Cycling is good for your health — and Iowa’s economy — according to a new impact study from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition.
Matt Burkey, a spokesman for the Coralville-based organization, says the state’s bike trails have steadily grown to connect more urban centers and rural communities over the past decade.
“We found that recreational riding and bike commuting in Iowa generates over $1 billion for Iowa’s economy,” Burkey says, “and almost one-million Iowans ride a bike annually.”
Burkey says that’s great for the state, in addition to bike tourists who come to Iowa and spend money. Burkey told Linn County supervisors this week that bike trails can be a lifeline for retailers and restaurants in rural communities.
“The town of Ely always comes to mind,” he says. “I remember when I moved to Iowa 15 years ago, Ely was a pretty small town, not a lot going on, and when we got that trail connecting for a safe way to bike from Solon to Ely to Cedar Rapids, that trail usage picked up a lot, and you’ve seen the growth of Ely in the last 10 years.”
The study also found that people who ride are less likely to have poor mental health, certain cancers, or diabetes than people who never hop on a bike.
(By Eliza Billingham, Iowa Public Radio)