10 steps to make your business bicycle friendly

Bike friendliness is a concept that I’ve talked about a lot recently. What that is and how that can apply to different businesses and entrepreneurs. There are the practical things to do to make your business more bike friendly, but there are also the more subtle things to do that can make a big difference. Before you start changing your business ask yourself some questions first. Who have you built your biking product for? Are you targeting the same group with your marketing and bike friendliness? Here I’ve put together a list that mixes the practical with the subtle, with the aim of reaching a larger audience for your biking product.

Practical steps for an accommodation or restaurant

1. The first step of a bike friendly business is to make the staff aware that bikers are a part of the clientele and will be guests. Let the staff know what type of questions they may be asked and prepare them.

2. Offer the possibility to store the guests’ bikes in a secure place. The bikes are often worth quite a lot of money so the security is very important. For a restaurant this could be the possibility to always have eyes on your bike, for an accommodation it can be locked garages, to allow bike storage in the room etc.

3. Have tools on hand for bike maintenance. There are many tools that are cheap to buy and small to store but can make a difference for the biker if they are needed.

4. Offer a place for bikers to clean their bike. The ideal is to have a hose with a brush attached on the end but if that’s not possible offer a bucket, a sponge and a towel.

5. If you have space available, make that space in to a makeshift dry rack for clothes and shoes for wet days. Even better if you have the possibility to dry the equipment in a boiler room, or a drying room.

6. If the weather is horrid or if your business is accommodating bikers who bike off road then the guests will probably come in with dirty clothes and shoes. Make them feel welcome by offering covers for your chairs, have a shoe rack, and hooks for dirty, wet clothes and helmets.

7. For accommodations its good if you have a place to charge bike batteries. Or that you allow this in the rooms.

8. If you’re in an area where there are other biking entrepreneurs, tours and places that can be interesting for bikers show this on a map and with brochures. Recommend the next stop on the bikers’ journey and promote your fellow bike entrepreneurs.

9. Make your webpage bike friendly. With this I mean to have information for bikers easily available, to know when your guest will want to make reservations and to have that information ready then, and to show that your business is bike friendly in every step

10. If you’re following the relevant steps for your business and feel that you’re bike friendly, see if there is a local marking or certificate that can show that your business is indeed bike friendly and prove your good work.

Written by Mia Wiktor Lunde