Active transportation infrastructure currently contributes more than $34.1 billion to the U.S. economy annually, according to a report by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trails organization.
This has the potential of increasing to more than $138.5 billion each year as infrastructure connectivity improves.
The report, Active Transportation Transforms America, examined the impact of trails in communities by aggregating data about mobility, climate protection, and health cost savings.
Other findings in the report include that total local spending on rail-trails could increase from $10.6 billion to as much as $21 billion annually; the health care savings from increased physical activity could increase from $20 billion to nearly $92 billion annually; the fuel savings from making the switch from short car trips to walking and bicycling would increase from $3.3 billion to nearly $22 billion annually; the amount of carbon dioxide could be reduced from 13 million tons to 54 million tons annually; and the return on investment has the potential of increasing from $34.1 billion to $138.5 billion annually.
In the United States, the federal government invests less than 2 percent of funds on bicycle and pedestrian projects, yet 11.5 percent of all trips are made via biking and walking.