MDOT Study Shows Economic Benefits of Bicycling
(MDOT Press Release, Aug. 22, 2014)
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released a new report, “Community and Economic Benefits of Bicycling in Michigan.” This report is Phase I of a two-phase project that explains the economic benefit bicycling has on Michigan’s local and statewide economies.
The new report finds that bicycling provides an estimated $668 million per year in economic benefit to Michigan’s economy, including employment, retail revenue, tourism expenditure, and increased health and productivity.
Statewide, 44% of residents place an annual value of at least $100 on the ability to use bicycle infrastructure. 39% of households reported that someone in their home used a bike for transportation in the last year. 28% of bicyclists commute by bicycle at least twice a week. 4% of residents participated in a bicycling event or bicycle-oriented vacation in Michigan in the past year.
Using both quantitative and qualitative data, the report takes a unique approach to illustrate both the economic benefits of bicycling on a statewide basis, as well as broader benefits bicycling can have on communities.
As part of Phase I of the study, five case study communities were identified across the state in an effort to measure the annual impact bicycling can have on a local economy. All of the case studies were within the limits of these cities and did not include the broader metro areas:
– Traverse City: $5.5 million
– Holland: $6.4 million
– Detroit (southwest Detroit and the Conner Creek Greenway area): $20.7 million
– Ann  Arbor: $25.4 million
– Grand Rapids: $39.1 million
 Phase II of this project is under way and will include more specific data on the economic impact of bicycling “events,” bicycle touring, and Michigan as a bicycle destination. That phase is scheduled to be complete in 2015.
The report and user friendly infographics are online at www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9615_11223_64797_69435—,00.html.
 
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