ABOUT US

Welcome to Bike Virginia! We work to make Virginia great through cycling initiatives such as events, education, working with elected officials, advocacy programs, grants, and consulting.

We are a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. We work on a variety of cycling initiatives in Virginia and the surrounding states.

  • Bike Virginia hosts the annual Bike Virginia Tour, a 6 day cycling festival of 1,700 riders from across the US and international locations. We offer an adventure that travels around the Commonwealth to a different region each year. We host the tour specifically to feature Virginia’s most historic and scenic regions. Through this initiative we help communities improve their ability to host cycling tourists, organize share the road education, and we stimulate economic wellbeing by bringing approximately $2.8M in revenue to host regions in 6 days.
  • Bike Virginia owns and publishes Spokes Magazine, a print and digital publication published 4X per year. Within the magazine we feature articles on places to bike in the mid-atlantic, bike safety and maintenance tips, cycling related news, cycling inspiration stories such as human interest and features about organizations related to biking. The magazine offers a place for regional cycling events to list their event dates and place affordable ads to over 20,000 readers.
  • We offer Consulting services to communities and organizations on their cycling projects including: educational program development, trails planning, fundraising, legislative initiatives, etc…
  • We serve as a conduit for communication on legislative initiatives and campaigns for partner organizations to over 15,000 email addresses and over 5,000 social media follows.
  • Organize, promote, and deploy Share the Road educational campaigns.

We invite you to stay connected with Bike Virginia.  Sign up for our e-mail newsletter (delivered direct to your inbox), like us on facebook (for timely updates in your news feed), or consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our advocacy efforts. Bike Virginia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit

Bike Virginia Tour: Economic Impact and Direct Spending 

Executive Summary 2012

The annual Bike Virginia Tour draws up to 2,000 regional, national, and international visitors during a 6 day period each June. Participants enjoy 300–400 miles of bicycling in rural areas, enjoying the history, scenery, and geography. The event is a program of Bike Virginia, a 501(C)(3), non-profit that works to improve Virginia’s health, environment, and economy through bicycling.

The tour generates considerable tourism spending for the region as riders enjoy lodging, dining, entertainment, and retail opportunities.  Riders occupy up to 400 rooms for 5–6 nights in addition to up to 1,200 riders that camp at our headquarters.

The average age of our participants is 54; 60 percent are male, 40 percent are female. We have a large return ridership (60% or greater each year). The year 2012 will mark the 25thAnniversary of the tour.

Direct Spending and Economic Impact

  • Total participant spending for 2,000 riders over six days is estimated at $1,133,380 for lodging, food, drink, entertainment, transportation, and retail purchases.
  • Calculation of the ripple effect, secondary spending by merchants and businesses, suggests that the Tour has an additional impact of $725,363 in ripple on top of the $1,133,380 direct spending by tour participants.
  • Additional to rider purchases our organization spends $500,000 annually on services and materials to hold the event. Those dollars also generate an additional ripple of  $320,000 for the regional economy.
  • Based on formulas provided in the US Travel Association’s report for Virginia Tourism the Bike Virginia Tour generates up to $76,000 in federal tax, $45,000 in state tax, and $31,000 in local tax receipts.
  • In total, the event can generate up to $2.8 Million each year in just 6 days.
  • Riders also show a strong desire for return tourism. Last year 63 percent of surveyed riders reported a desire to revisit the host towns again.

Local participation in planning for the tour by Visitors Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown associations, and other businesses is integral in making the event a success for all. Together we can provide a memorable and enjoyable experience that will generate return visits.

This Executive Summary provides a snapshot of data from a 2011 Direct Spending Survey.  Additional information is provided in the full report.  Download the 2012 Economic Impact Report PDF.

YEAR

THEME

TOWNS

CYCLISTS

2019

Bike-O-Rama

Woodstock, Harrisonburg

0

2018

Ride the River

Radford, Claytor Lake

0

2017

30 Years

Buena Vista, Staunton

0

2016

Shenandoah Valley Pilgrimage

Woodstock, Harrisonburg

0

2015

Highlands Expedition

Abingdon, Kingsport

0

2014

East Bound

Chesterfield (Richmond), Jamestown (Williamsburg)

0

2013

Open Air Detour

Buena Vista, Lexington, Botetourt, Roanoke

0

2012

25 Years

Winchester, Berryville, Harpers Ferry

0

2011

New River — Roll through Time

Pulaski, Radford, Blacksburg

0

2010

Knights of the Golden Wheel

Staunton, Harrisonburg

0

2009

Journey through Hallowed Ground

Charlottesville, Culpepper, Orange

0

2008

Crooked Road Tour

Bristol, Abingdon, Kingsport

0

2007

Captain John Smith Adventure

Hopewell, Williamsburg

0

2006

Tour de Love

Emporia, Lawrenceville, Roanoke Rapids, South Hill

0

2005

Valley Byways Tour

Roanoke, Lexington

0

2004

Shenandoah Odyssey

Bridgewater, Harrisonburg, New Market

0

2003

Tour de Virginias

Winchester, Martinsburg, Shepardstown

0

2002

New River Valley Odyssey

Radford, Wytheville, Hillsville

0

2001

Town & Country Odyssey

Front Royal, Warrenton, Culpeper, Luray

0

2000

Bike South

Winston-Salem, Martinsville, Roanoke, Lexinton, Staunton, Charlottesville

0

1999

James River Odyssey

Richmond, Franklin, Hampton, Williamsburg

0

1998

Civil War Odyssey III

Warrenton, Winchester, Shepardstown, Leesburg

0

1997

Civil War Odyssey II

Petersburg, Amelia Courthouse, Farmville, Lawrenceville

0

1996

Civil War Odyssey I

Manassas, Fredericksburg, Bowling Green, Culpeper

0

1995

Two State Odyssey

Roanoke, Ferrum, Danville, South Boston, Keysville

0

1994

Presidential Odyssey

Bedford, Lexington, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Goochland

0

1993

Southwest Odyssey

Bristol, Abingdon, Marion, Wytheville, Galax, Floyd

0

1992

Chesapeake Bay Odyssey

Colonial Beach, Warsaw, Windmill Pt, Mathews, West Point, Jamestown

0

1991

Shenandoah Valley Odyssey

Lexington, Staunton, Bridgewater, Woodstock, Winchester, Berryville

0

1990

Bike Virginia III

New Market, Front Royal, Leesburg, Warrenton, Fredericksburg, Ashland

0

1989

Bike Virginia II

Natural Bridge, Lynchburg, Farmville, Emporia, Williamsburg, Richmond

0

1988

Bike Virginia I

Charlottesville, Farmville, Emporia, Williamsburg

0

virginiabikeeventassoc-4colorVirginia Bike Event Association is a group of cycling events across the state that work together for a “collaborative exchange of ideas and resources to support safe and enjoyable cycling events across Virginia so that the state may benefit from increased recreation, wellness, and tourism.

Together we can grow and learn. Together we can share more opportunities for cycling with residents and visitors. Together our voice is stronger when we ask for legislation, funding, and support from tourism agencies.

Bike Virginia is proud to be a founding member of the Virginia Bike Event Association.

As part of our commitment to financial transparency,