BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Cycling plays a key role in the transformation of transport, shifting travel habits toward greener, more sustainable, future mobility options. This shift isn’t just a fleeting trend but a full-scale revolution fuelled by the burgeoning bike rental industry.
Case in point: £25 million in rental revenue was generated, in 2023, by merely 13% of businesses using bike.rent Manager (BRM) software. BRM points out that the escalating demand for environmentally considered transport choices is at the forefront of this transformation.
With people increasingly seeking impactful ways to reduce their carbon footprint, cycling represents a key component of any multimodal micro-mobility solution.
It’s here that BRM believes the bike rental industry is well placed to assist retailers and customers alike – by offering accessible, environmentally considered, transport alternatives. Enhanced by governmental and international backing through strict emission standards, the appeal of bike rentals, especially e-bikes, marks a significant step in reducing the carbon footprint of daily travel.
The revival of post-pandemic travel has also notably benefited the bike rental sector.
For cycling retailers, this shift towards bike rentals can be supported by the adoption of specialised software. It’s here that bike.rent Manager is improving how customers book, manage, and experience bike rentals, whilst also offering bicycle retailers a reliable means to engage with and acquire new customers.
Location. Location. Location.
With Bike rental, just as with cycling retail, it is essential to know your target audience.
Based in an urban area with commuters passing your door? Renting mountain bikes likely won’t win you many new friends. Conversely, if you’re a bike shop in a spot which has mountain bike trails within an easy ride, then you’re unlikely to find flat bar hybrids doing you much rental business.
Just as with the stocking of retail stores, the offer made via a bike rental fleet needs to meet the needs of your specific business and its customers.
Government investments that impact your business
The role of government initiatives in advancing cycling, as a viable transportation alternative, will also play a part in the decision-making of businesses considering introducing a bike rental offering.
Varying degrees of regional investment in cycling infrastructure – measures that assist in making cycling a safer and more enjoyable activity – expanding bike lanes, paired with cycling awareness campaigns may, or may not, be on your bicycle shops doorstep.
All are factors retailers will want to consider when exploring bike rental as part of a new offering.
In conclusion, the ongoing transport evolution is driven by environmental necessity. When supporting such transport choices based behaviour change, software such as bike.rent Manager offers bicycle retailers an integrated solution which is primed to assist ‘new cyclist’ customers, and contribute significantly to opening new revenue streams for cycle retailers.
Positive environmental impact and good business can go hand in hand.
