Biking and Walking Supports 1,400 Jobs in Vermont

From Local Motion

We intuitively know that walking and bicycling are good for Vermont's economy, health and quality of life -- but now we have more data to back up this assertion.  In 2012, the State of Vermont completed an economic impact study of walking and bicycling.  

Click here to watch the 9 minute video or download the full report.

Key findings from 2009 include:

• Building Pedestrian & Bike Facilities Creates Jobs:  The State, Towns and others spend $9.8M / year on bicycle & pedestrian infrastructure and programs -- generating a statewide employment of 233 direct and indirect workers with a payroll of 9.9M.


• Running & Biking Events Bring Attract 16,000 Participants:The 40 major running and bicycling events attracted over 16,000 participants.  Combined with family and friends, they spent over $6M in Vermont.  This spending supports 160 workers with $4.7M in labor earnings.


• Outdoor Businesses Have Sales Over $37M:  Bicycle and pedestrian oriented businesses generated $37.8 million in output and directly employed 820 workers with $18.0 million in labor earnings. These bicycle/pedestrian businesses further generate $18.5 million in output and support another 205 jobs with $8.3 million in payroll.


• Walking & Biking Support 1,400 Jobs in VT: Combining the three categories above results in a total 2009 economic contribution of $82.7 million in output, and over 1,400 jobs with $40.9 million in labor earnings (wages and salaries plus proprietor income).


• Walking and Biking Save People & the State Money:Preliminary results suggest that avoided consumer costs (saving gas, wear and tear on vehicles, etc) are approximately $43 million and avoided public costs (reducing need to build wider roads, etc) are approximately $42 million.


• Walkable Neighborhoods = Higher Home Values: In the more urban parts of Vermont, homes located in a walkable neighborhoods adds $6,500 to the value of a home compared to one in a car-dependent area, suggesting a statewide increase of approximately $350 million to home values attributable to walkability.

 

Thank you to the Vermont Agency of Transportationfor initiating and funding this study.

The consultant team on the project included Resource Systems Group, Economic and Policy Resources,Local Motion and Peregrine Productions.

For more information, contact:

Jon Kaplan, Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Mgr.
Vermont Agency of Transportation

Telephone: (802) 828-0059
Fax: (802) 828-5712
E-mail address:  Jon.Kaplan@state.vt.us