Workshop  EC 2, Tuesday 20 June, 14.00 - 15.30

Bicycle Tourism, economic benefits

Paul Downward, Reader, CAST, Staffordshire University, UK Les Lumsdon, Senior Lecturer, CAST, Staffordshire University, UK The Economic Impact of Long Distance Cycle Routes, the North Sea Cycle Route (NSCR) The authors refer to the development of long distance cycle routes during the past decade. While there has been a number of studies evaluating their potential and estimating levels of demand there is little hard data on users and suppliers on such routes and economic benefits that might accrue from their development. It summarizes work currently being undertaken as part of an ongoing research project into the level of impact generated by routes which have tourist potential. The North Cycle Cycle Route, in northern Europe, is discussed as an example.  The paper, however, also refers to business confidence generated by such routes and how this might be measured. To what extent do routes attract new businesses, increase profits of existing businesses or help marginal businesses to survive? This research seeks to offer a response to this question. The authors conclude by setting out a research method for the North Sea Cycle Route, which could be used by route managers to evaluate existing and future business development on such routes. It also points out the necessity of comparing social and environmental impacts of small villages and towns on such routes. A comparative approach across routes would provide useful data for planning the development of networks in the future.

Robert Boivin, Vélo-Québec, Montreal, Canada Group cycling tours: A “business” approach to the promotion of cycling The history of cycling trips is as old as the bicycle itself. However, group cycling tours are a much more recent phenomenon. Since 1994, the Tour de l’Île de Montreal (a branch of Vélo Quebec, which is an associate member of the ECF) has been marketing cycling packages. To date, 18,000 people have taken part in these trips, exploring various regions of Quebec, as well as France, Italy and Cuba. “Les Voyages du Tour de l’Île” first offered these trips only to Canadian travelers, but since 1999 the agency’s products have also been available to other customers. These international marketing initiatives now focus on France and the United States but will gradually be extended to more and more countries. The involvement of the Tour de l’Île de Montreal in cycling tourism is a logical extension of the Tour de l’Île itself, an annual event launched 15 years ago that brings 40,000 cyclists onto the streets of Montreal for one day each spring. The fundamental objective of the creators of the Tour de l’Île was to convince a car-oriented population to cycle more. And over time, an increasing number of the participants in the Tour de l’Île have requested opportunities to cycle on more than just one Sunday a year. For this reason, the organizers of the event have also begun to arrange cycling trips. The speaker will discuss the activities of her travel agency, the economic profile of its clientele and the needs of people who travel by bike. She will explain that to make these group trips possible, the travel industry (transporters, providers of accommodations, government tourist bureaus) must make services available to cyclists, not just to drivers. She will also explain how taking part in these package trips and traveling on roads by bike for extended periods can cause people to modify their everyday transportation habits.

Jaroslav Martinek and Radomira Pliskova, Transport Research Centre, Czech Republic Cycle routes in the Czech Republic Position paper