1. Citations on Economic Benefits of Walkability & Bike-ability
In communities that have changed infrastructure to promote walking and biking options for physical activity
Compiled by the National Physical Activity Society, September 2017

2. About this Slide Set
Each of the following slides is a pull quote or data point from documentation of walkability infrastructure changes affecting a sector of the economy, trail system, city, or state.
The slide format has been used to separate items and their references from others.
References and links to original material are included.
Titles are key words.
The intended use is to illustrate reports or presentations, as needed.
Compiled in September 2017 by the National Physical Activity Society for the CDC DNPAO Physical Activity & Health Branch under subcontract agreement through McKing project #NPAS

3. Bike/Walk, Trails $53.9 million in direct economic impact
In Vermont, cycling- and pedestrian-related activities were associated with
$53.9 million in direct economic impact
$27.8 million in earnings
1,095 jobs
Economic Impact of Bicycling and Walking in Vermont. (2012) Prepared by Resource Systems Group, Inc, Economic and Policy Resources, Inc, and Local Motion for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
/wp- content/uploads/Trail_Study_84- bicycling-walking-vermont.pdf

4. Bike/Walk, Trails
In Vermont, cycling and pedestrian businesses are associated with
$37.8 million in direct economic impact
$18.0 million in earnings
820 jobs
These represent roughly 70 percent of total economic impacts.
Economic Impact of Bicycling and Walking in Vermont. (2012) Prepared by Resource Systems Group, Inc, Economic and Policy Resources, Inc, and Local Motion for the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
-content/uploads/Trail_Study_84- bicycling-walking-vermont.pdf

5. Trails
In the Traverse City, Michigan, area the Vasa Pathway contributes more than $2.6 million in direct spending to the regional economy annually—in events alone.
The Vasa Effect: Non-Motorized Use of the Vasa Pathway: A Case Study of Economic Impacts (2014). Avenue ISR for the Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails (TART).
mic-impact-study/

6. Real Estate On Octavia Boulevard,
Increase in home values (average of ~$118,00 per unit)
Trendy restaurants and high- end boutiques replaced liquor stores and mechanic shop
Condominium prices grew from 66% of San Francisco average prices to 91% of city average
Project for Public Spaces, Rightsizing Streets Case Studies. (2013). “Octavia Boulevard: Creating a Vibrant Neighborhood from a Former Freeway” in San Francisco, CA.

7. Real Estate
One WalkScore point translates into an increase to a home price by an average of $3,250 (2016).
“How Much Does ‘Walkability’ Affect Home Prices?” The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 3, 2016) and “How Much Is a Point of Walk Score Worth?” Redfin (Aug. 3, 2016)
daily-news/2016/08/04/how- walkability-can-boost-home- values

8. Bike/Walk
Research by the Alliance for Bicycling and Walking shows that customers who bike to a store typically buy less in a single visit than people who drive, but they return more often and spend more overall per month.
Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 6.
content/uploads/ULI- Documents/Active- Transportation-and-Real-Estate- The-Next-Frontier.pdf
Alliance for Biking and Walking has merged into another organization. The original report is here: c85cf56_0tm6vjeuo.pdf

9. Figure from: Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 7.

10. Bike/Walk
A San Francisco State University study found that when the city of San Francisco reduced car lanes and installed bike lanes and wider sidewalks on Valencia Street, two-thirds of merchants said the increased levels of bicycling and walking improved business. Only 4 percent said the changes hurt sales.
Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 7.
content/uploads/ULI- Documents/Active- Transportation-and-Real-Estate- The-Next-Frontier.pdf

11. Bike/Walk
The Salt Lake City Department of Transportation found that replacing parking with protected bike lanes increased retail sales.
In the first 6 months of the next year, retail sales were up 8.8% over the first 6 months of the previous year (compared with a citywide increase of 7%).
After the changes, 59% of business owners said they supported the street improvements, while only 18% opposed them.
Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 6.
content/uploads/ULI- Documents/Active- Transportation-and-Real-Estate- The-Next-Frontier.pdf
A general street upgrade had removed 30% of on-street parking from 9 blocks of the major commercial street, but improved crosswalks and sidewalks and added protected bike lanes.

