Best practices for businesses promoting bicycling

The benefits of active commuting (walking and biking to work) are well documented, though rates of participation remain low in the United States. Workplace policies, programs and environment can be a significant influence on employee’s travel mode choice, though relatively little is known about appropriate strategies. Therefore, the purpose of our study thus was to examine the best practices employers could implement in order to increase employee active commuting, focusing specifically on cycling. Businesses designated as bike-friendly were interviewed to examine how they addressed engineering, encouragement, education and evaluation for biking among employees. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded. Employers (n = 16) ranged from small to large size and represented a variety of industries. Businesses reported the creation of a culture for cycling, providing adequate bike parking/infrastructure and maintenance facilities, investing in education, offering either financial or group-based incentives and including competitions for promoting biking. Interviewees also noted the importance of engaging with the community to support biking. The findings from the study can be used as a foundation for employers looking to increase active commuting and physical activity among their workers and inform further research surrounding active commuting interventions.