Summary and Conclusions
This essay interprets literature analyzing the benefits of bicycling or bicycle facilities. We do so by
discussing the relatively sporadic nature of this body of knowledge (a primary shortcoming of this work is
that it is not cumulative) and other confounding issues inherent to this endeavor. We articulate the
population of interest in most studies, the benefits that are measured, the geographic scale at which they
are measured, and discuss the difficulties involved with varying methodologies. We next review almost
25 studies that attach an assumed or economic benefit to such goods or areas. A main finding of the
review is that studies in different locations use varied data and methodologies to arrive at widely varying
conclusions.
For such information to be useful in policy circles, several actions need to be taken (in addition to
improving data collection efforts). First, the majority of past work has a clear advocacy bent; it is not
always known how and where much of the data is derived. It is unclear from most of the studies if the
available data was analyzed in a completely objective manner. Second, it is important that continued
discussion be most appropriate and useful scale for analysis. The content of this type of work is often
called for in policy discussions. In its current condition, however, it lacks appeal because many of the
studies are conducted at a relatively abstract scale rather than a project scale. For this reason, we suggest
in this paper that benefits be estimated on a municipal (or regional) scale or for even more disaggregate
unites. Finally, there exists considerable room for improving the manner in which these methodologies
are approached. Our intent is to provide the foundation for urging a consistent framework in which
different benefits could be estimated and subsequently compared. If the goal is to implement plans that
systematically integrate or account for such consideration, then such methods and improvements will
ultimately lead to more sound policy decisions and bicycle facility investment.