Sunday, September 6, 2009

The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments

You know it was nice to see these kind of statistics from the League of American Bicyclists. You always are reading about what companies like the Homebuilder's Association explaining all the good that they do for communities so it is nice to see that they have put some firm numbers to it.

Darren Flusche|League Policy Analyst|June 2009

Today the national bicycling industry contributes an estimated $133 billion a year to the U.S. economy.i It supports nearly 1.1 million jobs and generates $17.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Another $46.9 billion is spent on meals, transportation, lodging, gifts and entertainment during bike trips and tours.

This article highlights the impact the bicycle industry and bicycle tourism can have on state and local economies, describes the need for bicycle facilities, discusses the cost effectiveness of investments, points out the benefits of bike facilities for business districts and neighborhoods, and identifies the cost savings associated with a mode shift from car to bicycle. The evidence demonstrates that investments in bicycle infrastructure make good economic sense as a cost effective way to enhance shopping districts and communities, generate tourism and support business.

Notable Economic Impacts
Regions that have invested in bicycling have seen a beneficial impact on their economies. Studies have shown that bicycle industry and bicycle tourism can boost local employment levels and economic activity.

The full report

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