Recently, an exciting study conducted by the CHANGE program at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at UW-Madison found that bicycling contributes $1.5 billion to Wisconsin's economy every year!

What does a $1.5 billion impact really mean for our local communities and our state?

$1.5 billion means 13,200 bike-related Wisconsin jobs.

It means vibrant, busy main streets filled with residents and tourists, it means job creation and workforce development, it means a high quality of life and it means that investment in a more bicycle friendly Wisconsin pays off.

Sparta, WI, for instance, welcomes 15,500 visiting bicyclists each year thanks to the Elroy Sparta bike trail. The DNR reports that 100,000 people use the trail annually. The Sparta Chamber of Commerce states, "As [Sparta] residents drive by our full parking lots, see vehicles from almost every state in the Union, or see bicyclists downtown eating and shopping, they realize the trail's importance." Sparta is just one of many Wisconsin places where bicycle recreation generates more than $924 million in economic activity.

World-renowned bicycle brands like Trek Bicycle Corporation, Saris Cycling Group, Planet Bike, Pacific Cycles, Waterford Precision Cycles reside in Wisconsin. Hundreds of locally-owned bike shops and bicycle-friendly businesses support the vitality of local economies. Wisconsin bicycle industry adds nearly $600 million annually to our state's economy.

Bicycling in Wisconsin is special and cherished by people from around the world. Smart investments to encourage even more bicycling in Wisconsin will continue to create more jobs, continue to make our state more competitive and continue to create an even more exciting and vibrant Wisconsin.

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