A timely biz idea: Storage and showers for cyclists
Catering to the growing population of bike commuters is paying off for Minneapolis' Freewheel Midtown Bike Center.
(Fortune Small Business) -- Sweaty, hot, and gross after biking to work? Cyclists in Minneapolis now have a better option than sponge baths in the restroom: The Freewheel Midtown Bike Center, where riders can take a shower, access lockers, lock up their bikes, and enjoy discounts on tune-ups and rentals.
A shower costs $3 per day, or cyclists can shell out $110 to join the Commuter Club, which covers all costs and gives them priority access to lockers and showers, as well as 24-hour bike-storage benefits.
Freewheel, located right on the Midtown Greenway, was inspired by a city-run enterprise in Chicago. The Minneapolis effort was spearheaded by small-business owner Kevin Ishaug, who opened the center as the second outpost of his five-year-old Freewheel Bike Shop. His timing couldn't have been better: Traffic on the bike path spiked 30% in the first half of 2008.
"We are the first private company to provide these kinds of services for bikers," says Ishaug, who anticipates revenues of $400,000 for the center's first six months. "During the first week we opened, we had 67 people sign up in one day."
Even Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak regularly frequents the depot for his morning coffee and energy bar.
"We all love bikers, but we don't always love the way they smell," he says. "The new center has been extraordinarily successful, especially because it opened right as we came into the summer of soaring gas prices, causing the biking population to go off the charts." 
Electric motorcycles hit the road
Specialized Bikes' startup story
-
The Cheesecake Factory created smaller portions to survive the downturn. Play -
A breeder of award-winning marijuana seeds is following the money and heading to the U.S. More -
Most small businesses die within five years, but Amish businesses have a survival rate north of 90%. More -
The 10 most popular franchise brands over the past decade -- and their failure rates. More -
These firms are the last left in America making iconic products now in their twilight. More
My dream is to launch my own business someday. Now that it's time to choose a major, I'm debating if I should major in entrepreneurial studies or major in engineering to acquire a set of skills first. Is majoring in entrepreneurship a good choice? More
When it comes to in-flight pampering, the amenity kits offered by these 10 airlines are the ultimate in luxury More
From a text therapy platform to apps that push you reminders to breathe, these self-care startups offer help on a daily basis or in times of need. More
From Uber's flying cars to the Hyperloop, these are some of the neatest transportation concepts in the works today. More
More Small Business
