Learn how to become a cycle friendly business in a new course, free for all Lincolnshire businesses.
Cycling represents a growing and valuable tourism market, particularly in rural areas. In June 2020, it was reported that there was a 100% increase in weekday cycling with that rising to around 200% on the weekends when compared to pre-Covid-19 levels.
With this growth comes new audiences and new opportunities for local trade and businesses. According to Cycling UK, 1.23 million overnight cycle trips in the UK contribute around £433m to the economy. Whilst research from the Department for Transport found that cyclists spend around 9% more per trip than the average visitor with an average spend per day of a cycling trip of £46.75.
Becoming Cycle Friendly
To help businesses in Lincolnshire become more cycle friendly, attracting business from cyclists from across the nation, Cycle Lincolnshire have developed a ‘Cycle Friendly Charter’ open to all Greater Lincolnshire business, including accommodation business, restaurants, bars and cafés, shops, attractions and leisure business.
The free online course helps businesses gain an understanding of how to make their business more appealing to the cycling market and benefit from this growing audience, and a market worth an estimated £520 million to the UK economy.
The Charter outlines services that should be offered to achieve Cycle Friendly status such as secure bike storage facilities and access to a first aid kit, puncture repair kit and water to re-fill bottles.
The initiative of Cycle Lincolnshire is a legacy of Cycle England – a joint venture between Visit England’s Discover England fund, Lincolnshire County Council and Welcome to Yorkshire with support from Visit Lincoln and local authorities across the county in 2018.
Visit England Director, Andrew Stokes, said:
“It is great to see that the success of Cycle England has been the creation of Cycle Lincolnshire, bringing together businesses to build on current routes available and create new products and experiences county-wide. This Charter will support local businesses understand how they can become cycle friendly, and we hope Cycle Lincolnshire goes from strength to strength.”
Charlotte Goy, CEO at Visit Lincoln said:
“Lincolnshire’s city, coast, countryside, and market towns have so much to offer; Cycle Lincolnshire will attract new audiences to the county and create brilliant opportunities for local businesses to tap into a new, growing market.”
How to enrol
The ‘Becoming Cycle Friendly’ course is delivered on an online learning platform, Teachables.
Enrol to become a Cycle Friendly business.
On completion of the course, that should only take around 90 minutes to complete, businesses will be gifted a plaque to display in their establishment, as well as receive digital recognition that they are a ‘Cycle Friendly’ business.
