Bicycle Friendly Businesses in Asheville

Designated “Bicycle Friendly Businesses” in Asheville

We’re grateful to have so many local businesses that support bike transportation. Only a few, however, have earned the official title of Bicycle-Friendly-Business by the League of American Bicyclists. These businesses have made conscious efforts to make their business a more welcoming, practical place for their customers and employees who ride bicycles and have proven their bike-friendliness to the nation’s longest-running bicycle advocacy organization.

As of January 2020, Asheville has 10 certified Bicycle Friendly Businesses, the most of any City in North Carolina.

Platinum Level

In addition to the largest number of League Certified businesses, we host the only two platinum level bicycle friendly businesses in North Carolina.

New Belgium opened their East coast brewery in Asheville’s River Arts District in 2016 and brought their bike friendly ways to their brewery in our fair city. They are one of the most bicycle friendly businesses in the U.S. and have worked hard to be good neighbors in Asheville. Their Asheville team has worked to generously support local non-profits, to allow use of their property for various events, and to offer excellent employee benefits, among other things we notice. 2018.

Liberty Bikes is one of Asheville’s longest-running bike shops, established in 1980. With 16 employees, Liberty encourages bike commuting, holds regular group rides, and offers bike maintenance clinics for customers among many other bike friendly activities. Mike and Claudia Nix have advocated for better infrastructure, for greenways, and for cycling for many years. We appreciate their long running work in our community. 2009.

Gold Level

Industry Nine is a bicycle component company with 30 employees. In addition to having sweet facilities for employees who commute to work, I9 sponsors numerous local cycling events and a racing team. Their wheels and other components are of the highest quality and their commitment to both cycling and the local economy is demonstrated daily.

The Flying Bike is a local ebike tour company specializing in tours of downtown Asheville and the surrounding area. Led by Torin and Alice Kexel, their vision for a business built on a win / win / win formula of high quality content, highly trained guides, and ebikes has evolved to become the highest rated local tour company on Trip Advisor. 2020.

Silver Level

Motion Makers Bicycle Shop started in 1996 and has been the brainchild of Kent Cranford since 2007. Kent’s roots go all the way back to the old school MTB boom of the 1990’s. He’s probably still got bar ends on a bike in his garage. Motion Makers has stores in Cherokee, Asheville, and Silva. Notably, they’ve started carrying cargo bikes in addition to their MTB and road cycling wares.

Youngblood Bicycles is located just north of downtown Asheville where they serve road, gravel, and neighborhood cyclists from their full service shop. They run fun group rides and have a well earned reputation in our community. They also rent bikes and are a stones throw from downtown.

Bronze Level

CAKE Websites & More, LLC is a web design and full-service marketing firm in downtown Asheville. To earn their Bronze status, CAKE installed bike racks outside their building, allows their employees bring their bikes inside, pays a monthly multi-modal stipend to employees who don’t drive a car, provides a guaranteed ride to work for non-drivers, keeps bike tools and supplies for employee use, and offers several other related benefits. 2017.

Rainbow Community School. 2018
Asheville Yoga Center. 2020
McHone Performance Training. 2020

Join these Bicycle Friendly Businesses & Make Asheville Proud!

Want to be instantly recognized as a business who supports employee wellness and cares about their community? Become a League of American Bicyclists Bike-Friendly Business. Read all about the benefits and learn how to apply by clicking here to visit the League of American Bicyclists.

Want our help to get your application together? You’ve got it!

We run an annual “help” class called the Bicycle Friendly Business Breakdown. These sessions are free and can provide you with sample applications, guidance from past award winners, and some accountability as you go through the League’s application process. Click here to read up and contact us for information about our next Bicycle Friendly Business Breakdown. Our sessions start in May of each year.

Does cycling have an economic impact in Western NC? Yes, a strong one. The industry is a steady source of manufacturing jobs, tourism, and inbound migration to our region.

Read more about bicycle friendly businesses in Asheville: