Transport Canberra’s Bike Stops program was launched last week by MLAs Bec Cody and Chris Steel at The Meating Room in Weston Creek.

The program aims to help people who ride bikes for transport by signposting local businesses who provide amenities like free storage and water to the bike community.

Twenty businesses from across the ACT have already signed up to participate, providing a range of end of trip facilities for bike riders to make it even easier for people to cycle for a range of purposes.

Launch hosts The Meating Room are happy to provide a range of services to the bike community, and said that they see value in encouraging more people to use active transport to get around.

As a 'Tier One' Bike Stop, they provide five facilities - bike parking, free water, free wifi, a bike pump, toilets and a rest stop - for bike riders to use. They're also open to suggestion from members of the bike-riding community as to what they would find useful at the cafe.

Bikes are good for business – research consistently shows that bike riders shop more regularly, spending more over time, than users of other modes of transport.

People on bikes also tend to shop locally, supporting local business, the local economy, and the local community. Businesses who enlist as a Bike Stop are likely to see an increase in patronage from the bike-riding community in Canberra.

And it's not just businesses who rely on foot traffic patronage like cafes who have signed up.

Local design business Giraffe in Mitchell has volunteered their studio amenities for bike riders to use, simply because they love bikes.

Businesses play a vital role in creating a bike-friendly city. Bike Stop businesses will facilitate a range of benefits brought about by bike riding, including a healthy population, connected community, reduced congestion on our roads, improved economy and reduced pollution.

The easier we can make it, the more people will ride bikes to get around. The more people who ride, the safer and better our city will be for everyone.

You can see a list of the participating businesses at the Transport Canberra website.