Bicycles are Business: What Research Says About Bicycling’s Economic Benefits

Have there been studies of business effects in Chicago as more people ride? Or possible on the Dearborn PBL or other PBLs?

July 23, 2014

Bicycles are Business: What Research Says About Bicycling’s Economi...

Ed. note: Our Bicycles Are Business series examines local businesses that have decided bicycles, or people arriving on bicycles, make good business sense. Today we take a break from the profiles to provide an overview of the growing body of research examining the economic benefits that bicycles and bicycle infrastructure confer. 

If bicycles are integral to your business, let us know by contacting Max.

Contrary to myth, the implementation of bicycle infrastructure in urban districts has been linked to increased retail sales and safer roads. (photo by Paul Krueger, CC 2.0 License)

There’s a belief found floating around in the ether that the implementation of bicycle infrastructure in a given metro area will result in decreased retail sales, and thus that bicycling is de facto “bad for business.” 1 This is a serious misconception. Studies examining the economic benefits of bicycling abound, and cities embracing bicycling are reaping the benefits of the urban bicycling boom.

Bicyclists Are Serious Shoppers

A 2012 study of shoppers in New York City’s East Village district – which had recently installed protected bike lanes – found that, per capita per week, cyclists spent the most money at local businesses.

1. Bicyclists: $168
2. Pedestrians: $158
3. Car drivers: $143
4. Public transit: $111

Full article from The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia here