HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence 11/12/2012DRAFT DOCUMENT ONLY
Potential of Bicycling Tourism on the Olympic Peninsula
A Dream Coming True
November 12, 2012
We in Port Angeles are fortunate to be in the epicenter of a potential world-class bicycling trail
of 140 miles, stretching from Port Townsend to La Push. The Olympic Discovery Trail, when completed,
will include gorgeous views of sea, mountains, forest and plain while travelling through a tourist -friendly
infrastructure already in place to take advantage of the incomparable Olympic National Park.
What is bicycle tourism(BT)? BT is a concept with many permutations. Generally we mean
recreation usually but not always including an overnight stay away from home. Many cyclists on holiday
will include weekend, week-long and even international trips lasting several weeks. Transcontinental
biking adventures in Europe, Canada and the US are not uncommon.
The several types of biking adventures are worth noting. Young, old and in-between bicyclists
may desire a budget vacation including outdoor camping or a posh, deluxe version complete with
guides, hotel rooms, restaurant food service and luggage transportation. Other significant adventures
such as river barge or railroad trips, wine tasting, architecture, museum and archaeological ruins side
shows may be included with BT.
Distance also can vary from low -mileage day trips returning to home base every night to the
bicyclist adventurer covering 50 miles and more each day, stopping at several locations for overnight
accommodations. Total trip lengths? The sky's the limit.
Another distinction is loaded versus light baggage carrying. Many cyclists we see on the Olympic
Peninsula during the summer on US 101 have panniers and other carry-alls including trailers. In Europe
and parts of the US, BT companies arrange routes, transportation to and from the start and finish of the
adventure and most or all accommodations as well as carry luggage to the next destination.
BT can be done solo, with a friend or significant other or in groups. Many cities and regions
have bicycling clubs that sponsor group day and multi -day rides which are immensely popular. Our
region has a very active and large club headquartered in Seattle, the Cascade Bicycle Club with over
14,000 members. The CBC sponsors group rides, races and other events throughout the Puget Sound.
Finally, the type of terrain traversed by the bicyclist adventurers varies. Some adventures are on
unpaved trails with dirt, gravel or mixed surfaces, but BT is largely conducted on paved trails and roads
for comfort, safety and speed. Riders choose the style of bicycle to match the terrain, size of the rider,
luggage and weight loads and comfort.
Our City, County and region have the opportunity and ability to develop bicycling tourism(BT)
into a significant economic contributor all while providing valuable benefits to our residents.
Washington State is rated the "#1 bicycle friendly state" by the League of American Bicyclists(LAB). The
Puget Sound region already produces at least ten notable annual bicycling events and races, attracting
local, regional and international riders including our very own Ride the Hurricane(RtH) event in early
August. in its third year(the primary sponsor is the Black Ball Ferry), RtH attracted over 400 riders
including riders from Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Victoria and Vancouver. Also the Sequim community
sponsors the Boys & Girls Club Ride and the Tour de Dungeness.
Next, let us examine the national statistics about the economic effects of US bicycle ridership
and tourism. Estimates of the total number of bicyclists are amazingly different, largely due to definition
issues. However, the number of regular riders numbers in the tens of millions and include riders of
every demographic and region. New bicycle sales fluctuate between 12-20 million units annually.
Almost all bicycles sold in the US are imported except for small numbers of high-end, custom made units
with price tags of $5,000-$20,000. "Bicycling," a Rodale Press mostly monthly magazine, has a paid
circulation of over 425,000 with reader demographics that make advertisers weak-kneed with
enthusiasm.
The economic effects of bicycling is subject again to wildly different estimates; however, no
credible estimate of GDP contribution is below $80 billion: over $10B spent on new bicycles, over $10B
spent on bicycle hardware and repairs, over $10B spent on clothing, shoes, helmets, etc. with the
remainder spent on bicycle tourism of all kinds! BT expenditures include transportation, lodging, food,
entertainment and other services. Included as an attachment to this note are summary statistics
compiled by LAB and are significantly larger than those outlined above.
For example, Wisconsin(population of almost 6 million) and Colorado(population of slightly
above 5 million) claims BT adds almost $1 billion and $1.2 billion respectively to the state's economy.
Washington's population of almost 7 million would logically contribute at least a proportional amount
and probably a greater amount due to a larger number of riders per capita and better year-round riding
conditions. San Francisco claims that 10% of all visitors ride bicycles during their stay.
Our challenge in Port Angeles then is to initiate a comprehensive effort to make our city and
community the hub of the Olympic Discovery Trail's BT. Advocacy should include advice on
construction, standardization, safety and maintenance of the ODT infrastructure as well as the
promotion of the trail around the region, state and western Canada. We have many of the
infrastructure assets of the ODT in place with more in the planning stage. In addition, we have
significant amounts of transportation(both public and private), lodging, food, bicycle sales and repair,
medical attention and other services already in place.
PA Forward is in the unique position to act as the catalyst for the development of the ODT as a
world-class BT experience. We should use this opportunity to gather together as many community
stakeholders for a "dream" conference which will look into the future one year, ten years, even 30
years. Out of this dream will come concrete steps to make that future happen including grant writing,
asphalt, signage, bike racks on County buses and sidewalks, advertising and promotion. All while
benefitting our growing community ridership for recreation, exercise, commuting and health.
Specifically, a subcommittee of interested PA Forward members should be formed to organize
the first dream session in early 2013. As mentioned before, as many stakeholders should be invited
because the scope of a cohesive, organized plan to make BT an important contributor to Port Angeles'
economy will involve a large and diverse number of organizations, businesses and government bodies at
the local, county, regional and national levels. Perhaps a skilled, professional moderator could be useful
at the first session. Written materials, speakers, presentations, etc. could be assembled to produce a
session of 3-4 hours at low cost.
Let us be clear about that our great potential is not based on a raison d'etre but the reality of
our spectacular landscape and environment which is unique, special and overwhelming compelling. The
Olympic Peninsula and the Olympic Discovery Trail will become world-famous for bicycle tourism no
matter what we do. The question is what can PA Forward and our community do to improve, enhance
and push forward bicycle tourism not only for the Olympic Discovery Trail from Port Townsend to La
Push but for a ring of trails connected to the Olympic Discovery Trail, taking in the Strait Juan de Fuca,
Pacific Ocean, Hood Canal and southern boundaries. Contributing to the health and economic
prosperity of all in Port Angeles, Clallam County and the Olympic Peninsula region.
Is this just a dream? No! It is a vision, and with careful organization, all we need to do is
harness the legendary energy of the greater Port Angeles community to achieve worthwhile goals for all.
Attachments to follow
Partial list of stakeholders
The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments
Events, Rides and Tours, Cascade Bicycling Club
Bicycle Tourism, excerpted from "Wikipedia"
The Economic Impact of Bicycling in Colorado
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Events, Rides and Tours 1 Cascade Bicycle Club Page 1 of 2
Events, Rides and Tours
In addition to our free Daily Rides Program (http://www.cascade.orq/EandR/Daily Rides.cfm), Cascade Club
Tours (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/tours/local-tours), Cascade -Affiliated International Tours
(http://www.cascade.ora/EandR/tours/intltours.cfm) , Monthly Presentation Series
http://www.cascade.ora/eandr/monthly presentations.cfm) and Film Series
(http://www.cascade.ora/EandR/film Series.cfm) , the Cascade Bicycle Club produces the largest and most
recognized bicycling events in the Pacific Northwest. Click on any event name below for more details.
Free daily rides
Cascade's volunteer Rides Committee directs possibly the largest free daily rides program
(http://www.cascade.orq/EandR/Daily Rides.cfm) in the U.S., coordinating more than 1,500 daily rides
annually for our 14,000+ members. Your membership fees support these programs. Ready to ride?
Check out the Daily Rides calendar. (http://www.cascade.orq/EandR/Activities Calendar.cfm)
Cascade events
Check out our monthly Presentation Series (http://www.cascade.oro/EandR/Monthly Presentations.cfml
and Film Series (http://www.cascade.orq/EandR/Film Series.cfm) .
Seattle Bike Swap (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/seattle-bike-swap)
A bike bargain hunter's paradise!
Feb. 10, 2013
Chilly Hilly (https://shop.cascade.oro/content/events/chilly-hilly)
Join us on Bainbridge Island for the first event of the season!
Feb. 24, 2013
Seattle Bicycle Expo (http://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/expol
Be one of the 8,000 attendees to enjoy more than 300 exhibits and an array of presentations
on all aspects of the sport.
March 9-10, 2013
Commute Challenge (http://www.cbcef.orq/btw/cc.html)
One of the largest bike commuting events in the nation!
May 1 - 31, 2013
Bike to Work Breakfast (http://www.cbcef.orq/btw/btw breakfast.html)
Come join us! We promise good food, great conversation, networking, and an insight into why
bike commuting makes sense for you, your business, and our community. Keynote
speaker: TBD
TBD May
F5 Bike to Work Day (http://www.cbcef.orq/btw/btw day.htmll
A huge hit in Seattle! Celebrate bicycle commuting as thousands of your friends, neighbors and
co-workers take to the streets by bike.
May 17, 2013
Flying Wheels Summer Century (https:!/shop.cascade.orq/content/events/flying-wheels-summer-century)
Washington state's largest century. This event also offers shorter distances for full -on fun, no
matter what your speed. Held in Redmond.
June 8, 2013
World Bicycle Relief Red -Bell 100 (http://shop.cascade.orq/content/red-bell-100)
A fully supported one -day century ride from Redmond to Bellingham. Funds raised will benefit
World Bicycle Relief and Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation.
June 29, 2013
Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/stil)
Cascade's cornerstone event, offering riders a one- or two-day double century. The largest
multi -day event in the Northwest.
July 13-14,2013
Cyclefest (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/cvclefest-bikemania)
The biggest Tour de France party on the West Coast! Enjoy a free showing of Stage TBD of the
Tour on a 20 ft wide inflatable screen
July TBD, 2013
RAW - Ride Around Washington (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/ride-around-washinaton)
On our multi -day tour held in August.
https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/events 11/27/2012
Events, Rides and Tours 1 Cascade Bicycle Club Page 2 of 2
Aug. 3 - 9, 2013
RSVP - Ride from Seattle to Vancouver (B.C.) and Party!
(https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/rsvp)
The name says it all!
Aug. 16 - 17, 2013
RSVP2 h
ho..cascade.o
content events rsv
We've sold the first event out for long enough. We've added another!
Aug. 17 - 18, 2013
HPC - High Pass Challenge (https://shop.cascade.ore/content/events/high-pass-challenge)
A challenging 114 mile 7,500 foot elevation gain event through the pristine Gifford Pinchot
Wilderness Area (not for novice riders)
Sept. 8, 2013
BikePAC Trivia Night & Party (http://www.cascade.oro/braking news/eventalert/BikePAC-2012.html)
Join Cascade employees, volunteers and supporters for a fun evening of trivia, drinks, and hors
d'oeuvres in support of BikePAC, the political arm of our work.
TBD
Kitsap Color Classic (https://shop.cascade.oro/content/events/kitsap-color-classic)
Pedal into autumn with a lovely ride around the Kitsap Peninsula.
