Bicycling industry means $750 million to Wisconsin

How much is bicycling worth to the economy? Researchers in Wisconsin have been looking into this question:

A preliminary study estimates that the state accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation's bicycling industry, with a total impact on the state economy of $764 million to $834 million a year.

That estimate is probably conservative, say the study's co-authors Chuck Strawser, of the Bicycling Federation of Wisconsin, and Tom Huber, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator with the state Department of Transportation.

The study is being prepared for the Governor's Bicycling Coordinating Council, and it's designed to measure the impact of bicycle factories, such as the Trek cycle works in Watertown, plus spending by two-wheel tourists using the state's many trails and at various cycling events held in Wisconsin.

The total estimate includes the industry accounting for $556 million and 3,418 jobs and tourism bringing in anywhere from $208 million to $278 million. . . .

The top tourism estimate of a $278 million impact would represent 3-4 percent of Wisconsin's $11.7 billion in tourism and recreation revenue in 2003. . . .

The study notes there can be other positive impacts of bicycling that may not be measured in terms of the economic impact, such as fostering "a sense of neighborhood and community,'' improving health and reducing pollution and even boosting property values in areas near bicycle trails.

How much does bicycling impact Missouri's economy? No one has study this question so we do not know in detail.

But we know that Missouri bicycle shops employ over 1000 and almost $100 million in sales each year (this includes only bike shops, not big box retailers, or bicycle tourism, or any other aspect of bicycling's effect on the economy).