benefit allows cyclists to claim a partial subsidy even if they participate in other MIT-subsidized parking or transit programs.

A bike reimbursement program applicant must meet these requirements:

  • Is a full-time benefits-eligible employee at MIT (students and affiliates are not eligible)
  • Has registered a bike at MIT
  • Does not have an MIT off-campus or resident parking account

How to Participate in the Program

1. Register your bicycle with the MIT Parking and Transportation Office.

  • Applicants must register a bike and receive an MIT bike license before submitting expenses. Please note: The calendar-year annual reimbursement benefit is reduced by $25/month for each month that year when the bike was not registered. See details below.

2. If you incur eligible bike expenses throughout the calendar year, keep receipts.

  • No eligible expense will be considered for reimbursement without a valid receipt from the reimbursement calendar year. (See below for a list of eligible expenses.)
  • Receipts must include: name of service provider; service performed or supplies purchased; dollar amount; and date of service.
  • Participant must be a full-time benefits-eligible MIT employee at the time the eligible expenses are incurred.

3. Upload receipts using the Bicycle Reimbursement form in Atlas (About Me > Commuting Benefits).

  • Scan, photograph, or screenshot your receipts and upload them to include with the online form.
  • You may visit the form multiple times during the reimbursement calendar year to upload receipts and/or in January and early February of the following year.
  • Do not submit your reimbursement form until you have uploaded all of your receipts for the reimbursement calendar year. Only one reimbursement request per calendar year (per person) will be processed.

4. When you have uploaded all your receipts for the reimbursement calendar year, submit the Bicycle Reimbursement form in Atlas (About Me > Commuting Benefits).

  • The finalized online form with uploaded receipts can be submitted at any time during the reimbursement calendar year and must be submitted by February 15 of the following year.
  • Note that only one reimbursement request per calendar year (per person) will be processed, and subsequent requests will be rejected. Make sure you have completed the form and uploaded all receipts before you submit your request.
  • Note also that if you are ending your tenure as a benefits-eligible MIT employee for any reason before the end of the reimbursement calendar year, please contact the Parking & Transportation Office regarding delivery of your reimbursement.

How Your Reimbursement is Calculated

Your final reimbursement is either the total of your submitted receipts (up to $300) or your adjusted reimbursement cap, whichever is lower.

  • Receipts are reviewed and verified by the Parking & Transportation Office’s Commuting Specialist.
  • The bicycle benefits maximum annual cap of $300 is universal and applies to all participants.
  • Your adjusted reimbursement cap is the universal cap ($300) reduced by deductions that may arise from your use of any MIT-subsidized parking or transit program(s) as explained below.

For example, your eligible bike expenses for 2020 are $250 in total, and you have $100 of reimbursement cap deductions based on your use of MIT-subsidized parking and/or transit programs throughout the year. Your adjusted reimbursement cap for 2020 is $200 (the universal cap of $300 less your MIT commuter program deductions of $100). Your final bicycle reimbursement for 2020 is $200 (your adjusted reimbursement cap, because it is lower than your total eligible bike expenses).

How Your Adjusted Reimbursement Cap is Calculated

The initial maximum reimbursement amount is capped at $300 per calendar year. However, if you participate in MIT-subsidized parking, the Access MIT program, or a monthly payroll-deducted transit program at MIT, this may lower the cap on your maximum reimbursement. Adjustments to your reimbursement cap are calculated on a month-to-month basis and any monthly reduction will not exceed $25/month.

  • For each month of the calendar year when your bike is not registered, the initial maximum reimbursement amount of $300/year is reduced by $25/month. For example, if you register your bike in March, your maximum reimbursement is capped at $250 ($300 minus $25 each for January and February).
  • In addition, for each month when your bike is registered but your MIT-subsidized daily parking expenses are $25 or more, your maximum bike reimbursement will be reduced by $25. (Daily parking expenses of less than $25/month will not affect the reimbursement cap.)
  • Similarly, for each month when your bike is registered but your subsidized Access MIT pass expenses are $25 or more (subway and/or local bus), your maximum bike reimbursement will be reduced by $25. (Access MIT pass expenses that are less than $25/month will not affect the bike reimbursement cap.)
  • And if your bike is registered but you purchase an MIT-subsidized MBTA monthly pass (bus, subway, commuter rail and/or commuter boat), your maximum bike reimbursement will be reduced by $25 for each month your pass was active.

Issuing Reimbursements

The Parking & Transportation Office will issue calendar-year Bicycle Reimbursements to program participants by March 31 of the following year. Reimbursements will be deposited electronically into your bank account.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses include: purchase of a new or used bike to be used in your MIT commute; bike improvements and repair, including labor costs for repair or installation of parts; bike maintenance parts such as tires and tubes; bike locks and other bike-mounted accessories, including child seats, panniers, and other storage solutions mounted on the bike; professional tune-ups; bike cleats; cycling-specific clothing; safety gear, including lights, helmets, and reflective items attached to the bike; and bike storage fees (paid to a bike parking facility including a bike cage or other storage facility).

Non-eligible expenses include non-cycling-specific clothing; athletic shoes that are not bike cleats; bike-share memberships (Bluebikes or Lime, for example); gym memberships or fees; bike rentals; car-mounted bike racks or personal bike storage racks or units; any purchase (including otherwise eligible ones) for which you have no receipt; and any purchase (including otherwise eligible ones) that you make for another person. Final determination of expense eligibility will be made by the Parking & Transportation Office.

 RELATED LINKS
 Bikes on the MBTA
 Bikes safety tips brochure (pdf)
 BicycleSafe.com
 Getting around MIT by Bike (pdf)
 Bluebikes Bicycle Share
 MassBike
 Reuse your bike (pdf)
   
 CONTACT INFO

Facilities

Department Directory

Parking & Transportation Office

Atlas Service Center
Street Address: 40 Ames Street
Building: E17-106
Hours: M - F, 8AM - 5PM

parking services

Email: mitparking@mit.edu
Tel: 617-258-6510

t-pass services

Email: tpass@mit.edu
Tel: 617-253-9701

other commuter connections

Email: commuting@mit.edu


Tom Giannino
Manager

Robynn Cruz-Walker
Commuter Program Administrator

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