Going out to shop or dine? Bike&Walk Montclair asks you to ride your bike — and to remind you of how easy it is to get around on two wheels, the organization has launched its pilot Bike-Friendly Business Campaign, a partnership with local business owners to encourage customers to shop by bike.
Supported by Partners for Health Foundation, Bike&Walk Montclair starts the first phase of the campaign this summer, with plans to expand in the fall.
Look for the logo at pilot Bike-Friendly businesses located all around Montclair — Studio 042, Amanti Vino, Terra Tea Salon, and Diamond Cycle downtown; Watchung Booksellers in Watchung Plaza; Olive That and Sir Isaac’s bike,board, ski in Upper Montclair; Yoga Montclair and Le Salbuen café in the Walnut Street area; and the Montclair Bikery, on Valley Rd.
Bike&Walk Montclair expects that its collaboration with local businesses and Business Improvement Districts will yield big benefits for Montclair’s economy, because studies in New York City, Portland, Oregon, and Toronto have shown that customers who shop by bike spend more, and return to stores more frequently. Every car trip replaced by a bike trip decreases congestion and frees up a parking spot. Shoppers on bikes can take advantage of dozens of new bike racks installed in all the business districts by Partners for Health and Bike&Walk Montclair this year.
Customers who cycle to Bike-Friendly Businesses receive rewards for choosing a healthy, environmentally friendly way to get around town. By showing their bike or helmet, customers receive a free item or discount at all Bike-Friendly Businesses (plus saving on gas and parking). In the next phase of the campaign, customers will also be able to scan a QR code that allows them to accumulate points for additional prizes on Bike&Walk Montclair’s website.
Got a local business and want to get involved? Business owners interested in collaborating, write info@bikewalkmontclair.org.
This would be even better if more businesses signed up! I ride my bike just about everywhere, weather permitting. Groceries, farmer’s market, Yoga, hair salon and even the local liquor store.
Gurl: Where do you leave your bike when you go in a store? I would do more errands on my bike if I could lock it up someplace securely.
There are those funny bike themed racks attached to parking meters around town. There’s one right outside my Yoga studio. There’s an actual bike rack at the farmer’s market. KIng’s finally got a few of the kind on the meters, but before they did I used to just lock my bike to the railing outside. There’s always something you can use, but it’s helpful to live in a town that’s gotten much better about making it easy to find a spot meant for a bike.
Mrs Martta and jerseygurl- if you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of where you can secure your bike, look no further 🙂 Bike&Walk Montclair’s website has an interactive map of all bike parking in town to help take the guesswork out of where you can park your bike. You can check it out here:
https://bikewalkmontclair.org/resources/bike-parking/
Hope you find it helpful.
Tiffany Robinson
BWM
Thank you both!
Just scanned the QR Code with barcode scanner and points accumulated.
Please remind the homebound biking commuters to put a helmet on and a reflective vest. Remind them they are not invincible and sometimes invisible. A bread winner on a bike at night…..Please don’t let your family down, protect your melon.