This document discusses increasing bicycle tourism. It notes that bicycle tourism is an emerging sector, as more Americans now cycle than participate in other recreational activities. Investing in bicycle infrastructure and promoting destinations as bicycle-friendly can provide significant economic benefits to local communities. The document provides examples of various cities and regions that have invested in bicycle infrastructure and seen substantial economic impacts in the hundreds of millions of dollars from increased bicycle tourism.

1. Increasing Bicycle Tourism

2. Agenda
• Background
• Destination Trends
• Infrastructure
• Promotion
• Economic Impact

3. A bike culture has been brewing…
Bike Tourism is seen as an emerging sector.
1 in every 4 Americans cycle.
For every 1 car sold,
3 bikes are sold.
More Americans cycle than
ski, play tennis, or golf combined
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

4. WTM just reported Bik Tourism a threat to
Golf Tourism
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

5. For advocates who promote bicycling and
walking in the US, active transportation is
gaining momentum
• Protected bicycle lanes are popping up on more city streets
• Open Streets initiatives are being organized in communities of all sizes
• Public bicycle sharing programs are finding success even in sprawling
car-centric cities
• Business owners are scrambling to install bicycle parking near their front door
• Destinations are investing in biking infrastructure and tourism
• Increasingly, cities and states are publishing studies that show the economic
benefits of bicycling
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

6. Canadian/Ontario - $391 million
Ontario Ministry of Tourism. Travel Statistics on Visitors Who Involved Cycling Activities While on Trip, As Compared to Non-Cycling Visitors: Tourism Research
Report, 2010.
More states reveal the economic impact of bicycle
tourism, although many do not measure the impact
Colorado - $1 billion to the state
Colorado Department of Transportation Bicycle/Pedestrian Program, 2000 - Bicycling and Walking in Colorado: Economic Impact and Household Survey
Results
Wisconsin - $556 million and 3,420 jobs to the state.
Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Department of Transportation - The Economic Impact of Bicycling in Wisconsin
Minnesota - $481 million annually while recreating, creating 5,880 jobs
Venegas, E., 2009 - Economic Impact of Recreational Trail Use in Different Regions of Minnesota (p. 36)
Iowa - $435 million per year in economic activity
Lankford, J., et al., 2012 - Economic & health benefits of bicycling in Iowa
Oregon - $400 million in 2012, or 4.4% of all travel spending in the state.
Runyan, D. 2013 - The Economic Significance of Bicycle-Related Travel in Oregon
Arizona - out-of-state bicycle tourists bring in $88 million annually
An Economic Impact Study of Bicycling in Arizona, 2013
Michigan - $668 Million
The Michigan Department of Transportation released Phase I of "Community and Economic Benefits of Bicycling in Michigan" in August 2014. The study
shows an estimated $668 million per year in economic benefits to Michigan's economy from employment, retail revenue, tourism expenditure, and
increased health and productivity. Phase II will be released in 2015 and will examine economic impacts of bicycle touring and events.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

7. California ranks in the top 10 bicycle
friendly states
Our ranking has dramatically improved over the past year while others have declines.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

8. States and Regions are developing
bike networks
Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route
One of the most popular new regional networks
to appear in central Idaho with a 500-mile loop.
Oregon
Continues its trend-setting ways with the
addition of new scenic bikeways – there are
now 12 bikeways across the state, ranging in
distance from 24 to 173 miles.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

9. Destinations are also slowly beginning to
recognize biking tourism as a revenue opportunity
Northern Outer Banks region of North Carolina - $60 million annually
North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, 2004 - The Economic Impact of Investments in Bicycle Facilities:
A Case Study of the North Carolina Northern Outer Banks
Teton County, Wyoming - $18 million. The trail system cost $1.7 million to build over
the last decade. Kaliszewski, N., 2011 - Jackson Hole Trails Project Economic Impact Study, University of Wyoming
Orange County, Florida - $32.6 million
Between 2010-11, an economic impact survey (PDF) performed on three trails in Orange County Florida estimated 1.7 million people use the trails each year,
providing $32.556 in impact for the county’s economy.
Boulder - $52 million and 330 jobs in 2011
Portland, OR - $89 million | $79 million in the Willamette Valley
Dean Runyan Associates, 2012
New York City – Cuomo announced $70 million in awards to fund 68 bicycle, pedestrian
and multi-use path transportation projects in New York.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