Sept. 29, 2013
Annual Business Meeting (http://www.cascade.ore/About/annual membership meetinq.cfrn
Learn more about the Club and our Board of Directors (http://www.cascade.orq/About/board.chn)
Held the second Tuesday every October.
Proceeds from Cascade events support bicycle advocacy, safety and education programs. Come ride
with us and discover why cyclists from more than 42 states participate in Cascade events!
Cascade Training Series
This weekly multi -paced training series is designed to prepare you for STP and RSVP. The series starts
in April with a 25 -mile loop and continues every weekend through STP, with a series of four
"maintaining" rides between STP and RSVP. Register for CTS when you register for STP or RSVP.
During the progression of increasingly challenging rides, you will build endurance, confidence and
knowledge in the areas of basic bike maintenance, group riding skills, nutrition and riding techniques,
PLUS you will get a stylish Road ID® with your emergency contact information. Limited registration
slots will be available, so register early. More information... (http://shop.cascade.ora/content/events/cascade-
traininq-series-schedule) . (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/events/cascade-training-series)
Bike tours
Cascade offers two types of tours: Cascade Club Tours (https://shop.cascade.orq/content/tours/local-tours) and
Cascade -Affiliated International Tours (http://www.cascade.orq/EandR/tours/intltours.cfm) .
Join the conversation:
(https //cascade.orq/Comm u n ity/forum/i ndex.cfm )
(http://www.facebook.com/cascadebicycleclub)(http://www.twitter.com/cascadebicycle)
https://shop.cascade.org/content/events/events 11/27/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bicycle touring
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bicycle touring is cycling over long distances — prioritizing
pleasure and endurance over utility or speed. Touring can
range from single day rides to multi -day trips. Tours may be
planned and organised by the participants for themselves or
organised for a group by a professional holiday business, a
club or, as a fund-raising venture, a charity.
Contents
• 1 Origins
• 2 Social significance
• 3 Development
• 4 Voyages
• 5 Types
■ 6 Touring bike
• 7 See also
• 8 References
■ 9 External links
Origins
Page 1 of 8
Expedition type bicycle touring Cordillera del Paine
Historian James McGurn speaks of bets being taken in London in the 19th century for riders of hobby -horses —
machines pushed by the feet rather than pedaled — outspeeding stagecoaches. "One practitioner beat a four -horse
coach to Brighton by half an hour," he says.[" "There are various accounts of 15 to 17-year-olds draisienne-
touring around France in the 1820s. On 17 February 1869 John Mayall, Charles Spencer and Rowley Turner rode
from Trafalgar Square, London, to Brighton in 15 hours for 53 miles. The Times, which had sent a reporter to
follow them in a coach and pair, reported an "Extraordinary Velocipede Feat." Three riders set off from Liverpool
to London, a journey of three days and so more akin to modern cycle -touring, in March that same year. A
newspaper report said:
Their bicycles caused no little astonishment on the way, and the remarks passed by the natives were
almost amusing. At some of the villages the boys clustered round the machines, and, where they
could, caught hold of them and ran behind until they were tired out. Many enquiries were made as to
the name of 'them queer horses', some called them 'whirligigs', 'menageries' and 'valparaisons'.
Between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, attempts were made to upset the riders by throwing
stones.l�1
Enthusiasm extended to other countries. The New York Times spoke of "quantities of velocipedesl31 flying like
shuttles hither and thither". But while British interest had less frenzy than in the USA, it lasted longer.11l
The expansion from a machine that had to be pushed, or propelled through
pedals on a small front wheel, made longer distances feasible. A rider
calling himself "A Light Dragoon" told in 1870 or 1871 of a ride from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiBicycle_touring 12/4/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lewes to Salisbury, across southern England. The title of his book, Wheels
and Woes, suggests a less than event -free ride but McGurn says "it seems to
have been a delightful adventure, despite bad road surfaces, dust and lack of
signposts.
Journeys grew more adventurous. John Foster Fraser and two friends set off
round the world on safety bicycles in July 1896. He, Edward Lunn and F.
H. Lowe rode 19,237 miles, through 17 countries, in two years and two
months.[41 By 1878, recreational cycling was well enough established in
Britain to lead to the formation of the Bicycle Touring Club, later renamed
Cyclists' Touring Club.[51 It is the oldest national tourism organisation in the
world. Members, like those of other clubs, often rode in uniform. The CTC
appointed an official tailor. The uniform was a dark green Devonshire serge
jacket, knickerbockers and a "Stanley helmet with a small peak". The
colour changed to grey when green proved impractical because it showed
the dirt.[61 Groups often rode with a bugler at their head to sound changes of
direction or to bring the group to a halt. Confusion could be caused when
groups met and mistook each other's signals.[71
Membership of the CTC inspired the Frenchman Paul de Vivie (b. April 29, 1853) to found what became the
Federation Fran9aise de Cyclotourisme, the world's largest cycling association, and to coin the French word cyclo
-tourisme. The League of American Wheelmen in the USA was founded in Newport, Rhode Island on May 30,
1880. It shared an interest in leisure cycling with the administration of cycle racing. Membership peaked at
103,000 in 1898.[81 The national cycle -touring organization in the USA is now the Adventure Cycling
Association (ACA). The ACA, then called Bikecentennial, organized a mass ride in 1976 from one side of the
USA to the other to mark the nation's 200th anniversary. The Bikecentennial route is still in use as the
TransAmerica Trail.
