http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051001/ts ... 1001131528

Bicycle sales boom in US amid rising gas prices

Sat Oct 1, 9:15 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - More bicycles than cars have been sold in the United States over the past 12 months, with rising gas prices prompting commuters to opt for two wheels instead of four.

Not since the oil crisis of 1973 have bicycles sold in such big numbers, according to Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, an industry association.

"Bicycle sales are near an all-time high with 19 million sold last year -- close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s," said Blumenthal, whose association is based in Boulder in the western state of Colorado.

The US Chamber of Commerce says more bicycles have been sold than cars over the past 12 months.

In a country where most of the population still relies heavily on cars, some 87 million people have climbed on a bike in the past 12 months, Blumenthal said.

While less than car sales, bike sales generate about five to six billion dollars of business a year, he said.

Bicycles are back mainly because the sharp increase in gas prices has made them a practical alternative, said Paul Gaiser, owner of Scooter Commuter in Bethesda, Maryland.

"Above all it's the higher price of gas, but also it's concern for the environment and the cost of another car," Gaiser told AFP.

The average price of gas in the United States has increased 47.3 percent in a year, according to figures published last week by the American Automobile Association.

Gaiser believes the bicycle trend is no passing fad.

"Our sales have quadrupled in the last two months," he said. "I think it's a major paradigm shift. It's here to stay."

Cyclists on the streets of the US capital agreed.

"I bought my first bike six months ago to go to college. I could not do without it. It's faster in traffic and less expensive," said Erik Lubell, a student at George Washington University wearing a multi-colored helmet.

Near the affluent district of Georgetown, Stella Hardwood said she had a different motivation.

"I don't want to put on weight and my bike forces me to exercise," Hardwood said.

The superstar status of cycling champion Lance Armstrong, who has won the Tour de France seven times, has also helped spark interest in the sport.

The US government has also done its part to promote a more bicycle-friendly environment. Some 3.5 million dollars in federal money has been set aside to create cycling trails over the next four years.

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Yay. I'm a big fan of bikes.

Yea, bicycles rock, and Id ride one to work if it wasnt 20 miles away.

Big black booty on a bike seat

$3.5 million over 4 years for bike trails? Exactly how many trails can they build with that?

I'd assume not very much, but I'll yield that question to Zutballs. I'm sure local gov'ts play a huge role as as well.

I've been lucky to live in two VERY bike-friendly towns, Boise and Portland. I noticed that Missoula also had an excellent system while over there.

Me too and add the fact that I'm scared to death to be on a bike with the fruit loop drivers we have here.

One of the reasons why I want to move to the Pacifc NW is because of their bike trails. I got rid of my old bike and I don't know what I should get.


87 million people on bikes? Wowza!

I don't think they make a seat big enough for you Melissa,

Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go round.

I wonder if they make double wide seats? I think that I'm going to go bike shopping next weekend. I really wanna go for a ride, especially since moving to this side of town. Its more pretty up here.

Lance Armstrong + the gas price = bikes are sexy

Not practical in my locality.

The price of cement has gone up also. Its like a 3 month waiting list here in Colorado. In fact, we designed a bike/pedestrian trail a few months ago and it has gone to construction. The parks guy at the city said they can only build the trail when cement is available.

Anyway, I'm sure most of the 3.5 million will go to land acquistion which would be the most expensive part of building bike/ ped trails. I think I figured out some costs before for bike trails, I'm guessing for a 6' wide trail the price is somewhere between around $10-12 a lineal foot.

Edit: I looked at a recent estimate we did. It was $6.50 a sq. ft for a 10' wide by 6"deep concrete trail. Add in revegetation and grading and you got about $10-12 a lineal foot.

It appears that 10 million of those bikes have been sold to USC students who try to talk on a cell phone/eat a burrito/throw darts at the same time they are biking.

As someone who bikes to work I can tell you it is not for everyone. There's a reason that so many people are fat, they don't exercise. So to think that these people are all going to be commuting by bike because the price of gas has gone up is silly. I would bet that at least 95% of these bikes will never see a day's commute more than once. In my opinion people are buying them because they are the trendy thing to do buy at the moment. I would think that the first cold or rainy day will convince damn near all of them to store their bikes pretty much permanently.

You are correct. I've ridden my bike to work a few times this year and I live 10 miles from work. I usually spend more money on food that day than I would on gas. I really enjoy riding my bike to work but it takes up alot of extra time in my day between the 2 hours of riding and then showering, etc.

Exactly. I don't want to waste that much of my life commuting.

Cement? All the pure bike paths here are just simple pavement.

I'm the same way. I love biking to work, but i hate getting here and being sweaty. We have a shower but that's an even bigger hassle because i have to bring a change of clothes, a towel and soap which makes for a pretty big bag to carry to work once i throw in my lunch and other work stuff .

Also i broke my bike a few weeks ago and haven't fixed it yet, so i'll probably be shelving it till the spring.

I know exactly what you mean. When I know I'm planning on riding the day before I bring in a towel and whatever else I may need. I hate having a 15 lb backpack when I ride.

Today I took the bus.

'ere a two-wheeled
answer to big oil's tricks?
or a passing fad?

I dont think trendy is the right word for it. I would think idealistic or delusional would be more appropriate. I think its more along the lines of a new years resolution... You have every intention to do it and stick with it, but in reality, it just doesnt fit your lifestyle..