The movement to encourage more people to bike as part of their daily lives continues with Bicycle Benefits. The new program has taken off in Seattle, Charlotte and Madison, Wis., and is now coming to St. Louis.

Here’s how it works: Businesses that support cycling join as program participants, sell the $5 Bicycle Benefits helmet stickers and establish a reward for patrons who come in on a bike and show their sticker. Rewards can be anything from a sales incentive or discount to a special prize. The idea is for citywide program to develop that concurrently supports more biking and local businesses.

“My husband, Harold, and I were in Charlotte last month and saved more than $30 just by riding our bicycles and showing our Bicycle Benefits helmet sticker,” said Karen Karrabell, who is helping push the program in St. Louis. “It’s ridiculously cheap for businesses to sign up. Each business gets to choose its own discount, and gets national exposure for being bicycle-friendly.

“The goal is to make St. Louis the next large community offering Bicycle Benefits,” said Karrabell. Get more information at bb2.bicyclebenefits.org.