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Bicycle Tourism

Who are Bicycle Tourists?

•82% of touring cyclists have a college education

•52 is the average age

•58% make over $75,000 per year

•8.1% are international tourists

Bicycle travelers tend to be geotourists - interested in experiencing the distinctive characteristics of a place, including its culture, landscape, history, and the well-being of its residents. They tend to prefer to spend locally, make meaningful connections with locals, and explore off the beaten path.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/advocacy/building-bike-tourism/bicycle-tourism-101/

Benefits to Cyclists

• Improve health

• Seeing new sights

• Meeting new people

• Relax, slow down

• Unfiltered experience

• Making new memories

Cyclist Resources

Cycling Tourists can purchase

Maps of their route. $12 each

Adventure Cycling

Benefits to Communities

Cyclists spend on average $75 per day:

•Lodging

•Food

•Beverages

•Entertainment

It takes about 6 days to travel across Oklahoma

Nationally, bike tourism accounts for an estimated $83 billion in trip-related spending, which doesn't count gear sales.

Bicycle recreation creates 848,000 jobs.

(2018, Outdoor Industry Association https://outdoorindustry.org/)

Comparisons: Missouri

Katy Trail Generates $18.5 Million

A 2012 study, Katy Trail Economic Impact Report, found:

400,000 visitors to Katy Trail State Park have an economic impact of $18,491,000 per year, which supports 367 jobs.

85% of visitors bicycled the Katy Trail and 87% of respondents said the Katy Trail was the main reason for their visit to the area.

One in five Katy Trail visitors stopped at a small town along the trail, contributing $8 million in total value added to the local community.

Comparison: NW Arkansas

$137 Million from Bicycling in Northwest Region

Tourists spend $27 million at local businesses each year.

55% of mountain bikers travel to NW Arkansas from outside the region.

Generates $85 million annually in health related benefits.

Residents spend more than $20 million on bicycling annually.

Houses within .25 miles of the Razorback Greenway sell for an average of nearly $15,000 more than those two miles from the trail.