If you’re downtown or at Canal Place over the summer, you’ve probably seen a growing number of out of town bicyclists pedaling through the city. Many stop to get a bite to eat or a cold drink. Little Falls has an opportunity to bring in more bicyclists. According to Bicycling Brings Business (B3), bike tourism is hot and growing:
* Between 2002 and 2008, based on data collected by the Outdoor Foundation, the number of bicycle trips of all kinds made by Americans grew by approximately 100 million.
* According to the U.S. Travel Association, half of all adults in the U.S., some 98 million people, participate in adventure vacations each year, and 27 million Americans have taken a bicycling vacation in the past five years.
* Bicycling is now the third most common vacation activity.
And bicycling tourists spend money:
* Eat – a lot and often; bicycling burns up to 450 calories per hour. It has been said that food is a bicycle’s fuel.
* Drink – again, a lot in order to stay hydrated, but also for pleasure, patronizing everything from lemonade stands to wineries.
* Like to explore – take in the sights, visit museums, art galleries and historic places, and learn about the places they visit.
Little Falls already has a great bike trail and some shops to attract riders, but perhaps we could do more. What about a bicycle shop near the trail, complete with sales, service, and rentals?
You can read more about Bicycles Bring Business by clicking here.
