BikeWalkLee: Why biking is good for business

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, February 10, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

image: docplayer

Cyclists have an obvious reason for supporting more and better biking infrastructure. Who’s going to argue with more places to ride?

But why should businesses back better biking? Because it’s good for their bottom line… at least according to an updated study on the economic benefits of biking industries and infrastructure.

This report is an update of research originally compiled in 2009 by the League of American Bicyclists (who also do the Bike-Friendly programs for cities, businesses, etc.) and the Alliance for Biking and Walking.

The updated report, “Bicycling Benefits Business,” reviews new research in the nearly 10 years that have passed. Its conclusion? “Communities that support bicycling as a means of transportation and recreation have outsized economic benefits by attracting residents and tourists alike.”

Top findings in the report:

• When people have access to safe bicycle facilities, they often choose to ride a bicycle rather than drive.
• Bicyclists purchase bike-related items -- bicycles, supplies, and bike share memberships – that create jobs in bicycle shops and bicycle industry-related businesses.
• Bicyclists shop at other types of stores as well, and bike-accessible businesses, such as Bicycle Friendly Businesses, experience economic benefits by catering to these customers.
• People who bicycle on vacation spend on travel and food, and pay for lodging and other vacation items. This brings millions of tourist dollars to cities and towns across the country.

There are other more intangible benefits to businesses located in places where bikes are more welcomed, for example:

• The slow pace of cycling allows the rider to take in more of what’s around them… such as local businesses that are but a blur to a passing vehicle. If they can see you, there’s a better chance they’ll come visit you.
• Bikers are more likely to shop locally, since hopping in a car to drive 10 or 15 miles away is a lot less doable on two wheels.
• Cycling costs less than driving, perhaps leaving more discretionary income in the cyclist’s pocket.
• People who like to bike also like to live where it’s easier to bike… Sanibel’s a good example of that.
• Bike parking in a downtown business area has been shown to generate more revenue per day than other curbside uses such as outdoor seating and car parking – in part because it’s a more efficient use of the curb space.
• Cycling is viewed (rightly so) as a healthier and more sustainable activity, something that attracts people who support such ends.

Making our area more bike friendly just makes sense, given our focus on tourism. Visitors are always looking for things to do on vacation, and biking fits well with the other outdoor-focused attributes of our area. Our weather and geography also make cycling a good fit, with warm days and flat roads a real enticement to biking.

What we lack, however, is a focused effort on promoting cycling. While our bike infrastructure is getting better, we’re still a long way from the kind of system that would make cycling accessible for less experienced riders… and our bike parking in places where it should be a natural fit (such as in various downtowns) is pitiful, an afterthought at best and often missing altogether.

While a few places locally have pursued Bike Friendly status – Sanibel gets a gold, and Cape Coral and Naples earn bronzes – there are a lot of municipalities and businesses that should and could undertake a few bike-friendly efforts and pursue the recognition that status confers. Our local university and colleges are good examples of what could be… since nine other university statewide have won some level of bike-friendly status, why can’t we?

But the benefits biking brings to business are far more valuable than winning a Bike Friendly Whatever certification. Biking brings in customers and revenues – and that should be reason enough to work on making our region more amenable to cycling.

What are we waiting for?

• You can download the new report at https://www.bikeleague.org/content/bicycling-benefits-business.

 ●●●

EVENTS 

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Edison Festival of Light Junior Fun Run (distance varies by age), noon, Sunday, Feb. 13, downtown Fort Myers.
• Edison Festival of Light 5K, Saturday, Feb. 19, 5:45 p.m., downtown Fort Myers.
• Hooters River Roots & Ruts 10 Mile Trail Run, Sunday, March 6, Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva.
• Scope for Hope 5K & 2 Mile Walk, Saturday, March 26, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Picayune 10 Miler, Saturday, Feb. 12, Sabal Palm Hiking Trail, Naples.
• Naples Golden Eagle 5K, Saturday, Feb. 19, Lowdermilk Park, Naples
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Venice Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday, Feb. 19, 6:30 a.m., Maxine Barritt Park, Venice.
• Fort Myers City of Palms Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday March 5, 6:30 a.m., FGCU campus.
• Punta Gorda Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday, March 12, 6:30 a.m., Lashley Park.
• Paradise Coast Half Marathon, Sunday, April 24, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
  

OTHER RUNS

• Yo! Taco Shrimp 5K Run, Saturday, March 12, presented by Cypress Lake Athletics, Doc Fords, Fort Myers Beach (active.com).
• 70s Disco 5K, Saturday, March 5, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (active.com).
• Average Joe 5K Run (you finish in the middle of the pack to win it), Sunday, April 10, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (active.com).
  

OTHER RIDES

• Royal Palm Challenge, Saturday, March 12, from the Collaboratory, downtown Fort Myers. Rides of 12, 40 and 62 miles with rest stops and full support.
• Broken 100 ride, Sunday, March 27, from Winn Dixie at Colonial Blvd. and Treeline Ave., Fort Myers.

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  

TRIATHLONS

• St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg) has been rescheduled again, now to May 1, 2022, Olympic and sprint (https://satriathlon.com/).
  

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.