By Jim Wilcox
I got a call from a State agency a few weeks ago asking for financial data for the local bike industry. Seems they were compiling the economic impact of various industries located in Oregon, and bike retailers, manufacturers and other associated businesses were in the mix. I have to admit, when I thought about how many people it took to make bikes, sell bikes, repair bikes or supply parts for bikes, there wasn't a huge impact compared to other industries.
But then I began to think about how the economic number they sought was very much out of context. While the bike industry doesn’t create a lot of jobs, it also doesn’t need much infrastructure to thrive. No new roads, utilities, public transit, etc. And very little waste. In fact, compared to some industries, the bike industry creates virtually no taxpayer burden. And little environmental cost. In terms of employee health, it’s very rare for anyone to be injured making bikes. And the employees, generally being cyclists, are in great shape, helping to avoid health care expenses.
It is then that I realized the bike industry was like other "green" businesses, amplifying their impact on the economy by lessening their burden on government agencies tasked with maintaining our waterways, protecting our air, managing our dumps or dealing with unhealthy work conditions. In fact, the more green a business, the more it's economic impact is purely positive. Something not detailed in a number developed by the State's economic analysis for which I received the call.
This is one reason why membership in GreenLane is so important. We help each other make our business free of economic burden. We lower the cost of operating, for ourselves and for the tax payers. And as a group, we make this positive effect more well known.
So congratulate yourself. Keep asking for ideas to green your business. And understand that it is not just about the positive impact your business has on the economy, but also how much that impact is purely positive.