10. Single-day and short bike tours are
gaining popularity
Big Wheel Tours - Palm Springs
Gotham Bike Tours - Manhattan
Green Fleet Bicycle Tours - Nashville
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

11. To increase bike tourism, destinations must invest and
build a cycling infrastructure
San Francisco - $17.8 million on new bike infrastructure in 2015 and $16.9
million in 2016, envisioning $87.9 million spent on bike infrastructure between
now and 2019
Ontario, Canada - $25 million committed for cycling infrastructure over the next
3 years.
London - In 2013, London announced one of the largest cycling transportation
development budgets in the history of the bicycle committing $1.4 billion to
building up London’s bicycle infrastructure over the next decade. When completed
the cycling network will qualify as one of the world’s largest public works projects.
Vermont - $7.9 million for bicycle and pedestrian facilities for 2015
St. Paul, MN - City has proposed constructing a 1.7-mile, $18-million bike loop all the
way around downtown.
Washington, DC - $16 million investment in the District’s bicycle infrastructure,
including new bike lanes and trails, continued bike-friendly improvements to
streetscapes, and the addition of 10 new Capital Bikeshare stations.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

12. Bike Share is a growing trend.
Destination # of Share Bikes Stations
NYC 6,000 400 Adding 6,000 bike and 375 stations by 2017
Miami 1,000 100
Chicago 4,000 400
Montreal 5,120 400
Paris 20,600 1,230
Boston 1,300 140
Boulder 100 15
San Francisco 350 35 Launched Aug, 2013
Adding 150 bike and 15 stations in 2014
Santa Monica 500 75
Seattle 500 50 Launched Oct, 2014
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

13. Palm Springs has lead the way in building a
bike friendly destination by investing in our
biking infrastructure. (Brett)
• # miles of new bike lanes
• 60 new bike racks installed
• Businesses hosting bike racks
• City committed to making every street in Palm Springs bike friendly
• Xxx
• Xxx
• xxx
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

14. The City of Palm Springs has a vision to
expand our destination as biking friendly over the
next 5 years. (Brett)
List of approved and recommended projects moving forward
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

15. Many of Palm Springs lodging properties are bike
friendly and provide bicycles on premise..
Arenas Gardens West Saguaro Palm Springs
Avanti Hotel Ace Hotel & Swim Club
Calla Lily Inn Smoke Tree Ranch
Del Marcos Hotel Parker Palm Springs
Desert Hills Resort Movie Colony Hotel
Desert Riviera Hotel Orbit In Hotel
Desert Star Hotel McLean Company Rentals
Korakia Pensione Palm Springs Rental Agency
Casa Ocotillo Palm Springs Tennis Club
Century Palm Springs Desert Vacation Villas
Pura Vida Palm Springs BearFoot Inn
Palm Springs Rendezvous La Maison Hotel
The Curve
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact

16. Tour De Palm Springs –Feb 14, 2015
Approximately 10,000 riders
Biking events can provide a positive economic impact to
Palm Springs.
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact
The economic impact of these events generally remain unmeasured.

17. Measuring the economic impact of an event
Survey attendees with 6 basic questions post event;
1. Total number of people in your party
2. Total number of days and nights
3. Distance traveled to event
4. Method of travel
5. Spend by category
(i.e., hotel, restaurant, shopping, etc.)
6. Likelihood to return to area
Background
Destination Trends
Infrastructure
Promotion
Economic Impact