Our bike-friendly businesses at the Toronto Bike Awards

Jared Kolb —

The 2014 Toronto Bike Awards honours excellence in individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership in encouraging cycling for employees, customers and the community. Industries ranging from hospitals to breweries to law firms to retail compete for one of five coveted City of Toronto Bicycle Friendly Business Awards selected by a panel of cycling experts. From providing secure bike parking to paying employees to bike to work, businesses are throwing in their bids to be recognized as one of Toronto’s best. Winners will be celebrated at this year’s Toronto Bike Awards ceremony on Thursday November 13 from 7:00 to 11:00 pm at 918 Bathurst Culture & Arts Centre. The event will be hosted by Cycle Toronto’s Executive Director, Jared Kolb and City of Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat, who will also provide the opening keynote speech. Employers are increasingly recognizing the benefits not only of encouraging their staff to bike to work but of attracting customers with safe cycling facilities.

·       Bike lanes are good for business: after the construction of a protected bike lane on 9th Avenue in New York City, local businesses saw a 49 percent increase in retail sales.

·       Pedestrians & cyclists spend more money: In a study of Toronto merchants, patrons arriving by foot and bicycle visit the most often and spend the most money per month.

·       Cycling raises productivity: Exercising before work raises an employee’s productivity by an average of 15%.

·       Cycling reduces healthcare costs: Cyclists on average live two years longer than non-cyclists and take 15% fewer days off work through illness.

·       Cycling helps to attract visitors: In a survey of visitors to Portland, OR, 78% said that the city’s bike-friendliness was a factor in their decision to visit there.

Event page: CycleTO.ca/TorontoBikeAwards City of Toronto Bicycle Friendly Business Awards page RSVP for this event on our Facebook event page here, and click here for a small, shareable version of the Cycle Toronto is a member-based cycling advocacy organization representing more than 2,800 Torontonians.

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