Comments on: The economics of bike boulevards: Debunking the myth that bike infrastructure will hurt business http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: amsterdamize http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6560 amsterdamize Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:16:54 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6560 Bicycle infrastructure/provisions is good for business. Correct, proven over and over again in the Netherlands for the last 30 years. When the city of Groningen (in the north of NL, now 60% of all trips by bike) made plans to work towards an almost completely car-free center, that was a bit much even for Dutch shop keepers. After the first year, business had risen by over 30% and quickly increased even further. Obviously, it's now the preferred grid. People on bikes in a bike-friendly commercial area will maybe by less (limited quantity) per trip, but they make up with a higher frequency of shopping and visiting more shops per trip. Bicycle infrastructure/provisions is good for business. Correct, proven over and over again in the Netherlands for the last 30 years. When the city of Groningen (in the north of NL, now 60% of all trips by bike) made plans to work towards an almost completely car-free center, that was a bit much even for Dutch shop keepers. After the first year, business had risen by over 30% and quickly increased even further. Obviously, it’s now the preferred grid. People on bikes in a bike-friendly commercial area will maybe by less (limited quantity) per trip, but they make up with a higher frequency of shopping and visiting more shops per trip.

]]> By: Richard Risemberg http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6501 Richard Risemberg Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:44:54 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6501 Adding traffic calming and bicycle infrastructure has repeatedly proven to benefit local retail. You can see a summary of the syndrome, with links to studies in my article at Bicycle Fixation: http://bicyclefixation.com/bikebucks.html Adding traffic calming and bicycle infrastructure has repeatedly proven to benefit local retail. You can see a summary of the syndrome, with links to studies in my article at Bicycle Fixation: http://bicyclefixation.com/bikebucks.html

]]> By: Shawn Kielty http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6477 Shawn Kielty Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:08:02 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6477 I have a bike, I ride it -- I travel on streets with bike lanes, I shop at places with bike racks, I prefer businesses that support my lifestyle -- so I continue to shop in bike friendly places even when I drive. I have a bike, I ride it — I travel on streets with bike lanes, I shop at places with bike racks, I prefer businesses that support my lifestyle — so I continue to shop in bike friendly places even when I drive.

]]> By: Mari Lynch http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6322 Mari Lynch Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:27:22 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6322 On a bike--especially when there are easy places to lock up my bike nearby (like the 20 bike racks along Monterey's Cannery Row bike path)--I definitely check out businesses more. I stop and connect with the shopkeepers, get to know them more, want to patronize their places more, and of course, I actually see more of what there is to do or buy. The only challenge I see is for those businesses that might feel they'd occasionally lose impulse purchases on items too large for a backpack. However, there are options: more people are using cargo carriers on their bikes all the time though (especially parents with young children). Also, there's the same option many travelers prefer: please ship it to my home. Or, offer to have the customer pay for their item and you can store it for them until they are coming that way by car another day soon. Restaurants and other food service places probably sell more to people traveling by bike! Can't zip home in the car quickly if we're suddenly hungry, and we're burning more calories. And again, we simply notice more yummy places to stop along our bike routes. I enjoy biking the bikepaths here that put me into the business communities more than I'd ever drive there by car. Were it not for wanting to get out and cycle, I'd stay home or do something else; I wouldn't be inclined to just go for an outing in the business district. So yes, bikeways are great for retail shops, restaurants, and many other businesses. I spend a little more, and enjoy spending it more, when I'm biking in my community and relating more closely with business owners here. On a bike–especially when there are easy places to lock up my bike nearby (like the 20 bike racks along Monterey’s Cannery Row bike path)–I definitely check out businesses more. I stop and connect with the shopkeepers, get to know them more, want to patronize their places more, and of course, I actually see more of what there is to do or buy.

The only challenge I see is for those businesses that might feel they’d occasionally lose impulse purchases on items too large for a backpack. However, there are options: more people are using cargo carriers on their bikes all the time though (especially parents with young children). Also, there’s the same option many travelers prefer: please ship it to my home. Or, offer to have the customer pay for their item and you can store it for them until they are coming that way by car another day soon.

Restaurants and other food service places probably sell more to people traveling by bike! Can’t zip home in the car quickly if we’re suddenly hungry, and we’re burning more calories. And again, we simply notice more yummy places to stop along our bike routes.

I enjoy biking the bikepaths here that put me into the business communities more than I’d ever drive there by car. Were it not for wanting to get out and cycle, I’d stay home or do something else; I wouldn’t be inclined to just go for an outing in the business district. So yes, bikeways are great for retail shops, restaurants, and many other businesses.

I spend a little more, and enjoy spending it more, when I’m biking in my community and relating more closely with business owners here.