Page 2 of 8
Touring the countryside, 1887
Social significance
The first cyclists, often aristocratic or otherwise rich, flirted with the bicycle and
then abandoned it for the new motor car. It was the lower middle class which most
profited from cycling and the liberation that it brought.[11 The Cyclist of 13 August
1892 said: "The two sections of the community which form the majority of
'wheelmen' are the great clerk class and the great shop assistant class." H. G. Wells
described this aspirant class liberated through cycling. Three of his heroes — in The
History of Mr Polly, Kipps and The Wheels of Chance — buy bicycles. The first two
work in drapery shops. The third, Hoopdriver, goes on a cycling holiday. The
authors Roderick Watson and Martin Gray say:
Hoopdriver is certainly liberated by his machine. It affords him not only a
country holiday, in itself a remarkable event which he enjoys immensely,
however ignorant of the countryside he may be, but also a brush with a
society girl, riding on pneumatics[91 and wearing some kind of Rational
Dress. The book suggests the new social mobility created by the bike, which
breaks the boundaries of Hoopdriver's world both literally and figuratively.
[10]
Hoopdriver sets off in a spirit of freedom, finally away from his job:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle touring
H. G. Wells in 1908 at the
door of his house at
Sandgate
12/4/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 3 of 8
Only those who toil six long days out of the seven, and all the year round, save for one brief glorious
fortnight or ten days in the summer time, know the exquisite sensations of the First Holiday
Morning. All the dreary, uninteresting routine drops from you suddenly, your chains fall about your
feet...There were thrushes in the Richmond Road, and a lark on Putney Heath. The freshness of dew
was in the air; dew or the relics of an overnight shower glittered on the leaves and grass...He wheeled
his machine up Putney Hill, and his heart sang within him.E111
Wells puts Hoopdriver in a new brown cycling suit to show the importance of the venture and the freedom on
which he is embarking. Hoopdriver finds the bicycle raises his social standing, at least in his imagination, and he
calls to himself as he rides that he's "a bloomin' dookt121 " The New Woman that he pursues wears Rational Dress
of a sort that scandalised society but made cycling much easier. The Rational Dress Society was founded in 1881
in London. It said:
The Rational Dress Society protests... against crinolines or crinolettes of any kind as ugly and
deforming... [It] requires all to be dressed healthily, comfortably, and beautifully, to seek what
conduces to birth, comfort and beauty in our dress as a duty to ourselves and each other.t131
Both Hoopdriver and the Young Lady in Grey, as he refers to her, are escaping social restraints through bicycle
touring. Hoopdriver falls in love and rescues her from a lover who says marrying him is the only way that she,
having left alone for a cycling holiday, can save her reputation. She lowers her social status; he raises his.
McGurn says: "The shift in social perspectives, as exemplified by Wells' cyclists, led Galsworthy to claim, at a
later date, that the bicycle had "been responsible for more movement in manners and morals than anything since
Charles the Second." 411
Development
The bicycle gained from the outdoor movement of the 1930s. The Cyclists' Touring Club advertised a week's all -
in tour, staying at hotels recommended to it by other cyclists, for £3 10s. The youth hostel movement started in
Germany and spread abroad and a cycling holiday staying at hostels in the 1930s could be had for £2. Roderick
Watson and Martin Gray estimate that there were ten million bicycles in Britain to one million cars.
A decline set in across Europe, but particularly in Britain, when millions of servicemen returned from World War
II having learned to drive. Trips away were now to be taken, for the increasing number who had one, by car. The
decline in the United States came even sooner. McGurn says:
The story of inter -war cycling was characterised by lack of interest and a steady decline... Cycling
had lost out to the automobile, and to some extent to the new electric transport systems. In the 1930s
cumbersome, fat-tyred'balloon bombers', bulbously streamlined in imitation of motorcycles or
aeroplanes, appealed to American children: the only mass market still open to cycle manufacturers.
Wartime austerity gave cycling a short reprieve in the industrial world. The post-war peace was to
lay the bicycle low.E11
However, between 1965 and 1975 the USA experienced a "Bike boom" following which, in 1976, to celebrate the
Bicentenary of the founding of United States, Greg Siple organised a mass bike ride, Bikecentennial, from the
Pacific to the Atlantic. Siple, said:
My original thought was to send out ads and flyers saying, 'Show up at Golden Gate Park in San
Francisco at 9 o'clock on June 1 with your bicycle.' And then we were going to bicycle across the
country. I pictured thousands of people, a sea of people with their bikes and packs all ready to go,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle touring 12/4/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 4 of 8
and there would be old men and people with balloon -tire bikes and Frenchmen who flew over just for
this. Nobody would shoot a gun off or anything. At 9 o'clock everybody would just start moving. It
would be like this crowd of locusts crossing America[14'
The ride eventually ran from Oregon to Williamsburg, Virginia, site of the first British settlements. 4100 people
rode, with 2000 completing the whole route. It defined a new start for cycle -touring in the United States and led
to the creation of the Adventure Cycling Association. The ACA has gone on to create mapped routes across
America and into Canada, many of the rides taking up to three months to complete on a loaded bicycle.
In Britain, the Cyclists Touring Club has grown to 70,000 members (in 2011)[15 and is now the biggest body
campaigning for cycling and cyclist's rights in the UK. It continues to organise group touring events including
day rides through its local groups and CTC holidays in many countries led by experienced CTC members. Since
1983 Sustrans has developed to create a National Cycle Network of long-distance cycle routes including back
roads and traffic -free tracks built, signed and mapped in partnership with a wide range of local organisations.
Since 1980 there has also been a growth of organised cycling holidays provided by commercial organisations in
many countries. Market research indicates that in 2006 British cyclists spent £120m on 450,000 organised cycling
holidays and a further 2.5 million people included some cycling activity in their annual holiday that year.(161
Some companies provide accommodation and route information to cyclists travelling independently, others will
focus on a group experience including guides and support for a large number of riders cycling together. A
variation on this is holidays, often in "exotic" locations, organised in partnership with a charity, where the
participants are expected to raise a substantial charitable donation as well as covering their own costs.
