Economy
Walking and bicycling are affordable forms of transportation. Many studies have shown that support for and investment in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure results in economic benefits for individuals, businesses, and communities.
- According to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard, the cost of congestion for the nation in 2014 was $160 billion, accounting for an additional 6.9 billion hours driven and 3.1 billion gallons of fuel purchased by urban Americans due to congestion. For the average auto commuter, the cost of congestion was $960 in 2014.
- A 2010 report estimates the hidden costs of transportation-related health outcomes. The national health costs of obesity/overweight were estimated at $142 billion; the health costs related to air pollution from traffic were estimated at $50-80 billion per year; and the annual cost of traffic crashes was estimated at $180 billion (all in 2008 dollars).
- The average annual cost of owning and operating a new vehicle in 2018 is $8,849; the cost of biking is $308 a year; and walking is free.
- Complete Streets are designed to provide safe access to all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. In their Safer Streets, Stronger Economies report, Smart Growth America found that their Complete Street projects averted $18.1 million in collision and injury costs in 1 year. In some cases, the avoided collision costs in the first year alone exceeded the entire project cost. The projects also cost less per mile than average arterials roads, and they achieved significant results despite these lower costs.
- There have been multiple studies on the impact that pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure can have on job creation. In their 2011 study, the Political Economy Research Institute found that bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects created more jobs than road-only infrastructure projects. Bicycle-only projects created the most jobs at 11.41 jobs per $1 million invested, compared to 7.75 jobs per $1 million invested for road-only projects, which had the lowest level of job creation. Another study found that transportation improvement projects for greenways, sidewalks, and bikeways created more jobs than any other type of project at 17 jobs per $1 million spent.
- The 2018 Benchmarking Report from the League of American Bicyclists provides numerous examples of how bicycle tourism can spur economic development and job creation in communities. For example, the economic impact of bicycle tourism in the North Carolina Outer Banks is estimated to be $60 million annually.
- The Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business report outlines how walking and biking benefits businesses. Multiple studies have found that those who bike to businesses make more frequent trips and spend more per month than those who drive. The report also explains how biking can improve the physical fitness of employees, resulting in up to 32% fewer sick days, 55% lower health costs, and 52% increased productivity for people who bike regularly.