]]> By: deancruse (Dean Cruse) http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6318 deancruse (Dean Cruse) Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:29:10 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6318 Bike boulevards are good for business. Love this. http://bit.ly/7Z7BWU #fb Bike boulevards are good for business. Love this. http://bit.ly/7Z7BWU #fb

]]> By: keith doane http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6321 keith doane Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:57:45 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6321 Hail to this movement! The bike blvd or pedesterian-based way are the key to the business because there r a default that are deeply embodied inside the human being. The speed of sight through our eyes have not ever been changed for since. Therefore, drive in a vehicle that go fast like 30 MPH go by the businesses strip might be too fast for people to start their tempting to buy something from those business. And by the time, that driver already passed by. That is the art of Coveting( the core of capitalism). FOr that coveting sense. A Vehicle carries less people in this size of vehicle.. Obviously! So bike/pedestrian based blvd actually carries more people in sq feet than vehicles does. Think about the proxemics of human being that influcenced our way of living. It is not that hard to analyize ourselves. With this two little reasons, the business obviously WILL grow. Why do we look at vehicles as "money-carrier". The actual "money-carrier" is people whose carry their wallets/purses w em. Does everyone agree w this? Keith Hail to this movement! The bike blvd or pedesterian-based way are the key to the business because there r a default that are deeply embodied inside the human being.

The speed of sight through our eyes have not ever been changed for since. Therefore, drive in a vehicle that go fast like 30 MPH go by the businesses strip might be too fast for people to start their tempting to buy something from those business. And by the time, that driver already passed by. That is the art of Coveting( the core of capitalism). FOr that coveting sense.

A Vehicle carries less people in this size of vehicle.. Obviously! So bike/pedestrian based blvd actually carries more people in sq feet than vehicles does.
Think about the proxemics of human being that influcenced our way of living. It is not that hard to analyize ourselves.

With this two little reasons, the business obviously WILL grow.

Why do we look at vehicles as “money-carrier”. The actual “money-carrier” is people whose carry their wallets/purses w em.

Does everyone agree w this?
Keith

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6313 elliott Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:53:50 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6313 Jeremy, True, however that area of downtown is a focus for mixed use redevelopment under the draft downtown plan. Creating a sense of place and bike/pedestrian focus complements that. For those legal businesses, the data out there shows traffic calming to have relatively little effect on clients coming to their offices and property values increasing. Jeremy,
True, however that area of downtown is a focus for mixed use redevelopment under the draft downtown plan. Creating a sense of place and bike/pedestrian focus complements that.

For those legal businesses, the data out there shows traffic calming to have relatively little effect on clients coming to their offices and property values increasing.

]]> By: Jeremy http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6308 Jeremy Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:19:03 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6308 Well, I'm a professional type who is a bicycle commuter and who will certainly use the bicycle boulevard and, indeed, I've been more of a drop-in customer at Mellow Johnny's and Mulberry because they're on my route and I pass them every day, but most of the business I pass on Nueces are bail bondsmen and lawyer's offices-- not the kinds of businesses that are likely to garner drop-in business. Well, I’m a professional type who is a bicycle commuter and who will certainly use the bicycle boulevard and, indeed, I’ve been more of a drop-in customer at Mellow Johnny’s and Mulberry because they’re on my route and I pass them every day, but most of the business I pass on Nueces are bail bondsmen and lawyer’s offices– not the kinds of businesses that are likely to garner drop-in business.

]]> By: elliott http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6307 elliott Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:44:28 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6307 Well, I looked for a half day couldn't find any reports that showed negative economic effects of traffic calming so I'm not just reporting the sunnier info. I think the property owners concerns are valid, and they should be told what effect this could have on their land or business. That shouldn't be the sole deciding factor, but it appears the worst this would do is have no effect and probably will increase the value of what they currently have. Well, I looked for a half day couldn’t find any reports that showed negative economic effects of traffic calming so I’m not just reporting the sunnier info. I think the property owners concerns are valid, and they should be told what effect this could have on their land or business. That shouldn’t be the sole deciding factor, but it appears the worst this would do is have no effect and probably will increase the value of what they currently have.

]]> By: M1EK http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/12/22/the-economics-of-bike-boulevards-debunking-the-myth-that-bike-infrastructure-will-hurt-business/comment-page-1/#comment-6306 M1EK Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:34:07 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=8180#comment-6306 Agreed - and if you can convince the business owners that normal people with jobs actually ride their bikes past the business (rather than students or the juvenile-anarchist-brigade-types) in the same numbers as the displaced cut-through drivers, you may make some headway. The problem is that those volumes are difficult to achieve unless the bike boulevard is truly outstanding and the bike traffic in the area that's funneled through it is at really high levels. Personally, I'm fine with it even IF the worst fears of the property owner are true - because the city does not owe a business owner on a street anything other than access to the property in some form. But if you want to use this kind of argument in this effort, I think it's necessary to analyze its potential weaknesses. Agreed – and if you can convince the business owners that normal people with jobs actually ride their bikes past the business (rather than students or the juvenile-anarchist-brigade-types) in the same numbers as the displaced cut-through drivers, you may make some headway. The problem is that those volumes are difficult to achieve unless the bike boulevard is truly outstanding and the bike traffic in the area that’s funneled through it is at really high levels.

Personally, I’m fine with it even IF the worst fears of the property owner are true – because the city does not owe a business owner on a street anything other than access to the property in some form. But if you want to use this kind of argument in this effort, I think it’s necessary to analyze its potential weaknesses.

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