The true scale of bicycle touring and its economic effects are difficult to estimate, given the informal nature of
much activity. However Sustrans estimate that the total value of cycle tourism in the UK in 1997 was £635m and
they forecast £14bn for the whole EU by 2020.[171 Among examples of current activity given by Sustrans are
1.5m cyclists using the 250 km Danube Cycle Route each year and 25% of holiday visitors in Germany using
bicycles during their visit.
Voyages
Bicycle touring can be of any distance and time. The French tourist Jacques Sirat speaks in lectures of how he felt
proud riding round the world for five years — until he met an Australian who had been on the road for 27 years.['81
The German rider, Walter Stolle, lost his home and living in the Sudetenland in the aftermath of World War II,
settled in Britain and set off from Essex on 25 January 1959, to cycle round the world. He rode through 159
countries in 18 years, denied only those with sealed borders.E191 He paid his way by giving slide shows in seven
languages. He gave 2,500 at US$100 each. In 1974, he rode through Nigeria, Dahomey, Upper Volta, Ghana,
Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Guinea.[201 He was robbed 231 times, wore out six bicycles and had five more
stolen.l211
Another German set off three years after Stolle and is still riding. Heinz
Stiicke left his job as a die -maker in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1962
when he was 22. He has never been home since. By 2006 he had cycled
more than 539,000 km (335,000 mi) and visited 192 countries. He pays
his way by selling photographs to magazines. From Asia, Gua Dahao left
China in May 1999 to ride across Siberia, the Middle East, Turkey,
western Europe, Scandinavia, then another 100,000 km across Africa,
Latin America and Australia.[221
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_touring 12/4/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some distinguished writers have combined cycling with travel writing
including Dervla Murphy, whose made her first documented journey1231 in
1963 from London to India on a single speed bicycle with little more than
a revolver and a change of underwear. In 2006 she describedl241 how, aged
74, she was held up at gunpoint and robbed while cycling in Russia. Eric
Newby,l251 Bettina Selby (http://www.bettinaselby.com) and Anne Mustoe
have all used cycling as a means to a literary end, valuing the way that
cycling brings the traveller closer to people and places. Selby said,
(the bicycle) makes me independent in a way no other form of
transport can - it needs no fuel, no documents and very little
maintenance. Most importantly it goes along at the right speed for
seeing everything, and as it doesn't cut me off from my
surroundings, it also makes me a lot of friends.1261
In more recent years, British adventurers Alastair Humphreys, Mark
Beaumont, Rob Lilwall and Tom Keville-Davies have all been on epic
bicycle expeditions and written popular books about their exploits.
But most Bicycle Tourists are ordinary people out of the spotlight. Cyclo -Camping International
(http://www.cci.asso.fr) makes a point of including shorter tours with children in its annual presentation in Paris.
Children have also been the stimulus for longer journeys, among tours featured by Cyclo -Camping International
has been one by Brigitte and Nicolas Mercat and their three children, five, seven and nine when they left France
in July 2002. They rode through Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Indonesia.
They taught their children from school books as they rode and returned to Chambery to find that not only were
they ahead of their classmates but they had learned several languages on the way.1271
Page 5 of 8
Heinz StUcke in Paris, 1999
Types
Distances vary considerably. Depending on fitness, speed and the number of stops, the rider usually covers
between 50-150 kilometres (30-90 mi) per day. A short tour over a few days may cover as little as 200
kilometres (120 mi) and a long tour may go right across a country or around the world.
There are many different types of bicycle touring:
Lightweight touring
Informally called credit-card touring, a rider carries a minimum of
equipment and a lot of money. Overnight accommodation is in
youth hostels, hotels, pensions or B&Bs. Food is bought at cafes,
restaurants or markets.
Ultralight touring
Differs from credit card touring in that the rider is self-sufficient but
carries only the bare essentials and no frills.
Fully loaded touring
Also known as self -supported touring, cyclists carry everything
they need, including food, cooking equipment, and a tent for
camping. Some cyclists minimize their load, carrying only basic
supplies, food, and a Bivouac sack or lightweight tent.
Expedition touring
Cyclists travel extensively, often through developing nations or remote areas. The bicycle is loaded with
food, spares, tools, and camping equipment so that the traveller is largely self-supporting.
Mixed Terrain Cycle -Touring
A loaded touring bicycle, with drop
bars, 700c wheels, racks panniers and
bar bag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_touring
12/4/2012
Bicycle touring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Page 6 of 8
Also called rough riding, cyclists travel over a variety of surfaces and topography on a single route, with a
single bicycle. Focusing on freedom of travel and efficiency over varied surfaces, cyclists often adopt an
ultralight camping approach and carry their own minimal gear.
Supported touring
Cyclists are supported by a motor vehicle, which carries most equipment. This can be organized
independently by groups of cyclists or commercial holiday companies. These companies sell places on
guided tours, including booked lodging, luggage transfers, route planning and often meals and rental bikes.
Day touring
These rides vary highly in their size of the group (from solo cyclists, group rides, to large organized rides
with hundreds to thousands of riders), in their length (from a few miles to Century rides of 100 miles — or
longer), in their purpose (from riding for pleasure to raising money for a charitable organization) and in
their methods of support (from self -supported day rides, to organized rides where cyclists pay for support
or accommodations provided by event organizers — including rest and refreshment stops, marshalling to
aid safety, and SAG service.
S240 - Sub-24hour-Overnight
The Sub-24hour-Overnight is focussed less on the cycling and more on the camping. Typically, one would
depart on their bicycle in the late afternoon or evening, ride to a campsite in a few hours, camp, sleep, and
ride home the next morning. The beauty of this is that it requires very little planning or time commitment.
