Please pass on to anyone who might be interested.
A scope of services was just posted on the MDOT website for a study on
the Economic Impacts of Bicycling in Michigan.
The closing date is December 10.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdot/MDOT_RFP_SS_REQ1080_posted_404288
_7.pdf
The Michigan Department of Transportation has determined that a report
is necessary which quantifies the economic impacts and health benefits
of bicycling on Michigan's economy. The
bicycle is used for transportation, exercise, and recreation by people
across the state regardless of age and socio-economic status. All across
the state from Marquette in the Upper Peninsula to downtown Detroit to
the small southwestern Michigan town of South Haven, residents of these
communities use the bicycle for transportation purposes, while visitors
travel to these communities to bicycle. It is also known that people
travel to Michigan with their bicycle from other states and use for both
recreation and transportation.
Whether it is bicycle lanes in urban areas, paved shoulders in rural
areas, a rail-trail connecting communities, the presence of a U.S.
Bicycle Route, or an ice cream or bicycle shop; the relative
benefits and availability of bicycle facilities and services can
influence bicycling in a community. MDOT seeks to develop a report which
summarizes a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative
assessment of economic and community benefits attributed to the
provision of bicycle facilities and services. These benefits can include
employment, attraction of new business, increases in existing
business activity, increases in property values, visitor spending,
education, tourism, congestion mitigation, safety, environmental
benefits, capital projects, etc..