Insights from RG Strategic
Tourism and Town Planning Impacts of Cycling in the Community
Share
Posted October 25, 2021
Tourism & Events, Town Planning
An estimated 5.8 million Australian adults, or 29% of people aged between 18 and 90, spent money on cycling-related goods or services in 2020 alone.
That is one of the findings in a new report released this month by WeRide.
The report also found a spend of $1.2b on cycle tourism in 2020.
In 2020, WeRide, an independent national voice for cycling in Australia, commissioned Ernst & Young (E&Y) to conduct a study estimating the economic contribution of the cycling economy to Australia.
The report on this study – The Australian Cycling Economy: Estimating the size and scope of the Australian Cycling Economy in 2020 – has now been released.
As an avid cyclist, Chair of the Australian Cycling Academy, and an advocate for and active supporter of cycling events in our local area – including the Noosa Enduro – I welcome this report.
This is the first time Governments, wholesalers, retailers, bicycle-related organisations, and organisers and promotors of cycling events can gain insight into cycling and its impact on the economy.
What are Some Key Takeaways from the Report?
Overall there are some big numbers in the report. In 2020 the Australian cycling economy was estimated to have contributed $6.3 billion in direct industry output, including 34,295 direct full-time jobs.
The biggest surprise for us was that E&Y found that the economic contribution estimates of the Australian Cycling economy (estimated at $3.4b outranked the Australian Motorsport Industry (at $1b) and was equivalent to the Australian thoroughbred racing industry also at $3.4b.
On direct expenditure, bicycle purchases ranked the highest for contribution at $1.57b, but expenditure on bicycle-related tourism and services was a close second at $1.17b. This figure doesn’t factor in things like event entry fees or NRS teams.
Of cyclists who cycle at least once a month, 12% did so for mass cycling events, and another 11% did so for amateur or club races.
When you consider that 29% of the Australian adult population spent money on cycling in 2020, we start to get an impression of the size of the market for well organised, professional and accessible events.
Town Planning Impacts of Cycling in the Community
The report also found that the most significant impact local government can make to increase the number of trips undertaken by cyclists is the investment in bikeways in urban areas.
55% of people who rode at least once a fortnight would take two additional trips if government took action on this initiative. People who rode once a month would increase their trips by at least one trip.
The two equal second biggest investments to increase trips taken by cyclists was 1) more dedicated of-road and cycle trails, and 2) better connected separated bike paths to transport hubs or activity hubs.
Indirect Economic Benefits
Economically speaking, the numbers in the report focus on the direct, positive impact on the economy by the industry. The report does not consider other indirect benefits that cycling contributes to, including health and well-being, reducing congestion, and providing sustainable transport options. These benefits all have a significant impact on government expenditure on health, and roads and transport options.
Read more in the downloadable PDF version of The Australian Cycling Report.
Local, State or National Event Support
RG Strategic has extensive event management experience, especially when it comes to cycling events. We can support your event or organisation with event feasibility and alignment with local and regional branding, business plans, operational planning, infrastructure, budgeting support and much more.
Feel free to contact us to discuss your event needs today.
We engaged Russell Green and RG Strategic Town Planners to navigate us through our past approvals for liquor licence, food premises and town planning. The teams experience in understanding Councils processes demonstrated to us a thorough and intimate knowledge of development planning and liquor licence requirements. Coupled with this, their network of connections which run deep through all tiers of government and industry. Experience, knowledge, and connections allows RG Strategic and Russell Green to stand head and shoulders above the mob of development planners on the Sunshine Coast and I cannot highly recommend them more.
Pete Thomas
Would Recommend Russell and his Team for any of your Liquor Licensing needs. Use RG Strategic.
Scott & Jenny Davy
Valued Assistance With Town Planning. We experienced considerable difficulty with the construction of a new home on realising the builder of the neighbouring house had constructed a fence and retaining wall that resulted in an encroachment onto our property. The encroachment meant our building plan could subsequently not fit within the house site profile. Despite extensive discussions and negotiations with the neighbour's builder, the matter was unable to be resolved by ourselves. Accordingly, we desperately needed assistance and having dealt with Russell Green, from RG Strategic, in a similar instance, with extremely satisfactory results, we had no hesitation in contacting Russell to draw on his extensive Town Planning expertise and his working relationship with our local Council. At all times we found him to be courteous, understanding, diligent and expedient. There is no doubt in our mind that without his wonderful assistance this matter would have been prolonged more than was the case and perhaps not resolved at all.
Christyne Irving
A very pleasing experience working with Russell and his team at RG Strategic. We achieved just the outcome we desired for our application to Noosa Council. Russell and his team are a pleasure to work with, timely in their responsiveness, and authoritative and persuasive in the proposal they prepared on our behalf. We are happy to recommend RG Strategic.
Greg Yeatman