Physical Activity: Bike Racks or Shelters

Bike racks or shelters

Research shows that having a safe place to store bikes results in more employees biking to work.¹ It can potentially encourage increased physical activity more broadly, especially if coordinated with other strategies, such as awareness campaigns, accessibility projects, and others.

Pincher Creek Wellness Committee worked with local students to create bike racks for their community. Having access to bike racks in visible areas at multiple locations can encourage cyclists to participate in active travel.

Ways to get started

• Identify potential and strategic areas to install bike racks/shelters, preferably at common community sites, such as recreation centres or public transportation hubs, by consulting and partnering with organizations, schools and businesses.
• Make existing bike racks/shelters safer, such as strengthening structure or ensuring adequate lighting close by and snow removal.
• Enhance the existing bike racks/shelters, such as painting and cleaning the storage and surroundings.
• Provide bike locks for people to borrow or loan by partner with local or nearby facilities.
• Include locations of bike racks/shelters in local maps.
• Consider multi-purpose shelters that can also keep skateboards, scooters and helmets.
• Raise awareness of the health benefits and the importance of lifelong physical activity and obesity prevention.^2,3 
• Work with your municipality to add active transportation infrastructure, like bike shelters and racks, into community plans. Active transportation infrastructure makes it easier for people to walk, wheel and use public transportation to reach destinations.