January 12, 2026
How To Build a Bike-Friendly Workplace
Did you know that over 18,000 DC residents bike to work every day? And that number is only growing. For employers, providing a workplace that supports those who bike is not just a nice reward, it’s a smart investment.
What is a bike-friendly workplace?
A bike-friendly workplace is one that not only promotes and encourages employees to bike but also provides resources to make biking a viable commuting option. Being a bike-friendly workplace offers countless benefits, such as reduced parking costs, higher employee morale and retention, advancement of sustainability goals, and more.
How to create a bike-friendly workplace
Okay, so you want to make your workplace bike-friendly, but how?
Provide Supportive Infrastructure
A key pillar of creating a bike-friendly workplace is having supportive infrastructure to eliminate barriers to bike commuting.
Bike Parking/Storage
Bikes are not as easily secured in a traditional parking lot as cars are. Provide dedicated bike parking through bike racks, bike cages, or a secure bike room, to give your employees peace of mind that their bikes will be safe throughout the day.
Showers and Lockers
Depending on the length of their commute, your employees could work up quite a sweat riding their bikes to work. Adde showers, changing areas, and lockers to your office so your employees have a place where they can easily transition into their workday attire. This will allow them to commute to work in what is most comfortable (and safe) for them!
Real-Time Transit Displays
Thanks to resources like Capital Bikeshare, biking can be just one part of a commute. Real-time displays showing Metro and bus times can help employees plan their multimodal commutes and avoid unexpected delays.
Offer Benefits
Introduce incentives or financial support to your employees to ensure biking is a more realistic option for them.
Capital Bikeshare Corporate Memberships
Capital Bikeshare offers corporate memberships that allow employers to subsidize employee memberships, providing affordable access to its extensive bike-share system throughout the District. This benefit makes biking a convenient and accessible transportation option for employees of all abilities and commute needs.
Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
Some bike commuting employees might be concerned about whether they will be able to bike home in an emergency. GRH is a program that gives commuters who regularly commute to work using sustainable transportation, such as biking, a free ride home up to six times per year. Promote and encourage your employees to participate in GRH to help them feel more at ease knowing they have a backup plan. Learn more about the program here.
CommuterCash
Encourage your employees to sign up for CommuterCash. Not only can it help them find biking options, but they can also log their trips to earn points that they can redeem for cash, gift cards, or transportation credits. Incentives like this can make biking a more appealing commuting option.
Bicycle Benefits
In addition to commuter benefits, you can also offer bicycle benefits. These benefits can cover the purchase of a bike, lock, or helmet; the cost of a tune-up or repair; or fees for secure parking. These are taxable reimbursements you can deduct as a business expense. Provide employees with reimbursements for these essential items to help make bike commuting a more feasible and affordable option!
Promote Safety and Education
Biking through the city to get to work might be intimidating for some. Focus on safety and education so your employees feel more equipped and ready to bike.
Host or Sponsor Bike Classes
Partner with organizations like the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) that offers classes for riders at all skill levels. Their wide variety of courses provide practical guidance for biking around the city that can help boost your employees’ confidence.
Provide Safety Resources
Feature resources for safe riding to help your employees feel more prepared and supported. Offer items like reflective gear, lights, or horns to make your employees feel more comfortable biking, especially if they are new riders.
Share Bike Maps
Make it easy for your employees to find established, safe bike routes along their commutes by providing DC bike maps. Display these maps in prominent areas around your office or at your front desk. You can request free DC Bike Maps, Capital Bikeshare brochures, and bike safety guides using our goDCgo Brochure Request Form.
Celebrate and Promote
The culture you foster is an essential part of building a bike-friendly workplace. Going beyond tangible infrastructure and benefits to create a culture that celebrates biking helps make employees feel supported.
Participating in Bike Events
Participate in or even host bike events to create a positive bike culture and excitement around biking to work. Examples of such events include Bike To Work Day, Bike Month activities, or hosting a bike-commuting group ride. These events not only motivate those who already bike to work but can also introduce other employees who had not considered biking to work as an option. Want to really take it up a notch? Sponsor free bike tune ups to your employees by hiring a mobile bike mechanic!
Spotlight Bike-Commuting Employees
Recognize employees who bike to work to build enthusiasm and inspire others to try biking themselves. Highlighting bike commuters demonstrates how easy and practical biking can be, while reinforcing your organization’s commitment to a bike-friendly workplace culture.
Ready to Make Your Workplace Bike-Friendly?
Interested in getting started but need support? Our Employer Services team offers complimentary consultations to help employers create bike-friendly workplaces with ease. Contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation.
