Encouraging Visitors to Bike

Biking initiatives offer a viable and attractive solution for DMOs seeking to reduce environmental impact and promote energy-efficient tourism. By investing in bike-friendly infrastructure and collaborating with local businesses, DMOs can create experiences that are both environmentally sustainable and appealing to tourists.

Partnering with local businesses can enhance the success of biking initiatives. DMOs can work with local bike shops, cafes, and hotels to offer bike rentals or discounts for cyclists. This collaboration not only incentivizes biking but also fosters a sense of community involvement.

Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands collaborates with local bike shops to offer discounts on rentals and repairs for tourists. This initiative not only promotes sustainable travel but also supports local businesses, creating a model that combines economic and environmental benefits.

A bike-share system can be an effective way to make biking accessible to all tourists. DMOs can work with municipalities to implement easy-to-use bike-share programs. These could include convenient pickup and drop-off points, affordable pricing, and an app to unlock bicycles and place a security deposit. Visit Boulder partners with Boulder BCycle, a local bike-share organization share program, which includes convenient stations and an app to facilitate rentals.

To engage tourists who may not be familiar with the area or comfortable biking alone, DMOs can work with tour operators to promote and offer guided bike tours. These tours can focus on cultural, historical, or ecological aspects of the destination, combining sightseeing with education on sustainability. Simply Munich partners with local tour operators to provide bike tours to visitors to experience. If visitors opt for a guided cycling tour, an experienced tour guide will show them the most beautiful attractions in Munich.

Some DMOs educate visitors on the environmental and health benefits of biking and car-free travel to encourage participation. I Amsterdam, by Discover Amsterdam, provides visitors with tips for safe cycling in Amsterdam through guides, pamphlets, and resources on their DMO website which helps reduce car reliance and enhances the appeal of energy-efficient travel.