What Employers Can Do to Support Employees Who Commute by Bicycle

Gas prices continue to fluctuate, and more people want to be healthier, making biking a regular means of transportation, including for their work commute. Employers can support such workers by offering benefits such as secure bicycle parking and purchase discounts.

How Can Companies Provide Bike Support for Employees?

People can’t just leave their bikes anywhere, so give them convenient, secure bike storage that’s locked and weather-protected. Incorporate bike racks that can accommodate different types of bicycles and have well-lit CCTV security where appropriate. Knowing that their bike is as secure as a car would be in company parking can help ease any potential stress about theft or being stranded.

​Some people may hesitate to use their bike for a commute even if they’re physically capable due to concerns about being sweaty and looking inappropriate in the office. By having showers and changing facilities, businesses can remove this barrier.

Lockers can store biking equipment. If you don’t have such space, partnerships with nearby gyms and shared facilities can also help.

Companies in busy urban areas can offer employees flexible arrival times to help them avoid feeling rushed and riding in dangerous peak traffic. According to Arizona bicycle accident attorneys from Triumph Law Group, the majority of bicycle crashes occur in urban areas. There were 1,379 bicycle-involved crashes just across Arizona last year. By making commuting safer and more convenient, businesses can help employees feel more confident about choosing a bike for their daily commute.

Create a Bike-friendly Culture

Take things a step further by adding bike positivity to your workplace culture. That can include adding cycling challenges and social rides to your team-building activities.

Don’t add pressure by making it feel compulsory or competitive; make it a legitimate choice along with public transportation and driving.

What About Incentives?

Drivers can get parking spaces and public transportation workers can get free transit passes, so how do you handle biker financial incentives? Consider benefits like bicycle purchase schemes or contributions towards cycling equipment.

Offer discounts at local bike shops and repair services.

When it’s time to hand out employee awards, you can include bikes or biking equipment in the list of options.

Why Is Bike Support Important?

As more Americans feel the crunch of rising fuel and auto insurance costs, some people may want to reduce expenses with cheaper options, from public transportation to bicycling. Removing this financial burden can help reduce stress associated with driving or crowded public transport that can get a workday off to a poor start.

Giving them support contributes to their emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Supporting environmental sustainability matters as the planet deals with pollution linked to excessive vehicle exhaust.

Your company also benefits by reducing demand for parking space. You can also improve your company’s branding by showing support for green initiatives and caring about overall worker happiness and health.

Biker Safety Matters

Safe biking infrastructure is essential, as biking in heavy traffic is risky, especially when there are no designated bike lanes. Your company can provide information about safe cycling routes and how the local bike infrastructure directly connects to the job.

Offer cycle safety training to ensure employees are comfortable and know how to report problems related to biking facilities or access.

Use your business influence with local authorities and other businesses to encourage everyone to improve cycling infrastructure around the workplace. Pairing up with a local business may save you money.

Support a Bike Commute

As more people turn away from four wheels and towards two wheels, your company infrastructure can support them with small changes. You don’t have to make a major overhaul or bust your budget to secure biker parking, changing facilities, and offering them financial incentives for using this alternative means of getting to work. Doing so helps the environment, workers’ physical and mental health, as well as your company’s bottom line.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov