We’re already big fans of biking infrastructure, and now a new report, “Estimating the Employment Impacts of Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Road Infrastructure,” reveals that pedestrian and bicycle projects create twice as many jobs per dollar spent than regular road projects. The study, which focused on Baltimore, says, “pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects create 11-14 jobs per $1 million of spending while road infrastructure projects create approximately 7 jobs per $1 million of expenditures.”
In fact, more indirect jobs were also created by bike projects than road upgrades. “$1 million in spending on pedestrian projects creates 11.3 jobs. Six of these jobs are directly created in the construction and engineering industries,” the study found. “An additional 2.2 jobs are indirectly created in industries such as concrete manufacturing and sign manufacturing. Further, 3.1 jobs in retail, healthcare, and food services are created through the induced effect. Thus a total of 11.3 jobs result from the initial $1 million pedestrian project.”
Similarly, every $1 million spent on biking infrastructure creates 7.9 direct jobs and a total of 14.4 indirect and induced jobs.
Bulls$*%, if that were the case than private companies would be building bike infrastructure out the wazoo for their employees to cater to a mass market, instead they only cater to a niche. Baltimore for instance, private sector groups can build bike parking and cycle facilities by themselves, for themselves. This video shows the attempt in Wichita to spur development (most of which is non-automobile oriented) at the expense of the public. It’s just as relevant for Baltimore, notice in the video he states simply building a bike path is of little importance. Even though he is a cycle lover. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDjLJY6q6yY
What is bull? All the study says is that bike and pedestrian projects create more jobs than road projects. That’s because “Projects such as footway repairs and bike lane signing and painting are labor intensive – they use a high ratio of labor to materials in comparison to projects such as road repairs, which spend a greater proportion of their total project budget on materials.”
Also, what do you mean by cater to a mass market? You think they should create toll bike lanes? This isn’t a business, it’s public service…
Why not, were talking about a cheap toll. Not so much a toll as a suggested donation. The raised funds can act as a trust to insure maintenance for years and private money for expansion if need. Using public funds in a tight economy that would be better spent elsewhere. An organization with an endowment and property ownership can do as they please to said bike lane. And hopefully the loyal bike lovers will raise the capital. Even the CATO institute offers bike parking and showers to employees with it’s building expansion.
Youre a real deep thinker. Thanks for sharnig.
That saves me. Thanks for being so ssenible!