5 Tips for Being a Bike-Friendly Workplace
Did you know May is National Bike Month? One of the best and simplest ways to celebrate the month is by riding your bike and encouraging someone else to do the same! This is also the perfect time of year to take steps that will make your workplace more bike-friendly, so commuting by bike is easier and more comfortable for you and your coworkers.
Creating a bike-friendly workplace is not just better for people riding their bikes; it’s better for everyone! Investing in basic resources for people who bike promotes the health and happiness of your team and is an investment in our community and the environment. By encouraging people to bike to work, employers can give people the freedom to choose how they commute and the flexibility to make decisions that support their job satisfaction.
If you aren’t sure how to better support your team members who want to bike to work, or what to suggest to other decision-makers at your job, check out our list of five recommendations for making your workplace bike-friendly:
Provide Secure Bike Parking
Having indoor bike storage takes up far less space than onsite vehicle parking and goes a long way toward peace of mind for people commuting by bike. Indoor wall-mounted racks or a dedicated bike room help keep bikes safe and out of the elements. We recommend having a variety of vertical racks and standard floor storage options to ensure that everyone has an accessible spot to safely lock their bike during work hours without worrying about their ride home.
If indoor space is at a premium, you could consider installing an outdoor bike cage with badge-access in a well-lit area, similar to one the Metropolitan Council has outside of their building, which was expanded in late 2025. According to Rachel Wiken, a Senior Planner for Transportation Planning at the Metropolitan Council, the old bike parking cage was narrow and required bikes to be lifted and parked vertically, which only worked for small, light bikes. Their new space now includes floor mounted posts which are designed with accessibility for all riders, including room for larger cargo bikes and e-bikes.
“The expanded bike cage means I can commute by e-bike, drop my kid at daycare, and know that there is secure parking at work. I really appreciate not having to worry about theft during the day,” Rachel shared.
Sidewalk bike racks are great for the visiting public, but for employees who are storing their bikes all day long for multiple days a week, a separate dedicated space keeps their bikes even more secure and keeps the outdoor racks free for visitors. When possible, having both options ensures that everyone who bikes to your location has a convenient spot to store their bike nearby. If you are interested in installing secure bike parking at your location, check out our Bike Parking Cost Share Program for Saint Paul workplaces. Eligible organizations can receive up to $1,000 to install bike parking infrastructure at their site.
Set Up a Simple Bike Repair Station
If an employee runs into a mechanical issue with their bike on the way into the office, having a simple repair station available for staff can help ensure everyone can get home safely after work. Focus on providing high-quality, accessible tools that give riders the resources they need for quick fixes.
According to the experts at Express Bike Shop, the right equipment can change an employee’s entire outlook on their commute. “To support a commuter, you need a decent repair station,” emphasized Sam Golden, Director at Express. “This gives people an enormous amount of confidence and is a massive step for encouraging employees to bike to work and feel supported in their riding. Having quality items makes a difference.”
A repair station or kit stocked with tools somewhere in the office is a great first step for equipping riders with the gear they need and showing you’ve got their back. To build a functional kit, our local pros suggest stocking a reliable floor pump, metric Allen wrenches (one or two sets), metric box wrenches, #1 and #2 Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, pliers, Teflon lube, degreaser, and cleaning rags.
Having the tools is a great start, but it’s also important that employees feel capable of using them. Sam recommended, “If your staff has access to tools but has no idea how to use them, then you’ve done 50% of the work. Education is the second step! Doing your own repairs is incredibly freeing and builds confidence, and the vast majority of bike fixes are approachable when you have a comfortable place to learn. Companies can support their employees further by offering a skills workshop.”
And when riders face a complex issue or need a professional tune-up, their local bike shop is always the best place to go.
Offer a Place to Freshen Up
While a full-scale locker room with showers is the gold standard for people commuting by bike, providing a simple and dedicated station for freshening up is a great alternative. Offering a private area in a restroom or a changing area with full-sized lockers gives riders a space to store their helmets, shoes, and a change of clothes.
Invest In Biking Incentive Programs
Biking incentive programs can encourage members of your team who might not normally consider biking to work to try it out. Benefit programs like cash incentives for biking, walking, or rolling to work establish your workplace as an environmental leader and can increase job satisfaction and employee retention while also decreasing traffic and demand for car parking. Eight out of ten employees consider the commute an extension of their workday, so, employers, this is also a great way to show you care about investing in your team.
At Move Minnesota, one way we invest in sustainable commutes is by offering our staff cash incentives when they choose to bike. We pay our team $1.50 each way (up to $3 per day) for every bike commute, and that small daily bonus adds up quickly, helping to offset the cost of bike maintenance. Walking, rolling, carpooling, and taking public transit are all part of our commuter benefits package too.
Gaby Gerken, Move Minnesota’s Employer Outreach Specialist, bikes to work whenever she can. “A $3 daily bonus might seem small, but it adds up to a new set of brakes or a tune up at the end of the season. It’s validating to work for an organization that recognizes that the commute is a part of our workday and rewards us for living out our values every morning,” she shared.
Including bike commuting in employee wellness programs designed to reward healthy choices is another great option. The City of Saint Paul, for example, offers employees “Healthy Saint Paul” points when they bike to the office. Points earn health insurance savings and gift cards.
Lead By Example
Leaders can also foster a bike-friendly workplace through programming and activities that engage employees across the organization to create a team culture where bicycling is welcome and encouraged.
Organizing a Bike to Work Day event or group ride where people from across different teams or levels of your organization can mingle and meet helps to build community and morale and normalizes biking to work. When members of your team see their managers or directors also biking to work, this signals that their workplace values bicycling for transportation and supports healthy, sustainable choices.
“We’re excited to support our colleagues in biking, walking, carpooling, or taking transit to work,” said Liz Boyer, Climate Action Coordinator for the City of Saint Paul. “In addition to Healthy Saint Paul points, we’re providing educational resources and opportunities to connect. Our goal is for employees to try something new and make a difference for our environment.”
Bike to Work Week is May 11-17, and Move Minnesota is encouraging everyone to bike to work at least one day this week! Register your organization to get connected with resources for planning and promoting your Bike to Work Week activities. You can also register as an individual to pledge to bike to work and connect us with your organization so we can encourage the rest of your team to register as well.
As National Bike Month kicks off, we are excited to see more people experiencing the joy of biking in our communities all month long. Whether you’re riding to work or school, to run an errand, visit the park, or meet a friend: enjoy the ride and we’ll see you out there on the streets and trails! Follow Move Minnesota on social media this May for more tips and tools to make this Bike Month a great one.