If one lives in a large urban metropolis, this sort of trip might also be extended, taking a train or coach to
get to a more convenient starting point, and may in fact take a lot longer than 24 hours, making it a
weekend tour, but it otherwise still works on the same planning principals.
Touring bike
Main article: Touring bicycle
Cycle touring beyond the range of a day trip may need a bike capable of
carrying heavy loads. Although many different bicycles can be used,
specialist touring bikes are built to carry appropriate loads and to be
ridden more comfortably over long distances. A typical bicycle would
have a longer wheelbase for stability and heel clearance, frame fittings for
front and rear pannier racks, additional water bottle mounts, frame fittings
for front and rear mudguards/fenders, a broader range of gearing to cope
with the increased weight, and touring tires which are wider and more
puncture -resistant.
"Ultralight tourers" choose traditional road bicycles or "Audax bicycles"
for speed and simplicity. However, these bikes are harder to ride on
unmade roads, which may limit route options. For some, the advantages
of a recumbent bicycle are particularly relevant to touring.
To lessen the weight carried on the bicycle, or increase luggage capacity,
touring cyclists may use bicycle trailers.
For a "supported" rider, luggage carrying is not important and a wider
range of bicycle types may be suitable depending on the terrain.
See also
■ Audax (cycling)
• Bicycle safety
• Challenge riding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_touring
Fully loaded touring recumbent
Two -wheel trailer
12/4/2012
F BICYCLING IN COL
Summary of Findings
Total economic benefit from bicycling in Colorado is over $1 billion annually
Manufacturing
Total annual revenue $763 million
513 FTEs
- Annual payroll $18.1 million
- Average salary $35,326
Retail
Total annual sales and service revenue $200 million
- $120 million on new bicycles
- $55 million on bicycling accessories
- $25 million on repair and maintenance
700 FTEs
- Annual payroll $16 million
Bike Shops
Total annual sales and service revenue $80 million
Total annual bicycle rental revenue $1 million
448 FTEs
- Annual payroll $11 million
- Average salary $25,000
vii
Tourism
Bicycling at Colorado Ski Areas
Total revenue by cycling tourists at CO resorts is between $141 million and $193 million
Number of tourists engaged in bicycling 699,000 (just over 50% of all summer
visitors)
70% of these bicycling tourists were from out of state
103 FTEs employed to promote bicycling and provide bicycling goods and services
- Annual payroll $3.9 million
7,500 FTEs in summer only positions
- Annual payroll $40 million
Potential loss of revenue
Of the 699,000 tourists engaged in bicycling 276,400 indicated they would have altered
their vacation destination if bicycling were not available.
- Total revenue from these bicyclists is $56 million to $76 million
Nearly 10% of Colorado households report taking a bicycle vacation in CO in the past 12 months
Total annual revenue $48 million
755 FTEs
- Annual payroll $10 million
Other Revenue Generators
Bicycle Tours $640,000
Racing $2 million
Charity Rides $3.4 million
Viii
THE ECONO
IMPACT OF BICYCLING
OLORADO
Introduction
This report provides statistical information regarding the economic impact of bicycling in
Colorado, and documents bicycling behaviors and attitudes of residents of Colorado. This
information can be used to inform policymakers of the importance of bicycling both economically
and as a mode of transportation and means of recreation for Colorado residents. Analyses of these
data also provide insight into the factors that prevent Coloradans from bicycling, and improvements
that can be made to facilitate bicycling as a means of transportation.
Beginning in the Fall 1998, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) contracted
with the Center for Research in Economic and Social Policy (CRESP) at the University of Colorado
— Denver, to conduct phone and mail surveys of bicycle manufacturers, retail bicycle shops, and
ski resort operators in Colorado. This information is used to summarize the impact of bicycling on
the Colorado economy in the form of production, sales, jobs, income and tax revenue. In Spring
1999, CDOT and CRESP sent nearly 40,000 surveys to randomly selected Colorado households
(see Appendix I of the technical report for details regarding sample selection and weighting
procedures). The nearly 6,000 completed surveys provide a wide range of information regarding
bicycling behavior, attitudes and preferences. (The survey instrument is included as Appendix II
of the technical report.)
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BICYCLING IN COLORADO
By conducting surveys of bicycle manufacturers, retails shops, ski resorts and other bicycle -
related organizations and Colorado households, we have assessed the impact ofbicycling in Colorado
in the form of expenditures, production, employment, income and tax revenues. We highlight the
economic impact of bicycle manufacturing, retail sales and tourism in this summary. There is a
1
brief discussion of other affects of bicycling on the Colorado economy. Additional detail is'available
in the technical report.
Manufacturing
In 1998, nearly thirty companies in Colorado were engaged in the production of bicycles
and/or bicycle -related products such as bicycle components, accessories and clothing. These
companies reported annual revenues from the sale of bicycle related products of $762.7 million in
1998. The production and sales of these products adds 513 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs annually
with a payroll of $18.1 million.
The image of Colorado as a cycling community prompted many companies to locate in the
state. Over 40 percent indicated that their company had located in Colorado because of the
characteristics of state residents. Specifically, firms indicated that the "proximity to bicycle
customers," the "great cycling community," and the "athletic lifestyle" of Colorado residents was
the primary reason for their location decision.
Purchases of bicycles and bicycle -related products
Results from our household survey indicate that annual expenditures on bicycles and bicycle -
related products by Coloradans totaled just over $200 million dollars. Of this total, $120 million
was spent purchasing bicycles, nearly $25 million was spent on repairs and maintenance, and the
remaining $55 million was spent on bicycle accessories.
