There has been extensive research and study on various aspects of the economic impacts of multi-use trails; notable among them is the Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) work, RTC has undertaken numerous studies and created a model for assessing spending patterns of trail users.

The RTC studies break trail user spending into three categories: “soft goods” (typically food or drink), “hard good” (bike parts, clothing, shoes, etc.) and lodging. Based on the 11 trails reviewed, over 67 % of respondents purchased soft goods while on the trail averaging $19.75 per trip; the Pine Creek Trail in north-central Pennsylvania saw the largest average in “soft goods” expenditure of over $38 per trip. The “hard goods” category had a larger percentage of respondents, with 82% of respondents buying hard goods related to the trail representing an average of $417.82 per user per year.

Reported spending on lodgings is modest because of most trails didn’t experience many overnight stays but across the 11 trails, 9% of respondents paid for overnight lodging near or along the trail with an average spend of nearly $100. It is assumed that a significant percentage of users stayed in campgrounds, lowering the average spending amount in this category.

A 2003 study by researchers at the University of North Carolina found through a literature review that quality of life is an increasingly important consideration in determining business location. Most economists regard the quality of place/quality of life as influencing business locations indirectly, through the preference of workers. Workers prefer places where they expect to enjoy a high quality of life that embraces sociability, recreation, and alternative lifestyles.