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The British Cycling Economy: Gross Cycling Product Report (United Kingdom)

This report, released by the London School of Economics in August 2011, shows that cycling generates nearly £3bn a year for the UK economy. The figure takes into account factors such as bicycle manufacturing, cycle and accessory retail and cycle-related employment.

This inaugural Gross Cycling Product report sets out to measure the ‘holistic’ extent of cycling’s contribution to Britain’s economy. Through both primary and secondary sources, cycling’s contribution has been estimated and quantified, in terms of direct sales and supply chain value, and across a spectrum of related indicators, from health to participatory events and workplace benefits.

Commissioned by the broadcaster Sky and British Cycling, the report says that every cyclist in the UK has a "gross cycling product" of £233 annually.

Employing around 23,000 people, the UK cycling sector made a £500m employment contribution in 2010, including more than £100m in income tax and National Insurance contributions last year, the report said. A total of 208m cycle journeys were made in 2010, with a net addition of 1.3m more cyclists taking to their bikes compared to the previous year, bringing the total to 13m.

Of these new cyclists, half a million are now cycling regularly. New cyclists alone contributed £685m to the UK economy, with existing regular cyclists representing a total market value of £635m. The report also showed that regular cyclists take 7.4 sick days per year, compared with 8.7 sick days for non-cyclists.

It added that a 20% increase in cycling by 2015 would save the economy £207m in reduced traffic congestion, £71m in lower pollution levels and £52m in NHS costs.

The British Cycling Economy | 1.4 MB PDF