How to be a bike friendly business
Some of these ideas are aimed at customers, others at staff.
NZ case study 1: The Tai Tapu Store provides a pump and offers bike tubes (see above pic). It's on the way to the Little River Rail Trail and is a popular destination for day riders from Chch.
NZ case study 2: Moore Wilsons on College St, Wellington provides great bike parking and a drinking fountain
For a cafe or retail business, the basics are to:
- provide secure, convenient bike parking.
- tool kit and spare parts available
- electric bike charging
- support local bike events
- support local bike clubs and advocates e.g. join CAN (http://can.org.nz/can-supporting-organisations)
- work with local bike advocates for better bike lanes etc
- water
- toilets
- advertise that they are bike-friendly
Accommodation
providers:
as above, plus
pick up service from airport / town centre / trail end
a place to clean bikes, esp if near off-road trails
workstand and tools
maps and guidebooks
And some links:
1. CAN runs cycle friendly awards.
The following criteria are used:
Coverage
number of people potentially affected
Success to date
of initiatives / person in encouraging cycling
Potential
applicability to other locations / organisations / commitment by person
Innovation
relative uniqueness & innovation of initiative / person's action in NZ
http://can.org.nz/cycle-friendly-awards-history
2. SPARC publishes a guide for employers, aimed at making it easier for staff to bike:
3. For accommodation services: 5 Easy Ways to be a Bike-Friendly Business
4. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/04/30/ten-ways-make-your-business-bike-friendly
5. This one is aimed at businesses and their staff.
http://www.bikeleague.org/business
Here's the basics:
Engineering
The business provides secure and convenient bike parking. (2 points)
Showers are on-site and are free for employee use. (2 points)
Encouragement
There are incentives provided by the business for employees to commute to work by bike. (2 points)
The business works with local advocates to improve bicycling conditions for the community. (2 points)
The business supports a bicycle team/club. (1 point)
Education
The business offers bicycle education classes. (2 points)
Bicycling education materials are available to employees on a regular basis. (1 point)
Evaluation
The business has a bike coordinator (full, part-time, or volunteer) to help promote cycling. (3 points)