12. Bike/Walk, Trails
A North Carolina Department of Transportation study found that a one-time investment of $6.7 million for a network of bike lanes in the Outer Banks has yielded an annual 9-to-1 return on investment, thanks to increased bicycle tourism.
Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 8.
content/uploads/ULI- Documents/Active- Transportation-and-Real-Estate- The-Next-Frontier.pdf

13. Trails
In the United States, a study of the Great Allegheny Passage trail in Pennsylvania and Maryland found that businesses along the trail attribute 30% of their gross revenues to the trail, and close to half of the surveyed businesses said that the trail was a significant factor in their decisions to expand.
Urban Land Institute: Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier. (2016). Washington, D.C. Page 8.
content/uploads/ULI- Documents/Active- Transportation-and-Real-Estate- The-Next-Frontier.pdf

14. Complete Streets, Bike/Walk, Real Estate
Eight of ten Complete Streets projects showed increased values for properties near the improved areas.
On Edgewater Drive, in Orlando, FL, adjacent property values rose 80%
In Dubuque, IA, property values increased 111%.
“Safer Streets, Stronger Economies: Complete Streets Project Outcomes from Around the Country” Smart Growth America, March 2015.
a.org/app/legacy/documents/saf er-streets-stronger- economies.pdf
Report authors acknowledge small number of data points and indicate that while Complete Streets might not be solely responsible for all of the gain, these examples are encouraging.

15. Complete Streets
In West Jefferson, NC, (population 1,305) ten new businesses opened along Jefferson Avenue following the small mountain town’s Complete Streets improvements, adding 55 new jobs.
“Safer Streets, Stronger Economies: Complete Streets Project Outcomes from Around the Country” Smart Growth America, March 2015.
a.org/app/legacy/documents/saf er-streets-stronger- economies.pdf
Report authors acknowledge small number of data points and indicate that while Complete Streets might not be solely responsible for all of the gain, these examples are encouraging.

16. Employer HealthCare Savings
By encouraging their employees to commute by bicycle through 2007– 2011, QBP experienced a 4.4% reduction in employee healthcare costs, saving an estimated $170,000 over a three-year period.
Bicycling and Walking In The United States: Benchmarking Report. Alliance for Bicycling and Walking.
Can be downloaded here: dam/aarp/livable- communities/documents- 2014/2014-Bike-Walk- Benchmarking-Report.pdf

17. Walkable Urbanism
For perhaps the first time in 60 years, walkable urban places (WalkUPs) in all 30 of the largest metros are gaining market share over their drivable suburban competition—and showing substantially higher rental premiums.
Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros. (2016). © The George Washington University School of Business and LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors.
a.org/app/legacy/documents/fo ot-traffic-ahead-2016.pdf

18. Walkable Urbanism, Real Estate
Walkable urban areas command drastically larger rent premiums over suburban spaces, with the ability to charge 90% more for office space, 71% more for retail, and 66% more for multifamily rentals.
Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros. (2016). © The George Washington University School of Business and LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors.
a.org/app/legacy/documents/fo ot-traffic-ahead-2016.pdf
The report defines walkable urban areas as those with high density, more mixed-use real estate, and multiple transportation options.

19. Bike/Walk, Cost Savings
The benefits of modest increases in bicycling and walking in the U.S. would amount to more than $10 billion annually—in gasoline, CO2 emissions, and healthcare savings alone.
Gotschi, T. & Mills, K. (2008). Active Transportation for America: The Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.
urce-library/resources/active- transportation-for-america/

20. Bike/Walk
Schoner, Jessica, Harrison, Andrew, & Wang, Xize. “Sharing to Grow: Economic Activity Associated with Nice Ride Bike Share Stations.” Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN: 2012.
s/catalyst/2012/july/niceride
content/uploads/2015/12/2012_Scho ner-Harrison-and-Wang_Sharing-to- Grow-Economic-Activity-Associated- with-Nice-Ride-Bike-Share- Stations.pdf

21. About NPAS
The National Physical Activity Society (NPAS) is a network of professionals working together to promote physical activity across all sectors of society. We build linkages among our members and build bridges between our members and partners. Our vision is that physical activity is prioritized, embraced, and promoted for everyone in the United States.