Coloradans are most likely to purchase a bicycle from sporting goods and bicycle specialty
shops. Nearly half of all bicycles are purchased from these stores. The average price of a bicycle
purchased at a sporting goods or bicycle shop is $619, higher than those purchased from most
other sources. Therefore, bicycles purchased from sporting goods and bicycle specialty shops
2
account for 79 percent of all bicycle expenditures. Discount stores and department stores combined
sold nearly 30 percent of all bicycles bought by Colorado households, but the average price of
bicycles from these outlets is significantly lower ($95 and $120 per bicycle, respectively), and as a
result they received only 8 percent of the total dollars spent on bicycles. Small proportions of
bicycles are purchased from toy stores (9 percent of bicycles sold, 2 percent of expenditures) and
mail order sources (1 percent of bicycles representing 3.5 percent of expenditures). Five percent of
bicycles are purchased from friends, at an average price of $172 per bicycle (not including any
bicycles received from a friend at no cost). The remaining 4 percent of bicycles were purchased
from other sources including more informal purchases such as from classified advertisements,
garage sales, and second-hand stores.
These expenditures contribute to the Colorado economy by creating jobs and income.
The $200 million of bicycle -related retail and product sales generates 700 FTE jobs with an annual
payroll of $16 million.
Table 1. Distribution of Bicycle Purchases by Type of Retail Outlet.
Type of Retail Outlet
Fraction of
Bicycles Sold
Fraction of
Bicycle
Expenditures
Average Bicycle
Price
General Sporting Good Store/
Bicycle Specialty Shop
49.8%
79.0%
$619
Discount Store
16.6%
4.0%
$95
Department Store
13.2%
4.1%
$120
Toy Store
9.4%
1.9%
$79
Mail Order -
1.4%
3.5%
$987
Friend
5.3%
2.3%
$172
Other
4.4%
5.1%
$448
3
Bicycle Specialty Shops
There are over 150 bicycle specialty shops located in Colorado. There are also a few large
mail-order business that sell bicycles. We surveyed all of the mail-order businesses, and 40 percent
of the retail shops in the state. Using these data we estimate the annual sales, employment and
types of bicycle retail activity in the state of Colorado.
Of the $200 million in total expenditures on bicycles and bicycle -related products reported
by Colorado households, $80 million in sales is reported by bicycle specialty shops and mail-order
outlets. (It should be noted that some of the mail-order bicycles were purchased by customers
outside of Colorado). These shops report selling approximately 50,000 bicycles in 1998. One
million dollars in revenue was generated from bicycle rentals at these shops.
Bicycle specialty shops and mail-order bicycle companies report total annual employment
of 448 FTE workers in Colorado. The total payroll for these workers is $11 million.
Figure 1 summarizes the annual revenue, and employment and payroll from the
manufacturing and retail sales of bicycles and bicycle -related products in Colorado. Bicycle
manufacturers in Colorado report $763 million in revenue and employ 513 FTE at a payroll of $18
million. Total retail sales in the state are $200 million annually, supporting the employment of 700
FTE earning $16 million. Of this total, bicycle specialty shops account for $80 million in revenue,
448 FTE and $11 million in payroll. $200 million in retail bicycle sales is slightly higher than the
total retail sales of motorcycles in Colorado, and about 20% less than total retail sales of recreational
vehicles in the state.
4
Figure 1
Economic Impact of Bicycle Manufacturing and Retail. Sales
$800°0'00 $763,000,000
$700,000,000
$600,000,000
$500,000,000
cv
0
o $400,000,000
$300,000,000
$200,000,000
$100,000,000
�a��
cJ
ca J
N
otia`e eros rof'
oQ5 eNaJ ���e
tea\ yr �e
�e
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
$11,000,000
0
ae°J0 5 /:e"ago\
ce oQ eQ
�0 4' 69
5 o a,� kyr
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CO. 5
Number of Full Time Equivilent Employees
Bicycle -related Tourism
Tourism in an important part of the Colorado economy and outdoor activities play an
important role in choosing Colorado as a tourist destination. We conducted a survey of Colorado
ski area resort companies and Chambers of Commerce to assess the impact of bicycling tourists on
summer revenues at the ski areas. We also obtained information from our household survey regarding
bicycle -related vacations taking in and out of state.
Summer Bicycling in the Ski Areas
The ski areas have become some of the most lucrative tourist attractions in the state,
accounting for over one-third of overnight tourist spending in Colorado (Longwoods International,
5
1998; Runyan and Associates 1998)'. To accommodate the visitors generated by this sport, many
mountain areas in Colorado have invested in ski, lifts, mountain maintenance, lodging, restaurants,
and facilities for entertainment and other visitor activities. Heavily utilized during the ski season,
these facilities were unused or underused in warm -weather months; and many resort towns have
responded by promoting summer activities. A report prepared by Colorado Ski Country U.S.A.
identifies the summer recreational activities provided in many of Colorado's resort towns. As the
most frequently mentioned recreational activity available (along with fishing and golfing), ninety
percent of the resorts surveyed by Colorado Ski Country U.S.A. indicated that visitors could engage
in mountain biking in the summer. However, retail facilities are not always available to support
these activities. The same report indicates that there are no bicycle rental shops in 20 percent of the
resorts and only slightly over half of the resorts allow bicycles on their lifts.
Our survey of ski resort operators and towns indicated that 699,000 visitors traveled to
Colorado mountain resorts in 1998 and participated in bicycling activities. Approximately 70 percent
of these bicyclists came to resort towns from out-of-state. Tourists who engaged in bicycling
during their vacation at a Colorado resort spent between $141 and $193 million dollars. Of the
699,000 who bicycled during their stay, 276,400 were attracted primarily by the availability of
bicycling. Our estimates of the total vacation expenditures by these bicyclists range from nearly
$56 million dollars to just over $76 million dollars. These estimates reflect direct expenditures
only on bicycling.
These expenditures on bicycling create jobs for those who provide these goods and services.
