Investing in Bicycle Infrastructure to Spur Statewide Economic Growth through Bicycle Tourism

Authors

Pedro Aguero Arroyo, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Daniel P. Piatkowski, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
F. Alsaleem, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

12-2020

Document Type

Article

Citation

Arroyo, P. O., Piatowski, D. P., and Alsaleem, F. (2020). Investing in Bicycle Infrastructure to Spur Statewide Economic Growth through Bicycle Tourism, NDOT Research Report TSPTI-05.

Abstract

Bicycle tourism is a growing industry that has been shown by prior studies to contribute significantly to the economy of numerous states. The economic benefits of recreational bicycling are not limited to the direct effects of the transactions of bicyclists in related industries, but also spillover effects such as the reduction of automobile activity and its associated costs to society, or the decrease of the costs of obesity and inactivity to the healthcare system. This study focuses on the former and provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the economic impacts derived from recreational bicycling expenditure, as well as an assessment of the implications of bicycling events and activity for Nebraskan communities, local and state governments.