Airbnb Categories - Why Not Cycling?

[Dave1235]

I like Airbnb's new category feature allowing more focused searching.  Would like to see a category added for cycling travelers. 

I'm aware of many folks searching for cycling friendly accommodations,  but are unable to easily filter and locate rentals meeting minimal requirements.

Here are the must have requirements for cycling travel:

-Bike storage (locked garage)

-Laundry

-Close access to bike trails/routes

Even better:

-Bike hooks in garage

-Maps/directions front rental to nearby bike trails/routes

-Area to wash bikes

-Recommendations for healthy food options.

[Gillian166]

@Dave1235  this is actually a great idea for a category! Although I don't know if you've tried using categories, once you input a location the option for categories disappears. 

[Helen3]

Hello @Dave1235 

I have hosted many travellers who bring their bikes. I don't have most of the amenities you mention.

Guests leave their bikes indoors in my house.

I think your requirements are more related to those who are staying to go out on countryside biking trails.

I live in the city so many of your requirements aren't needed.

I agree that it would be a useful function to indicate which hosts accept bikes.

I live in the city 

[Dave1235]

@Helen3 

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and for hosting bike travelers.

The requirements I listed apply to all locations, as many cities have added and are adding a network of bike paths and lanes.  

Being able to store bikes inside is very helpful as most cycling travelers have thousands invested and are worried about theft.  An upgrade would be to offer racks or hooks to more efficiently store bikes inside a laundry, utility room, or basement.

[Jenny]

Hi @Dave1235 

That's a really cool idea.

We get lots of cyclists in my local area (Glentress and Tweed Valley are super popular with MTB) so I can see how this would be useful.

I have passed your feedback over to the team, for future consideration.

Jenny

[Dave1235]

Hello @Jenny 

Thank you for passing my comments to your team!

Here is some additional reference to share with your team...

I search for cycling (road, gravel, MTB) friendly accommodations throughout the year in Colorado (my home state) and throughout the western US.  I have many friends and acquaintances doing the same.   Also, during the winter months there's a large contingent of cyclists seeking warm weather cycling friendly accommodations in AZ.  During the summer months, many southern US cyclists seek cooler cycling weather accommodations in Colorado.

When searching for cycling friendly accommodations, I have to take extra steps to identify rentals such as:

-Ask hosts if they have secure storage space for bikes (most don't show garage or storage pictures).

-Since the rental address is unknown while searching, I have to spend extensive time on google maps guessing if the rental offers safe access to cycling trails/routes. 

[Peter3852]

Yes Dave, I totally agree. I have toured all over the world on my bicycle and use Airbnb a lot for lodging. It would be incredibly helpful if the listings noted specific information related to bicycle touring. My next trip is my third trip to Cuba and I have listed "Help for the Cuban People" as my required trip purpose. What I do is write up a list of helpful tips to make Casa Particulars more "bicycle friendly", and then share them with the hosts. I try to convince them that they should make their listings more friendly to bicycle tourists, including the following:

1. Note if you have safe storage for bicycles at night.
2. Have a list and maps of local day rides in your area.
3. Have some common bike tools, common-sized inner tubes, a bike repair stand, an air pump and etc.
4. Note nearby restaurants, grocery stores, and if you would provide breakfast, lunch, or dinners at your place, for a price. 
5. Note if you can store luggage while the cyclist is on tour.
6. Note if you can provide transportation for luggage and bicycle from/to the local airport.

Cheers, Peter 

**[E-mail address removed due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines]

[Nadiia1]

Great points!

[Deb216]

@Dave1235 ,

Great idea!

I offer a garage to store guests' bikes (surfboards, golf bags, baby strollers, etc). Guests love access to a garage! 

Our property (a private home) is located on Cape Cod where cycling is very popular and a huge attraction for cycling events as well as the beach.

[Nadiia1]

Great idea! Will think what i can do about the bikes

[Lesley-Erica0]

Hi Dave. I'm new to hosting but we are in a fabulous area of Tuscany (Italy) for cyclists and we're doing everything we can to make our apartment bike friendly. I'm also astounded that there isn't a category for this. They have batting cage and arcade games but no cycling?! Can't we start a petition/drive/organised request to airbnb to add this??

[Dave1235]

Hello @Lesley-Erica0 

Thank you for investing in your bike friendly rental!  I love cycling in Italy, and hope to visit your area in the future.

For next steps, I'll ask AirBnb to consider adding bike friendly filtering and also to qualify bike friendly features.

I suggest for a rental to achieve a minimum bike friendly qualification (2-3 stars) it must have the following features:

-Secure indoor bike storage.

-Washer and dryer, and area to hang dry bike clothes.

-A description in the listing of nearby trail(s) or popular cycling route(s), and distance from the rental.

To earn a higher qualification (4-5 stars) a rental could include some of the following additional bike friendly features:

-Bike hooks in storage area.

-Maps and directions available at the rental to nearby trails and routes.

-Area to wash bikes.

-Bike stand.

-Recommendations available at the rental of local healthy food options.

Do you agree?  

[Lesley-Erica0]

Hello @Dave1235 

What a nice surprise to get a response on this issue.

I have been asking cyclists each time they stay with us to say what they think are essential to be bike friendly. They mention everything you've said here except the healthy food options and the maps.

We have some indications of cycle routes, races and events in out host guide book but without exception they tell me they have already established the well known routes in the area and where they want to cycle long before they arrive. They also use kamoot, google maps etc.

With regard to food I'm based in Italy so it's already notably healthier than many other countries. But we do have a lot of food/restaurant recommendations in our host guide so we're covered in that respect.

We are gradually adding more bike friendly features and our next purchase will be a bike stand or hooks for the storage area. Then we'll have everything on your list.

I'm sorry but I absolutely DO NOT like the idea of a second star system. It's already stressful waiting to get the usual review each time a guest leaves (we have super host so we maintain a high standard but you never know with people).

I was asking for something much simpler .. a list/section in the Amenities. There are some items on the amenity list that are so specific but probably rare .. for example .. how many airbnb accomodations around the world have an Ice Hockey Rink?!! this one made me laugh out loud. I would guess less than ten in total worldwide. Correct me if I'm wrong. But accomodations with bike friendly amenities must be in the thousands wouldn't you say? So a simple list of what you've described would be more than sufficient, in it's own section (like child safety for example).

Ok. I hope this helps. Appreciate your interest.

Regards. Lesley

[Jade514]

Hi Dave,

I've been going round by round with Air BNB regarding an appropriate category to help identify rentals near/at the many rails to trails and bike trails. After reading your post I should have stated "bike friendly" "Unfortunately, it has been to no avail! I have yet to receive any response regarding the process for a category addition. I agree with your criteria with the exception of the star rating system. I believe the addition of a "bike friendly" or "rails to trails" icon would suffice. (I would like to see both) Perhaps in order to qualify for the designation a number of criteria has to be met?  My "bike friendly" rental is yards away from a major rails to trail, but as of now Air BNB hasn't included any icons nor filters to help potential  guests identify such properties. I'm a cyclist myself and would love to have this option! Its been very frustrating trying to get my point across and I would gladly sign a petition or whatever it takes! Thanks for initiating this thread.

[Heather1978]

Hi Dave! This would be a great category! We are an Airbnb directly on the Santos trails in Ocala, Florida! If you’ve never been mountain biking in Florida, you must check it out! We have over 90 miles of single track Mtb trails ranging from easy to black. Santos was carved out of an old limestone quarry, making it some of the most epic Mtb riding in the southeast! The house has direct access to the trails. Everything you mentioned, we have it! Check us out! We’d love to host you at Casa de Santos!