From BikeWorldNews.com
New federal economic data shows bicycling continues to play an important role in the rapidly growing U.S. outdoor recreation economy.
According to newly released statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the outdoor recreation economy generated $1.26 trillion in economic output in 2024, a 3.4% increase from 2023, supporting 5.2 million American jobs and accounting for 2.4% of U.S. GDP.
Within that broader sector, bicycling drove $3.67 billion in value-added economic activity, representing the U.S. bike industry’s direct contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product and marking 3.4% growth over the previous year.
“These numbers confirm what communities, businesses, and riders already know: bikes are more than recreation,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. “Bicycling supports jobs, powers local economies, and strengthens communities across the country. From local bike shops to manufacturing and tourism, the bike industry plays a meaningful role in America’s outdoor economy.”