Building a Bike-Friendly Nova Scotia
The Bike Friendly Certification program (BFC) was first instituted by Cycling Nova Scotia in 2018, with the goal of recognizing and promoting businesses, workplaces, and residences that make an effort to support the cycling community around Nova Scotia. Remaining relatively unchanged since its inception, the BFC program is due for a fresh coat of paint, which is why it will receive a major rework in 2025. This restructuring will allow Cycling Nova Scotia to realize the full potential of the BFC program, enabling us to work closer with our BFC partners to make the cycling community stronger in the workplace, at businesses, and at home for thousands of Nova Scotians.
What does the Bike Friendly Certification mean for businesses?
Did you know that cyclists and Active Transportation users can increase your business through walk-in traffic? By signing your business, workplace, or residence up as a BFC partner, you are signaling your commitment to support the members of your staff, residences, and the public who rely on cycling as a means of active transportation, as well as promoting a healthier workplace or living environment.
There are many new and exciting benefits to becoming a BFC partner in 2025, some of which include:¹
- Better visibility for your business by getting a profile on the Bike Friendly Website
- Sticker for your window to let patrons know that you are a Bike Friendly Business
- A social media post from Cycling NS to help promote your business
- Discounts for your staff and residents on Cycling Nova Scotia memberships, which provide insurance for your cyclists anywhere in Canada
- Included or discounted rates for educational workshops/ courses provided by Cycling Nova Scotia
- The option to purchase bike racks stamped with the BFC logo for your business, which signals to cyclists that you are a Bike Friendly destination
Join today and drive Cyclists towards your business.
What does the Bike Friendly Certification mean for cyclists?
When you see the BFC logo stamped on a bike rack outside of a business or a sticker in their doorway, it is a symbol of that business’s commitment to helping you and other members of the cycling community if you need assistance. This could be something simple like filling up a water bottle or allowing you to use their facilities if necessary, but it may also indicate that they have a repair kit on hand or some basic tools to help you get back on the road or have a place for you to store your bike as you shop in the area.
If you are an employee of a BFC partner, you may also qualify for a discounted rate on a Cycling Nova Scotia membership¹, so be sure to ask your employer or HR team what you may have access to. Part of the requirements to be considered a BFC partner is that each partner must have some sort of bicycle storage accessible to staff or patrons on site or nearby that you will be able to use as well.