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Providing your employees with safe, secure bike storage solutions can be an excellent way to encourage them to travel to and from work by bike.
In this article, we look at some of the most straightforward ways employers can improve bicycle storage for their employees and visitors, creating a happier and healthier workplace.
Introducing protected bike lanes has made cyclists' daily commute more accessible and safer, and installing bike storage facilities at your workplace is another way to help make a difference.
Offering employees and visitors better bike facilities means employers can encourage more people to cycle to work. This helps to improve their health and wellbeing and can even increase productivity. It can also help with any cost-of-living struggles they are having by reducing their petrol costs.
Here are six ways you can improve your bike storage facilities for employees and offices:
#1 Make sure the bike racks are easy to use
There are many bike racks to choose from, but the traditional bike rack from Strip Curtains Direct is one of the most common, thanks to its user-friendliness and easy-to-reach locking points. It holds 6 or 8 bikes and simply bolts to the floor.
#2 Make sure the bike rack or shelter is easily accessible
It won't be a popular option if employees have to walk through several gates or park their bikes on the other side of the plot where they work.
Finding a couple of old bike racks behind the bins will be off-putting for many.
So, make sure commuters on their bikes have easily accessible parking, well-lit access, and friendly wayfinding. This can help motivate employees to cycle to work more regularly.
#3 Consider security and weatherproofing
Ensuring the bike storage solution you choose is weatherproof is essential in the UK. Clear-sheeting bike shelters will keep most of the weather out, but for a tougher, more secure option, our Industrial Cycle Shelter uses a heavy-gauge steel framework with galvanised roof and sides to help protect bikes from wind and rain. It stores up to 7 bikes with staggered parking (to reduce handlebar contact) and a curved roof with drainage gutters to manage runoff.
#4 Include a bike repair station
If your employee arrives at work by bike and then finds they have a flat tyre, this can leave them feeling frustrated and cause issues such as having to catch a taxi home or coming in the next day to pick up their bike.
Including a bike repair station in your bike storage plans will show your employees that you are focused on their wellbeing, and that it is not just a box-ticking exercise. It doesn't need to be complicated; just give them the tools to allow them to repair and tune their bikes, monitor tyre pressures and replace flat tyres. Keep them moving and keep them happy. Win, win.
#5 Prepare for the e-bike revolution
Sales of e-bikes are continuing to grow, so if you want to stay ahead of the curve and attract the best talent to your business, you need to consider how you will accommodate this trend.
Well, e-bikes are more expensive than regular bikes, so safety and security will become even more critical. You might also want to add a charging station to encourage e-bike users to keep cycling to work.
To find out more about our premises and site safety range, including cycle storage and racks, please call us today on 0333 999 7171 or email sales@stripcurtainsdirect.com
