More Bikes Than Cars Sold in Australia in 2007
Australia's Cycling Promotion Fund released a report this week showing bicycles outsold automobiles down under by nearly 50% in 2007, with 1.47 million bikes sold vs. 1.05 million cars. It's the seventh straight year that bikes have surpassed autos in sales in Australia.
“Soaring petrol prices, concern over climate change, crippling traffic congestion and the desire to lead healthier lifestyles all contributed to the record breaking year” said Elliot Fishman, Policy Advisor at the Cycling Promotion Fund.
The increase in bike sales is accompanied by increased ridership as well. The number of Australian adults who ride bikes is up 17% from 2001, and bike commuting is growing at an average rate of 22% across Australia's capital cities, with Melbourne in particular experiencing a 42% percent increase in bike commuter trips.
This is great news, obviously, and the type of growth that would be great to replicate in other places around the world. Just for comparision's sake, in the U.S., there were 18.2 million bikes of all types sold in 2006, compared with 16.5 million cars. That's good news and the past couple of years really represent the biggest jump in bike sales since the 1970s in the U.S.
However, this number does include tiny tot bikes, etc., and if you whittle it down a bit, you get around 12.7 million "real" bikes with wheels greater than 20" (and please pardon me if I offended any tots with that distinction). I wish the numbers were higher, but they're still impressive all the same.
Conventional wisdom says credit for this surge goes to higher fuel prices, desire for improved physical fitness, concern for the environment and the so-called Lance effect. Personally, I think the trickle-down effect from Tour de France type racing to the average Joe getting on a bike is pretty minimal. A big part of it, I believe, is people just getting fed up with riding in the car all the time and finally starting to realize that riding around on a bike is many times just as convenient and a whole lot more fun.
Question - did you buy a new bicycle in 2007? Do you anticipate buying a new bike in 2008? Comment below.
Photo: Getty Images
Comments
Actually bought 3 bicycles in 2007. In February, bought a Schwinn Voyageur GS. My first quality bicycle, put about 4,000 miles on it, wore out bottom bracket. While it was being repaired, bought bicycle #2, a Trek 7.2 FX. More of a road bike than the Schwinn, enjoyed it immensely. Rode the Schwinn around town when it was repaired and the Trek on longer journeys of up to 75 miles. Enjoyed the Trek so much that I traded it in on December 31st for a Trek 7.5 FX, a higher end model even more of a road bike. Ended up the year with about 5300 miles on my bike. Started cycling in September 2006 at 295 pounds, now I weigh 155 pounds. Needless to say enjoy biking a lot!
Well another balloon to pop. I only bought 2 bikes this past year. A single speed mountain bike in February and a single speed road bike in October. Really enjoy them both but my main bike is a 5 year old Specialized Allez, which for me is just too perfect to replace. I only get about 1000 miles a year on the Allez.
I bought two bikes in 2007; my first two that were actually worth the cost. The first was a pink cruiser that I fell in love with at the store in February when the snow receded. Then, because I loved riding my cruiser so much and I wanted to ride farther,I bought a Releigh upright road bike which I love just as much. It can go anywhere and has tons of gears which are perfect for the hilly terrain.
Sadly,my wife won’t let me buy another one.Maybe next year!
I bought my Trek 7.5 DS in the spring, after my first quality bike, a Giant Sedona, fell prey to my ignorance of proper maintenance (not making that mistake with the new bike!). The salesperson told me it would be like going from a SUV to a sports car – and she was right! Only about 1000 miles on it so far, and since then I have moved from Portland, OR to rural Minnesota, and have had to put knobbies on my poor road bike to handle the snow.