Member Spotlight: Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals

Named the “Best Bicycle Friendly Business” in the Bruce, Grey, Simcoe region, Georgian Trail E-bike Rentals is certified Silver with GreenStep Sustainable Tourism. Continue reading to learn more about their journey towards sustainability:

Tell us a bit about your business. What makes you different?

We offer half- or full-day e-bike rentals throughout South Georgian Bay. We are completely contactless, which makes us different from other rental services, but work one on one with customers to customize their itineraries and enhance their ride experience. Additionally, we are passionate about sharing all of the wonderful places our communities have to offer and have teamed up with some amazing local businesses to offer our customers perks and discounts as they make stops along their ride. We are also proud members of the Apple Pie Trail and have provided visitors with a unique way to explore the trail.

Why is sustainability important to you/your business?

South Georgian Bay’s population is growing, and so many of our communities see an abundance of tourists and visitors all year round. In a world of increasing road traffic, our e-bikes provide a sustainable way to travel and explore the area. We could not promote e-bikes as a sustainable way to travel around the area without also ensuring we as a business are making the best decisions toward sustainability in all other areas of business; it is important for us to practice what we preach. Additionally, we are very fortunate to live in a town that does value sustainability (www.collingwoodclimateaction.com) so on a personal level it is important for us to approach all areas of our lives through this lens.

Why did you join GreenStep Sustainable Tourism?

We joined Sustainable Tourism first and foremost to continue to learn best practices, grow in areas where we could do better, and for the accountability that comes with making such a commitment to sustainability. The other benefits have been being able to share our rating and goals with our customers and supporters, meet other like-minded businesses, and make ourselves stand out to those who are looking for sustainable ways to travel and tour.

What sustainability related projects, policies or initiatives do you most want travelers to know about?

We would love travellers to know that e-bikes are a great way to get around. They not only add excitement to the day, they also allow those who may not otherwise be able to cycle for long periods of time, due to age or ailments, the opportunity to remain active. Travellers can explore the Apple Pie Trail (mentioned above) by e-bike, allowing them to explore so much of the region without needing a car to get them from place to place. Our “Down by the Bay” Passport Program is a great way to receive perks and discounts on some of the best stops and restaurants along their ride, this is our way of thanking the customer for renting with us while supporting and promoting small businesses and encouraging the sustainable practice of shopping local. Finally, we have a rent-to-own discount program in place as we would love to continue to see growth in the amount of people investing in e-bikes as a sustainable way to commute and travel. If rental customers choose to purchase a new e-bike from us the cost of their rental will be deducted from the purchase price of the e-bike.

What are some goals and/or actions you plan to take in the future to further increase the sustainability of your business?

We are always looking for ways to grow and improve in all aspects of our business. Our main sustainability goal is to further reduce our carbon footprint and hopefully achieve Gold status by our next assessment cycle. In order to achieve this, we have switched to a local parts supplier and technician for maintenance of our bikes. We also continue to look for new locations that allow us to partner with already existing businesses to avoid unnecessary development. We plan to increase our promotion of sustainability not only through our business model but also through the community with local partnerships and events that celebrate the culture, heritage and local traditions.

To learn more about Georgian Trail E-bike Rentals – visit: www.georgiantrailebikes.ca