Bicycle-friendly certification for businesses, schools launched in Halifax

Halifax is launching a city-wide certification program to improve support for cyclists whether they're commuting to work or just going for a ride.

Bike-Friendly Certification aims to increase bicycle parking and improve on-site policies across the city for cyclists. Certification is available for businesses, schools and other organizations.

A points-based system determines if a site can stick an accreditation sign in their windowand claim one of three certification levels.

• Halifax Cycling Coalition calls for safer streets

The most basic level, called Amiable, requires a business to provide sufficient bike parking for employees and visitors, as well as a demonstration of bike-friendly policies such as complimentary water-bottle filling.

The other two levels, Convivial and Unreserved, requiremore effort. Additional amenities may include shelters, shower facilities and access to spare parts, while additional policiesmight includea guaranteed ride-home program, financial incentives for commuting and cycling discounts for customers.

More market share

Eric Jonsson, a spokesperson for the Halifax CyclingCoalition, says any support for cyclists is good support.

"It's great that the city keeps people who ride bikes in the forefront of its thinking," Jonsson said.

"Ultimately, the Halifax Cycling Coalition, we reallywant to see more bike infrastructure, specifically protected bike lanes in the city, but all the little things kind of add up to make Halifax more of a bike-friendly city."

According to its site, the city encourages businesses to apply for accreditation because "international and local studies have found that people who arrive at a business by bicycle spend less per visit, but visit more frequently resulting in higher spending over time."

The hope is to expandthis Halifax-based initiative into other communities, the city says,thereby growing market share and supporting healthy lifestyles.

"Cyclists comprise 10% of the Outdoor Enthusiast segment of the tourism market in Nova Scotia," the site says. "With the recent launch of Nova Scotia's province-wide cycling network project, the Blue Route, the potential for growth in this segment is huge."