Why Being Bike Friendly Is Good for Business
Bentonville is, at heart, a bike-friendly city.
For us, it’s not about putting a bike-friendly sticker on our business doors or social channels to look good. It originates from a grassroots passion, perseverance and conviction among business and civic leaders, nonprofits, community advocates, and our residents.
Did You Know?
Bentonville is home to 28 Bicycle Friendly Businesses as of May 2025, placing us among the top 10 cities in the U.S. with the most such businesses.
To continue pedaling progress, we’re sharing low-cost ways to promote a bike-friendly culture at work. We’ve gathered these helpful tactics from a list developed by PeopleForBikes. Let’s keep the momentum going!
NO COST
Start here with easy-to-implement options
Give a grace period (~15 minutes) to allow bike commuters time to shower after arriving at work
Promote flex time so employees feel empowered to take a long lunch or leave early on days when weather is ideal for bike riding
Kick off a buddy (tandem) programs for staff who are interested in riding to work but don’t know how to get started or need help learning the rules of the road
LOW COST
Invest in additional growth
Cover bike-event entry fees or fundraising minimums (for charity bike rides)
Provide guaranteed ride home in case of family emergency or inclement weather
Have gift card rafflePromote merchandise giveaway—popular on bike-to-work day during May Bike Month
ONE-TIME COST
Extend bike culture to co-workers who may not initially participate
· Build out a bike fleet for employee leasing/rental (electric bikes lower the barrier to participation even more)
· Develop improved infrastructure (e.g., indoor bike parking, tools, air, outlets for e-bike charging, bike wash station, lockers, showers)
· Support experiences—conduct a drawing to send one bike commuter on a paid vacation
· Sponsor a bike-to-work station (coffee, donuts, swag) for commuters
ONGOING COST
Encourage and reward staff
Promote cash-based incentives to ride
Make philanthropic donations (“Ride 25 times and a donation will be made to your designated charity”)
Offer health savings account deposit
Subsidize a bike-share membership
Why do it?
Being bike friendly is good for business. It makes sense (and cents!) for several reasons, among them:
Financial savings for employees: The average commute in the U.S. costs $2,600 per year, according to the Citi ThankYou Commuter Index. However, aside from some upfront costs, like buying a bike and basic accessories, commuting by bike annually costs commuters, on average, only hundreds of dollars. The most significant upfront cost is the bike itself, which can range from a few hundred dollars for a used bike to over $2,500 for a new one.
Increased employee productivity for businesses: Open Access Government reports that employees who bike to work report higher levels of focus and energy throughout the day. This heightened sense of well-being translates into increased productivity and engagement, contributing to a more vibrant work environment.
Alignment with the city’s identity: A bike-friendly environment and supporting infrastructure helps companies recruit talent, boost tourism and create a more resilient and competitive local economy.
Additional resources
Bentonville Moves Coalition regularly hosts lunch and learns for businesses and community members, and supports businesses as they incorporate biking incentives into their workplace.
For business owners, being a recognized Bicycle Friendly Business is an opportunity to be part of something bigger. “It’s not just a label,” says The Bike Inn’s Jeremy Rose. “It’s a commitment to a better, more inclusive Bentonville.”
So join us. Your voice, your business—they mean more bike-friendly businesses for Bentonville, which is a lift for all of us.
See PeopleForBike’s complete list here.
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