A bicycle is one of the most undervalued public investments in American infrastructure — reducing household transportation costs, improving public health, and generating local economic activity without a lane of new asphalt.
This calculator quantifies that value for any Illinois county, using WHO methodology, US DOT parameters, and peer-reviewed Midwest economic data. It grew out of a gap I identified consulting with Illinois bicycling advocates — including strategic work that produced the Ride Illinois mission statement "We make Illinois better through biking." Grant writers, municipal planners, and elected officials needed numbers they could defend in a budget meeting. This is that tool.
Bike Regional Value Calculator
Role: Strategist, Designer, AI Content Curation, Kindle Pont Inc. A bicycle is one of the most undervalued public investments in American infrastructure — reducing household transportation costs, improving public health, and generating local economic activity without a lane of new asphalt.
This calculator quantifies that value for any Illinois county, using WHO methodology, US DOT parameters, and peer-reviewed Midwest economic data. It grew out of a gap I identified consulting with Illinois bicycling advocates — including strategic work that produced the Ride Illinois mission statement "We make Illinois better through biking." Grant writers, municipal planners, and elected officials needed numbers they could defend in a budget meeting. This is that tool.
Annual local business spending uplift Bicyclists spend $70/mo more than drivers (UC Davis, 2014)
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Jobs supported by bicycling activity 1 job per $133K activity (MN DOT, 2016; national ratio)
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Illinois bicycling opportunity vs. Wisconsin benchmark WI generates $241/resident/yr from bicycling. At that rate, IL's 12.5M residents would produce $3.03B/yr in total bicycling activity. The figure shown is Illinois's current shortfall vs. that benchmark.
How this is calculated
Annual deaths prevented =
-- bicyclists
x 0.003(IL adult mortality rate/yr)
x --(prevented fraction, dose-adjusted)
Economic value =
-- deaths prevented
x $14.2M(US DOT Value of Statistical Life, 2025)
x 10 yr
Methodology note: Simplified WHO HEAT v5.0 -- physical activity benefit only. Full HEAT additionally models crash risk, air pollution, and activity displacement (plus or minus 15-20% on results). Climate note: NOAA projections suggest Illinois seasons may extend 1-3 weeks by 2040 in northern regions, partially offset by increased precipitation variability. Treat as directional estimates (plus or minus 30%) for advocacy and grant applications.
Sources & parameters
VSL$14.2M (2025). US Department of Transportation Departmental Guidance on Valuation of a Statistical Life, 2025. Same value used by IDOT in transportation safety analyses.
Rel. RiskRR = 0.90 (10% all-cause mortality reduction) at 100 min/week. Kelly et al., Int'l J Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, 2014. Meta-analysis, 187,000 individuals. Linear dose-response per WHO HEAT v5. 95% CI: 6-13%.
Mortality~300/100,000/yr for IL adults 20-64. Conservative estimate from CDC Illinois age-adjusted rate (825/100K all ages, 2023) applied to working-age cohort.
WeatherNOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Rideable day = temperature 40-95F, precipitation <0.1 in/day. Three IL regions: North (Chicago metro), Central, South.
Biz Uplift$70/month additional spending by bicyclists vs. motorists. Popovich & Handy, Transportation Research Board, 2014 (UC Davis). Confirmed by OTREC Portland study, 2012.
Jobs1 job supported per ~$133K in bicycling economic activity. Minnesota DOT study, 2016. Corroborated by OIA national ratio (848,000 jobs / $97B spending).
PeerWisconsin $1.42B consumer spending / 5.9M population = $241/person/yr (Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation, 2019). Michigan: $668M / 10M pop = $67/person. Iowa: $400M / 3.2M = $125/person.
PopulationUS Census 2020 county populations. Adults 20-64 estimated at 60% of total. Statewide: 12,582,032.
Interested in this calculator for your organization?
The Illinois Bicycling Impact Calculator is available for licensing by advocacy organizations, municipal agencies, and purpose-driven brands. Each deployment is customized to your brand and — where relevant — your state or regional data.
