Earlier this year, Luke Hoffman, executive Director of the Iowa Bike Coalition, unveiled the results of a study that assessed cycling’s economic impact in Iowa at the 2025 Bike Banquet in Des Moines, Iowa. The study found that cycling has a total economic impact of $1.4 billion in Iowa and supports about 21,000 jobs. Besides this, the study reviewed several ways cycling positively impacts Iowans’ health. For example, researchers found Iowa cyclists reported 49% fewer poor mental health days than non-cyclists and 77% fewer cases of colon cancer.
Hoffman felt inspired to perform this study because he wants to see Iowa improve as a state and better represent the interests of its citizens. About 1 in 3 Iowans ride a bike every year, yet Iowa is currently ranked only 24th in a list of bicycle friendly states—a continually worsening trend which seems contradictory to the high level of involvement and enthusiasm Iowa residents have for cycling.
Hoffman believes the data from this study shows how valuable cycling is to our communities in a tangible way, which can influence state and city legislation to better represent the interests of bike-loving constituents and improve biking opportunities. For example, Hoffman noted this study could inform legislators as they review and vote on a bill that would require cell phones to be used hands-free while driving in Iowa. This would remove dangerous distractions behind the wheel and make cycling far safer as cyclists interact with cars on roadways. Increased awareness of cycling’s value to our communities can also influence city-planning decisions to implement more bike-friendly infrastructure like bike paths and bike lanes.
If you’d like to support Iowa legislation that makes cycling more accessible and safe, as well as stay up to date on cycling news and opportunities in Iowa, join the Iowa Bicycle Coalition by visiting iowabicyclecoalition.org. If you’d like to get more involved in more local cycling opportunities in the Quad Cities, visit riveraction.org for information on upcoming events such as Ride the Island and Taming of the Slough.