Bicycle tourism is a form of eco-tourism that supports local communities, businesses, and economies because of the slow pace of bicycle travelers and the frequent need for services like food and lodging. Bicycle travelers stay longer in a region and spend up to 40% more than the average motorized tourist. Active tourism is growing in popularity and bicycle tourism accounts for $83 billion in spending in the U.S. each year, according to a new study by the Outdoor Industry Association.

In many of California’s disadvantaged rural communities, bicycle tourism represents an opportunity for economic development that favors locally-owned businesses where the proceeds remain in the hands of the local community.

CalBike and the Tuolumne County Transportation Commission are collaborating with the county governments in Alpine, Calaveras, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties on an exciting project to leverage the region’s incredible opportunity for bike tourism to benefit the economies of the region’s disadvantaged communities. Our goal is to improve the roads for bicycling while supporting the economy to create jobs and reduce the region’s unemployment rate which is currently five points higher than the state average.

These five counties are set to see safer roads for residents and tourists alike thanks to a CalBike project supported by a Caltrans Sustainable Communities grant.