"States find older cyclists a boon to local economies"

[happyslug]

2. I tried it again, and reopened for me, here are four paragraphs from the article (DU restriction)

Other states are pursuing similar strategies. In September, Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper declared that Colorado would spend $100 million over four years to make itself “the best state for biking in the country.” Washington, ranked the most bike-friendly state for eight consecutive years by the League of American Bicyclists, in July committed more than $500 million in state and federal funds over 16 years for biking and walking projects. Also this summer Florida approved $25 million annually to connect bicycle paths around the state into a new, statewide network.

“Biking can be such a positive force, and I think being the best biking state is going to fuel economic growth and tourism,” Mr. Hickenlooper said. “It’s going to lead us toward a cleaner environment, and it’s going to help us be the healthiest state in America.”

Touring cyclists, who tend to be older and wealthier, are especially valuable to a state’s economic health. They stay in smaller towns and support locally-owned bed-and-breakfasts, motels, cafes, craft breweries and shops. Other tourists tend to patronize national chains, economic analyses have found.

In Montana, which welcomes about half a million bicycle tourists a year, “it was an eye-opener that bicycle tourists spent more” than other tourists, said Norma Polovitz Nickerson, director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.

I liked the last comment " “it was an eye-opener that bicycle tourists spent more” than other tourists", of course, bicyclist can not carry that much food or water, and thus must buy it on the way and then in small amounts at higher prices. Gasoline sales do not bring that much money into the local economy, unlike water and prepared food, which involved a lot of local input. Every so many days, bikers like to take a shower, so Motels see a boom. No big money, no large single purchases, but a lot of small purchases that when you add up is more profitable to the locals then someone traveling in an RV with most of those items purchased at home or provided by the RV.