Bicycle Friendly Business

Bicycle Sport Shop | Platinum Level

Business Highlights: The Bicycle Sport Shop is helping its employees and the Austin community ride more miles. There is bike parking, showers, lockers, a commuter challenge, and incentive programs for employees. It has coordinated with the Police, City Council Policy makers and the city's Bike/Ped coordinator to develop a 2009 Bike Plan now mandated by the city, and helped draft the Bike Theft Resolution. The business also boasts two employees as voting members on the Austin Bicycle Advisory Council. They provide maintenance and safety classes and generously support a multitude of charity rides.

Most Compelling Statistic: Ninety percent of the Bicycle Sport Shop employees commute to work 90% of the time year round.

Most Compelling Bicycle Related Accomplishment: In February 2010 Bicycle Sport Shop will be launching the Freiker program into several school districts in the area to help track and reward miles ridden to school.  They have also worked on numerous initiatives within the city to help create a safer atmosphere for all travelers. Examples include the Safe Passing Ordinance and the No Texting While Driving ordinance-effective Jan. BSS works with IMBA on trails network and require all sponsored riders to participate in IMBA's paydirt program and new rider education programs. They have also created a cycling sub-committee within the SRTS program.

Benefits of the Business being Bicycle Friendly: The business has not only caught the public's attention with their strong advocacy intiatives, but they have also nurtured a solid partnership with a variety of community based organizations and neighborhood associations. Within the BSS stores, employees have become more politically and civic minded and engaged in issues that affect cycling in our city.  Passion seems to be ignited, and the effect spreads broadly through all sub-cultures within cycling.  Employee, Molly Ivins said, "everyone has a duty to be civically involved...but (BSS) kick some rears, and make it fun in the process".