For local businesses, creating a bike-friendly workplace is an often-overlooked but powerful strategy with tangible benefits. Encouraging cycling among employees and customers can go beyond sustainability goals and offer financial, productivity, and branding advantages.
Peterborough is set up for cycling success. The city is approximately 13 kilometres from end-to-end and boasts over 26 kilometres of trails that connect large sections within city limits. The existing trail system — largely created from rehabilitated rail lines — once filtered commerce and goods directly into the downtown core.
Over the past 25 years, the city has invested in improved cycling infrastructure, efforts which gained the Peterborough a silver designation in Share the Road’s Bike-Friendly Community Award.
Local cycling culture is here to stay. Peterborough’s cycling rates continue to grow, with a marked increase of 400 per cent between 2006 and 2018. By embracing bike-friendly practices, businesses can foster healthier employees, attract more customers, and contribute to a more sustainable and vibrant local economy.
Here are some of the many great reasons to integrate bike-friendly measures into business practices, and some easy ways to get started.
Save money
Providing parking spaces for cars is expensive, particularly in urban areas where real estate is at a premium. In Canada, the average parking space is 153 square feet, or nine feet wide by 17 feet long. This means a downtown parking space in Peterborough could carry a purchase value of around $21,000 per spot for the land it uses. The Canadian Parking Association estimates that companies spend an average of 8.8 per cent of their annual operating costs on parking, which contributes significantly to the bottom line.
While parking lots can cost thousands of dollars per year to maintain, many bikes can fit into the same space at a fraction of the cost. Reducing the need for parking infrastructure can enable businesses to repurpose space for more valuable uses such as outdoor seating, green spaces, or additional retail areas, while offering customers more direct and welcoming access to a business.
Support a local economy
Cyclists are word-of-mouth patrons and will share their excitement to visit a bike-friendly business within their community. Installing bike racks, offering discounts to cyclists, and ensuring accessibility for bike commuters can increase foot traffic and customer loyalty.
When people cycle, they tend to frequent nearby businesses rather than drive to distant locations. This creates a more community-oriented customer base contributing to a more vibrant local economy. Additionally, reduced car dependency leads to less pollution, making cities more livable and attractive for residents and visitors alike.
Boost employee productivity and well-being
A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. Studies show that employees who cycle to work experience lower stress levels, fewer sick days, and improved mental clarity.
Cycling is a low-impact form of exercise that enhances cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and boosts energy levels — factors that contribute to increased efficiency in the workplace.
Cycle-based tourism is growing
Ontario by Bike curates a registry of businesses that meet bike-friendly criteria, promoting them in a widely used guide. Many cyclists travel via the Trans Canada Trail system, passing through Peterborough and its businesses.
As a designated Trent Severn “Trail Town,” Peterborough also attracts tourists that arrive by boat who often use bikes to explore the communities they visit. Businesses that cater to cyclists can tap into this growing tourism market.
Align with business values
Successful business owners consider how all clients, employees, and customers will feel when they arrive at an establishment — whether by bike, transit, or car. Businesses that choose locations to maximize accessibility and incorporate bike-friendly measures make a strategic decision that visibly aligns with their values and priorities.
A bike-friendly approach also improves access for those who rely on public transit or have accessibility needs. Supporting active transportation demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and customer convenience.
Easy ways to get started
- Provide safe and secure bike parking in visible or locked areas
- Display supportive messaging in breakrooms
- Create a welcoming space for cyclists
- Install end-of-trip facilities (storage for helmets and extra clothes, changing spaces)
Go the extra mile!
- Offer employee perks – Access to basic bike tools, water refill stations, charging stations for e-bike batteries, healthy snacks
- Support local bike culture – Stay connected with cycling events, organizations, and community rides to strengthen ties with customers and employees
- Implement internal policies – Offer bike mileage reimbursement, travel stipends in lieu of car parking, emergency ride home programs, flexible dress codes, hybrid work options
- Update onboarding procedures – Highlight cycling routes and amenities, review hiring practices to ensure a driver’s license is required only when necessary
Coordinated by GreenUP, Shifting Gears is a program designed to support Peterborough citizens to adopt active and efficient transportation habits. Join the online community and stay informed about workshops, mentorship, resources, and equipment for individuals and employers.
Visit greenup.on.ca/shifting-gears/ and sign up for the Shifting Gears mailing list to get started and learn how to successfully implement basic bike-friendly measures.