Direct bicycle -related employment consists of those individuals who provide bicycle rental, sales
1 Longwoods International, 1998. Travel and Tourism in Colorado: A Report on the 1997 Travel Year. Prepared for the
Colorado Tourism Board and the Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority.
Dean Runyan and Associates, 1998. Colorado Travel Impacts: 1997. Prepared for the Colorado Tourism Board and
the Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority.
6
and repairs, those who operate the lift for bicycle riders, those who are employed to organize
bicycle events, and those who are employed to deal directly in other ways with bicycle riders in
resort towns. Responses from resort ownership, chambers of commerce, event organizers and
retail bicycle establishments provide the employment and payroll informationsummarized here.
The nine resorts reporting bicycle activity indicate that 65 full-time summer employees (21.6 full -
year FTE) are engaged in providing direct bicycle -related services to visitors. Payroll for these
employees during the summer season when they provide these services is $531,000.
Retail bicycle shops located in the resorts also provide direct bicycle -related employment.
We surveyed 31 shops in the resort areas (both specialty shops and locations of chain sporting
goods stores) that account for over 75 percent of the resort bicycle shops. We estimate that retail
shops in resort towns in Colorado employ 82 FTE at a payroll of $3 million.
Visitor Expenditures and Employment in the Colorado Ski Areas
Tourists engaged in bicycling create employment not just because there are workers needed
to provide bicycle -related services, but also because these tourists require other goods and services
as well. This is a measure of the indirect bicycle related employment. In the section above, total
spending by tourists engaged in bicycling was estimated to fall between $141 million and $193
million each summer.
The midpoint of the lower- and upper -bound expenditure estimates is $167 million. These
expenditures are estimated to support the employment of 2,488 year-long (FTE) or 7,465 summer -
only individuals earning a total of approximately $39.4 million.
7
Bicycle Advertising by Ski Resorts
Most of the resorts have recognized the importance of encouraging summer visitors and
have large advertising budgets to attract these tourists. Total expenditures on advertising that
specifically promoted bicycling were $316,000 for the 1998 summer season. Average spending on
the promotion of bicycling per resort is slightly less than $40,000 per summer season. This includes
one resort that reported no expenditures in 1998 but indicated that they were developing a campaign
and budget for future years.
Bicycle -Related Vacation Spending by Colorado Residents
To capture bicycle -related vacation spending in areas other than ski resorts, we surveyed
Colorado households to gather information on any vacations they may take (both in-state and
outside of Colorado) that are related to bicycling. Nearly 10 percent of Colorado households
indicated that they had taken a bicycle -related vacation within Colorado in the past 12 months.
Among those households who did, the typical household spent $360 per vacation. Spending on
bicycle -related vacations within Colorado totaled $48 million dollars over the past 12 months. (It
should be noted that these expenditures include those that Coloradoans make on bicycle -related
vacations at the ski resorts).
These vacation expenditures also generate jobs for Colorado employees. Specifically, $48 million
of vacation spending creates 755 FIE jobs for workers who supply goods and services for vacationers.
These 755 employees earn approximately $10 million in income as a result of these expenditures.
Though not providing a direct impact on the Colorado economy, our survey also provides
information on bicycle related vacations that Colorado residents take outside the state. Just under
5 percent of Colorado households indicated that they had taken an out of state bicycle trip and on
average spent $950 per trip.
Summer vacationers in Colorado often bike in the high country. As shown in figure 2,
nearly $167 million is spent by vacationers who bicycle in Colorado ski areas. This spending
creates over $39 million in income for 2488 FTE employees, both in the retail bicycle or bicycle
service industries and in industries that provide general services to tourists. Nearly 70 percent of
the visitors to these mountain towns are from out of state. Total vacation spending by Coloradans is
$48 million per year. This supports 755 FTE at a payroll of $10 million. There is some bicycle -related
tourism that is not included in our calculations. Specifically, out-of-state tourists who bicycle, but do
not visit Colorado ski areas are not part of our vacation estimates.
Figure 2
Economic Impact of Bicycle Related Vacations
$180,000,000
$160,000,000
$140,000,000
$120,000,000
$100,000,000
0 $80,000,000
$60,000,000
$40,000,000
$20,000,000
$0
$167,000,000
Ski Areas
Expenditure
Ski Areas
FTE
Ski Areas
Payroll
Expenditures FTE Generated Payroll
on bicycle by bicycle Generated by
Vacations by Vacations by bicycle Related
Coloradans Coloradans Vacations by
Coloradans
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
Number of Full Time Equivilent Employees
9
Other Sources of Economic Impact
The presence of bicycling in Colorado is evident in other ways. Both in-state residents and
out-of-state tourists participate in a variety of off-road and road and track bicycling events as well
as charity rides in Colorado. Companies that book bicycle tours throughout the state report $640,000
in annual revenue from 3,400 tour participants. The majority of these riders are reported to come
from out-of-state. Bicyclists spend additional revenue on off road and road and track races. Riders
typically belong to a racing club and pay membership fees and must also pay race registration fees.
Association officials estimate approximately 10% of race riders come from outside of Colorado.
These participants are estimated to spend $1.6 million in additional spending at race locations.
Coloradans also are active participants in bicycle rides that raise money for charities. Approximately
22,000 riders rode in charity events in 1999, paying $1.2 million in race fees. These races generated
nearly $2.2 million in pledges and donations for the sponsoring charity.
Figure 3
Expenditures on Various Bicycle Activities
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
a�
1
$1,000,000
n.
x
W
$500,000
$0
10
$2,200,000
Activity
Bicycle
tours
Race Fees
and
Memberships
Expenditures
by Race
Participants
Registration
Fees for
Charity Rides
Pledges from
Charity Rides