Local businesses are hoping for a boost thanks to the Bike Friendly Business Program, writes Caitlin Sloan

Destination Wollongong has recognised more than 70 businesses as ‘Bike Friendly’ – meaning they offer services such as secure bike parking, accessibility, washroom and drinking water facilities, cycling maps and trail information.

Among the first accredited Bike Friendly retailers was Fornix Wheels at Helensburgh Business Park, which offers bicycle tuning, upgrades and servicing, and stocks biking accessories and clothing.

“The program offers a great platform to help bring awareness to local Bike Friendly businesses in the Wollongong municipality,” says Fornix Wheels owner Dan Irwin.

Dan says the Bike Friendly Business Program – coordinated by Destination Wollongong and launched ahead of this month’s 2022 UCI Road World Championships – will help small businesses entice local and touring cyclists to visit our region, offering the assurance of quality service, equipment, and information.

“There is a world-class event rolling through town [and] we may never see an event of this calibre in our region again, so why not engage it?” Dan says.

Once accredited, participating businesses and employers are presented with a certificate and Bike Friendly Business decal to display at their locations, and their names and details are published on the Destination Wollongong website, and distributed to cycling clubs.

After a conversation with Dan, Anna Livermore, the owner of Lime Leaf Café, also in the Helensburgh Business Park, was eager to be branded ‘Bike Friendly’.

“I think it’s a great way for small businesses to get exposure in the region, and people that come to watch the UCI [Championships] and try the cafe will hopefully have a good experience and come back many more times after that.”

With an estimated 300,000 spectators predicted to visit the Illawarra from September 18 to 25, many businesses have started preparing for the championship crowds.

Resin Brewing, next to Bulli Railway Station, is excited to use its Bike Friendly business status to appeal to spectators and cyclists alike.

“We have had fully lockable bike racks out the front of our premises since our opening date… with outdoor seating and frothy refreshments for hydration [as] we have always wanted to appeal and be accessible to everyone,” says Mali Taylor of Resin Brewing.

“We’ve got the screening every day for the duration of the event. We’re also putting on a mini-festival at Resin with live music over the weekend when the surrounding roads are closed.

“Patrons will be able to wander up the road and catch the riders as they zoom past down Park Road.”

The Bike Friendly Business Program participants at Helensburgh Business Park are also set for a historic week, with Lime Leaf Cafe preparing lunch packs for event volunteers and Fornix Wheels to host and assist at workshops, demonstrations, and guided rides.

“It’s been a wild few years for all and this event is just what we all need to bring us all back together and celebrate the great outdoors on two wheels,” Dan says.

Find a list of Bike Friendly Businesses in Wollongong