Iowa Bike Coalition tells supervisors trails generate $1.4 billion statewide; requests Johnson County e-bike pilot

The Iowa Bike Coalition told the Johnson County Board of Supervisors on May 1 that cycling and trail use produced an estimated $1.4 billion in economic activity statewide and about $40 million in Johnson County, and asked the county to host a pilot e-bike voucher program to help connect workers to jobs.

"40,000,000 is the impact in just Johnson County," said Luke Kaufman, executive director of the Iowa Bike Coalition, during a presentation to the board. Kaufman told supervisors the updated study modeled statewide impacts using federal data and primary surveys and estimated roughly 900,000 annual riders across Iowa.

Kaufman said the study ties cycling and trails to jobs, wages and health outcomes. He reported the statewide study found roughly 21,000 jobs supported by cycling and trails and said the county-level results included about 686 jobs supported, roughly $23 million in labor income and approximately $409,000 in county tax revenue. He also described public-health findings, saying committed cyclists in the study experienced nearly a 50 percent reduction in chronic poor mental health and cited lower rates of several chronic diseases among active cyclists.

The coalition asked Johnson County to pilot an e-bike voucher program modeled on a program in Columbus, Ohio. Kaufman said the Columbus program uses a sliding-scale voucher and is administered by a nonprofit; he asked the county to host a proof-of-concept pilot that could be scaled statewide. "It would be my vision to establish a pilot project with an e-bike program here in this county for the first time in the state of Iowa," Kaufman said.

Supervisors asked about affordability. One supervisor noted an earlier local voucher round required deeper discounts for low-income residents; Kaufman said the Columbus model includes a sliding scale and other equity features. Chair John Green closed the item by asking for the full county data and a program proposal: "We look forward to receiving the full report as well as your proposal for the pilot program," he said. Kaufman told the board he would provide the county report and the white paper with program details.

The presentation also highlighted other program and planning opportunities including Safe Routes to School, the Great American Rail Trail route through parts of Iowa and local trail marketing. Conservation staff earlier told the board federal funds are available for trail extensions — Johnson County Conservation Director Brad Friedoff referenced a $3,000,000 federal award for a Clear Creek Trail extension during the meeting's proclamation segment.

Kaufman said the coalition will deliver the full study and the e-bike proposal to the county after the meeting and asked for partners to support local implementation and letters of support already compiled by coalition staff.

What happens next: Kaufman said he would email the full report and the county-specific proposal; supervisors indicated they would review the materials and follow up with the coalition about potential pilot logistics and funding sources.