Well, of course we’re fired up about Tour de Georgia in Savannah here at the Savannah Bicycle Campaign — we have signed on to be a local source of information to the cycling community. But look, we even have some interest from the business community — but why?

Money talks. As noted by this post on the Creative Coast, since cyclists typically fall into a highly sought after marketing demographic, cycling tourism is extremely desirable. For example, the Tour de Georgia has had

a direct economic impact of over $148 million over the last five years. More than a quarter of the fan base makes in excess of $100,000 per year. Three out of every four fans a graduate of a 4-year college or higher.

2007 Tour de Georgia Stage I, from PhotoSport International

When we talk about improving our city as a bicycle friendly community, we talk about improving quality of life, of improving the attractiveness of our community to tourists, and also of attracting people to live and work here who will boost our local economy. This is precisely the message our local business community needs to hear about cycling, and I thank Fitz Haile for delivering it.