BUSINESSES FOR BIKES: SUPPORT FOR CYCLING
GROWS
Over sixty businesses have signed up as
founding members of 'Businesses for Bikes', saying cycling benefits
their bottom line
The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) announces the launch of
Businesses for Bikes, a membership based group of businesses that
openly support cycling and improved cycling infrastructure. The
program aims to supply businesses with the tools and resources to
reach the cycling consumer; empower employees to ride safely and
confidently; and help create a more vibrant community and local
economy. With 62 founding members and growing, it is clear that
developments such as the Hornby separated bike lanes have many
supporters within the business community.
One BFB member, Ron van der Eerdon of Pacific Image Home Designs,
says, "As cycling downtown becomes safer and more people take
advantage of that choice, the liveability of the public realm
improves. This draws more people to the core and invites them to
stay longer. It's good for business."
The VACC has visited ground-level shops and services all along
Hornby and Burrard where the lane is proposed, and has started to
communicate with business owners and managers about how to leverage
the opportunities that come with increased bike traffic outside
their stores.
With the launch of Businesses for Bikes, the VACC will continue
engaging local organizations on the benefits of improved bike
infrastructure and provide them with guidance on how to market to
cyclists - a quickly growing and affluent market. Defying popular
assumptions, cyclists are better spenders than drivers. A 2009
survey on Bloor Street in Toronto showed bicyclists shop
approximately twice as often in the area and spend around 10% more
per month than car drivers.
Making cycling a more viable transportation option is a benefit not
only to customers, but employees as well. It has been shown that
employees who cycle to work tend to take fewer sick days, stay with
the company longer, be more productive, and save their employer
money by reducing the need to provide employee car parking spots.
Jonathan Rhone, President and CEO, Nexterra Systems Corporation
sees benefits: "This is not only good for our business by
increasing transportation options for our employees, but we believe
it will have a powerful long term impact on mobility and will help
relieve traffic congestion."
From big to small, businesses are finding benefits. For Dan Lunn
and his woodworking business on bicycle, he's seen his customer
base increase. "With the opening of the Dunsmuir separated bike
lanes, I have been able to expand my market. The north-south
separated connection on Hornby would provide the link to expand
further and support my small business." he says.
In the coming months, Businesses for Bikes will be distributing a
Guide for Marketing to Cyclists, and will roll out the Discover by
Bike project, a joint venture to showcase participating
bike-friendly businesses to cyclists. For more information, visit
www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca/businessesforbikes
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About the Vancouver Area Cycling
Coalition:
The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) is a staff-run,
volunteer-driven non-profit society whose members work to improve
conditions for cycling in the Lower Mainland. The VACC promotes
cycling for everyone through advocacy, education and events. For
more information, please go to http://www.vacc.bc.ca.
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For more information, please
contact:
Erin O'Melinn
Business for Bikes Program Manager
erin@vacc.bc.ca
778.239.7252
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For
more testimonials from Business for Bikes members, go to:
www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca/BFBtestimonials
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Business
for Bikes Founding Members:
Co-operative Auto Network
Darychuk Dean-Cloutier
Hootsuite
Nexterra
Wilder Snail
AirG
Bicycle Sports Pacific
Bike Doctor
Bikes on the Drive
Brewery Creek Liquor Store
Bright Energy Group
Brodie Bikes
Burns, Fitzpatrick, Rogers and Schwartz
CBC Shop
City Green Solutions
COPE Local 378
David Niddrie Photography
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens
Eclipse Awards
Ethical Bean
Fab-All
Festival Cinemas
Giant Bicycles
Golden Properties
Habanero Consulting Group
Haney Market Place
Holistic Therapy Centre
Interstyle Ceramic and Glass
Jack Bell Ride Share
La Bicicletta
Lat49
Mighty Riders
Momentum Magazine
Novex Couriers
Offsetters
Pacific Image Home Designs
Passion for Action
Peak Performance General Store
Pedal Energy Development Alternatives
Pressed 4 Time
Principle Architecture
Pure Indulgence
Quench Designs
Ryders Eyewear
Saul Good Gift Co
South Surrey Cycles
Spokes Bicycle Rental
Starbucks (@Hornby and Dunsmuir)
Tagga Media
Telefilm Canada
Tri-M Technologies Inc.
Urban Menace
Vancouver Renewable Energy
Vanprint
Velocity Transportation Planning
Web Lite Translations Corp
Westcoast Sightseeing
Westpoint Cycles
What Box Works
Whole Foods
Zygoat Creative Technology Services
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