Charlottetown businesses rewarding safe bicyclists with perks, discounts

June 16, 2022

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Native companies are serving to promote biking as an lively and sustainable different technique to journey by providing their helmet-wearing clients a small perk or low cost.

Bike Friendly Businesses, an initiative led by the Metropolis of Charlottetown, showcases companies that supply a small reward or incentive for patrons who get round on bicycles as a technique to promote sustainable transportation and lively dwelling.

The initiative was created in 2019 after the town observed different municipalities discovered success in related initiatives throughout Canada.

“We noticed it as a possibility to interact with our enterprise neighborhood on a biking promotion and assist reward those that are selecting that environmentally sustainable type of transportation,” stated Jessica Brown, sustainability officer for Metropolis of Charlottetown.

“It is also selling biking security due to the requirement of not solely travelling on a motorbike but in addition guaranteeing they’ve their helmet.”

The initiative additionally gives companies with advantages as nicely, providing them a window decal to assist them stick out to cyclists and likewise elevated publicity by including them to the Charlottetown Bike Map. The companies are additionally highlighted on-line and obtain shoutouts throughout Charlottetown Bike Week annually.

Particular person perks

Companies can take part within the initiative voluntarily, stated Brown, and are in command of what perk they provide to cyclists stopping in. That may vary from a reduction, a free service or product, or within the case of Downtown Barbershop and Downtown Playing cards: a free neck shave.

Mary Anne Crane, centre, owner of Downtown Barbershop and Downtown Cards, says she is a fan of any initiative that helps people or promotes better living. So far, her business is part of the Bike Friendly Businesses initiative, Paws Downtown and also the GoHere campaign. Pictured with her are her son and employee Tyler Crane, left, and employee Nicole Hatfield. - Cody McEachern — Mary Anne Crane, centre, proprietor of Downtown Barbershop and Downtown Playing cards, says she is a fan of any initiative that helps individuals or promotes higher dwelling. To this point, her enterprise is a part of the Bike Pleasant Companies initiative, Paws Downtown and likewise the GoHere marketing campaign. Pictured together with her are her son and worker Tyler Crane, left, and worker Nicole Hatfield. – Cody McEachern

Mary Anne Crane, proprietor of Downtown Barbershop and Downtown Playing cards, stated she registered her enterprise for the initiative when it first started as she had many purchasers who selected to bike slightly than drive.

“It is a actually good program to get individuals to bike,” she stated. “We now have some people who find themselves clients who bike on a regular basis, and my son who works right here simply purchased an electrical bike for 2. He plans on utilizing that (to get round) as a result of there aren’t any parking or gasoline charges, and it is wholesome. It will get individuals out and stuff.”

Apart from providing a perk as a part of the initiative, Crane goes a step additional and presents cyclists free entry to her enterprise in the event that they want a drink or a relaxation cease.

“Additionally, we’ve got water fountains for if they should fill a container or seize a drink of water. We encourage them to come back in as nicely if they should use the lavatory, even when they’re not getting their hair minimize,” she stated.

At a look

There are at the moment six companies registered as a part of the Bike Pleasant Companies marketing campaign. They embrace:

Companies enthusiastic about becoming a member of the initiative can register online.

Jessica Brown, sustainability officer with the City of Charlottetown, says the initiative not only promotes a healthier and more social lifestyle, but helps curb greenhouse gases caused by traditional transportation. - Cody McEachern — Jessica Brown, sustainability officer with the Metropolis of Charlottetown, says the initiative not solely promotes a more healthy and extra social life-style, however helps curb greenhouse gases attributable to conventional transportation. – Cody McEachern

Different initiatives

Crane is an enormous fan of native initiatives that assist individuals. In addition to being a part of the Bike Pleasant Companies, Downtown Barbershop and Downtown Playing cards can also be a part of Paws Downtown, a group of pet-friendly shops, in addition to the GoHere public washroom marketing campaign.

“As somebody who has medical points myself, I believe it is good to provide anyone an opportunity to come back in, use the lavatory and get a drink in the event that they want it,” stated Crane. “Even throughout COVID, loads of locations closed their bogs and stuff, however we didn’t.”

At present, the Bike Pleasant Companies initiative solely has six corporations registered to take part, together with Downtown Barbershop & Downtown Playing cards. Crane stated she wish to see extra native companies participate in it.

“I really feel they need to (participate) in all three of (initiatives) we participate in, truly. Something that may assist individuals,” she stated. “Sure, it creates publicity for the enterprise, but it surely additionally helps individuals and promotes wholesome dwelling. It is nice to see that it is individuals in all completely different age teams too. We see younger individuals taking on biking so much, however we most likely see extra older individuals.”

Brown agreed and stated whereas they’re proud of the participation they’ve had over the past three years, they wish to see extra companies signal on to the initiative.

“I believe it displays nicely on them as a enterprise within the Charlottetown neighborhood that they’re providing these particular perks to people who find themselves making sustainable selections and travelling on their bike with their helmets,” she stated.

A City of Charlottetown initiative is showcasing businesses that reward customers who use their bicycles to get around and show off their helmets at the checkout. - Cody McEachern — A Metropolis of Charlottetown initiative is showcasing companies that reward clients who use their bicycles to get round and showcase their helmets on the checkout. – Cody McEachern

Environmental advantages

Brown stated exterior of the perks, biking has many advantages for each people, via enhancing psychological and bodily well being and social well-being, and the atmosphere.

“Transportation is without doubt one of the industries that produce probably the most greenhouse gases, so trying to shift towards extra lively transportation, sustainable transportation clearly has its environmental advantages,” she stated.

Brown stated the town is at all times open to new companies becoming a member of in on the initiative and advertises it via social media and native enterprise organizations such because the chamber of commerce or Downtown Charlottetown Inc.

Nonetheless, Crane stated extra curiosity could possibly be drummed up by including extra bicycle racks downtown.

“There simply aren’t that many round,” she stated. “I believe extra companies would take part, and extra individuals would go to these companies if that they had a correct place to park their bikes.”

Cody McEachern is a enterprise reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. [email protected] @CodyInHiFi

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