Benefits to all commuters. Commuter bicycle stations provide benefits for all commuters by encouraging people to shift from commuting by car in order to reduce air pollution, alleviate traffic congestion, and free up scarce parking spaces at work or at transit stations. As a result of these shifts, commuter bike stations can also increase trips on public transportation and thus improve the cost efficiency of the existing transit system, which in turn can lead to lower fares and/or improved service for all riders. Another beneficial effect of commuter bike stations is that they serve as a central focal point that provides services, information, and a community space for both bicyclists and transit riders.
 

Benefits to transit providers. By providing a secure facility where bicyclists can safely leave their bicycle, bicycle parking facilities are a valuable asset to transit providers. As not all transit operators permit bicycles on their buses and trains at all times, bike stations give people an additional option for accessing the transit system. For short trips, bicycling can substitute for driving, walking or taking a connecting bus and then having to transfer to a second bus or train. About 100 people per weekday use the Berkeley Bike Station. In Palo Alto, about 40 people park their bikes there daily, with about 20-25 in Long Beach and 10-15 in Seattle (which is just starting). In the BART system, where bicycles are not allowed on some trains going into city centers during rush hours, this is a great benefit and allows people to now bike to transit, when before they were reluctant to leave a valuable bike unattended when they were not permitted to bring it along. Even if a transit system does allow bicycles on board, these facilities still make it easier for a bicyclist, if the bicycle is not needed on the other end or is cumbersome to store in an office. Bike stations also limit the number of bicycles on a transit system, providing more room for other commuters as well as those cyclists that actually do need their bicycle for another leg of the trip.
 

Benefits to surrounding communities. By providing convenient, economical transportation choices and amenities near public transportation and at high-traffic activity centers, commuter bike stations offer a variety of environmental and social benefits that enhance the overall quality of life in adjacent communities. With the support of commuter bike facilities which feed into existing transportation systems, transportation by bicycle can provide urban areas with unique opportunities in their efforts to become more livable. Increased bicycle commuting will provide better air quality, reduction of automobile congestion on streets and in parking structures, and more convenient, economical, and healthful alternatives to residents and transit commuters.