When I was younger, I did not have a car, so I bicycled just about everywhere I needed to go. One summer, to take a college exam, I rode my bicycle from my home in Cleveland to Bluffton College (now Bluffton University) in western Ohio. It took me from sunrise to sunset to do it, but I made the almost 140-mile trip in one day. I was naïve back then and don’t remember riding with a helmet or toe clips. Oh, to have that energy again but I still ride some today. I thought about that trip while writing my recent article on Priority Bicycles and bike lending programs.
I realize location and other factors come into play when it comes to a bike lending program but if you do make bikes or e-bikes available for your guests, I applaud you. They are a great part of a sustainability program and offer many other benefits as well: calorie burning, zero or almost zero emissions, access to unique places where cars cannot go, and are a great branding or guest amenity packaging opportunity for a property.
Over the years I have come across a lot of hotels and resorts that offer bikes for guests. Search on “bicycle” on Green Lodging News and about 160 articles pop up. Every Element hotel has a Bikes to Borrow program.
One Less Maintenance Worry
I recently spoke with Lauren Jones, Director of Partnerships for New York-based Priority Bicycles, to not only learn more about her company but to also get a rundown of the best practices for bike and e-bike lending in a lodging environment. Priority Bicycles caught my attention because the chains on their bicycles do not have to be greased. “All have a carbon-drive belt,” Jones told me. “It means no grease, no rust. It reduces maintenance by about 75 percent.” Reducing maintenance (labor) time is music to any hotelier’s ears, especially at a time when labor is difficult to come by.
Here is a rundown of the advice Lauren shared about bike lending programs:
First, she says, “Understand the style of riding your guests will be doing.” A hotel in hilly San Francisco will need a different type of bicycle than a hotel in Dallas.
“When you approach a bicycle program, make it a branded experience,” says Lauren, who has a background in fashion and design. A custom painted bicycle, with the brand’s colors and logo, positioned in the lobby can help publicize and increase use of a bicycle lending program. Bicycle lending can also be packaged with other amenities—as a getaway picnic for example. “Most hotels offer them as part of a guest amenity package,” Lauren says.
“Number the bicycles so it is easy to keep track,” she adds. “We number the bicycles behind the seat.”
Staff Education Important
“We have a recommended safety checklist,” Lauren says. “We give staff the basic training. When we set up a hotel with bicycles, we will set up an online call and go through best practices.” You should also partner with a local mechanic and have them come through and safety check each bicycle on a regular basis. “Put air in the tires. Get everything tightened,” Lauren says.
With an electric bicycle, charging is the biggest difference. “We suggest buying spare batteries,” Lauren says. “It is a helpful thing. It takes an hour to get a full charge. How long a charge lasts depends on the way the bike is ridden.” In eco-mode, 30 miles can be expected. In turbo mode the miles will be less.
In regard to how many bicycles to purchase, it depends of course on property size, but Lauren suggests six to 10 bicycles at first. (A property in the Maldives has a 450-bicycle fleet.)
“We always recommend some type of waiver,” Lauren adds.
Know the Bicycle’s Warranty
When making a bicycle purchase, ask about warranty as well. “Our warranty is five years on forks and frame and one year on parts,” Lauren says. “Warranties typically do not cover the wear and tear that a bicycle will have from high usage, however, we have a customer service team available 365 days a year to help guide partners through mechanical fixes and sourcing replacement parts.”
Finally, as has been done at Element hotels, make bicycle maps available to guests. Highlight different routes while explaining distance, difficulty and what guests can explore along the way.
Got bicycle lending tips to share with our readers? I would love to hear from you. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 19,373 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each week, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for the Remainder of 2022, or 2023?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for the final quarter of 2022 and into 2023. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2022 or 2023 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 19,373. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,749 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has more than 1,300 Facebook followers.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
