Gas crisis kindling new interest in bicycles

[phantom power]

SALEM, N.H. — After years of stagnant national sales, the gas crisis may be pumping some new life and changes into the bicycle industry.

"We're seeing more and more people buying bicycles for doing errands," said John Maurice, bicycle manager for Buchika's on South Broadway in Salem, N.H. "The bike industry says 60 percent of all car trips are for 2 miles or less. Because of that figure, people are buying bikes to go to the library or grocery store. If it's two to three miles, people are interested."

Bike shop owners across the country say more people appear interested in riding, and sales have risen by as much as 20 percent from a year ago, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Bike repairs have climbed even more dramatically, as high as 60 percent at some outlets.

The U.S. bicycle industry racked up $6 billion in sales in 2007, including bicycles, related parts and accessories. This year the association expects revenue to stay about the same, despite increased interest in bikes and accessories for commuting. Officials say that's because people are buying less-expensive bikes in the slow economy.

http://www.eagletribune.com/pubiz/local_story_196203208.html?keyword=secondarystory

[marmar]

1. I've seen lots more people riding bicycles lately.....

And this would make a great cross-post in the public transportation/smart growth forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=398

:hi:

[wtmusic]

2. And don't forget the Bicycling Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=324

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I saw an electric bike on "Living with ed". That seems like a cool idea for those of

us who are in bad shape and can't handle hills. LOL

[lfairban]

4. I just bought my wife an electric bike.

She just took off on it a few minutes ago to go to her knitting group, about a mile and a half away.



Info

I have had a Currie electric bike for about 8 years, and she couldn't cover the bike path as fast as I could. When I let her ride my bike, which is too big for her, it took her about 30 seconds to fall in love with the electro-assist.

The bike store said they could have sold 10 more of the mens style e-bikes this month, but they can't get them.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I can't afford one but I would love to try one just to see what it's like

[lfairban]

7. This one was on sale . . .

. . . for $1300.

Walmart is selling a version of the Currie with a cheaper frame for under %400. The battery placement is different and I assume they are using a cheaper bike.

If you don't care to purchase from Walmart, they are available online.

[happyslug]

14. Watch your State law, in many States once the electric motor is attached it MUST be Registered

Registered, i.e. must have license., Pennsylvania is one of them, any engine attached to a bike it must be registered and have a license plate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bicycle_laws#Pennsylvania

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/pub_45/section_jk.pdf

If you read the Wikipedia cite, California defines electric Bicycles as Bicycles and no license is needed.

[tinrobot]

6. If more people cycled, we'd have healthier people.

Nothing like a good bike ride for exercise.

If more people rode regularly, there would be less obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other sedentary lifestyle diseases.

[NNadir]

8. Good

[bhikkhu]

9. I am one

I bought this two and a half weeks ago:



http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/1262/29304/zoom/

So far I have bicycled to work every day, and spent some time every weekend on local trails. Since the switch: 190 miles on the bike, 12 miles on the car, and feeling great.

I did debate over getting an electric bike or a scooter or a motorcycle. A recent minor accident in the car (I was rear-ended slowing for a kid in the road) decided for me - in the car it was just a little damage and inconvenience, on a motorcycle or a scooter I'd probably be dead or in the hospital. I used to race bicycles when I was younger, and always found that the maneuverability and the options available as to how and where to ride provide for good safety. Maybe when I am too old to pedal strongly I'll go with electric, but for now I don't need it.

On edit - this is a $300 bike from my local bike shop, and it is great to ride. I'd recommend anyone shopping for a bike to check with a bike shop instead of an x-mart. If you get something that doesn't fit you, or doesn't feel good or work well or hold up over time, you're just saving a few bucks on another unnecessary garage ornament.

[IDemo]

10. I'm commuting on a Giant as well

4-½ miles. Takes 16 to 18 minutes, depending on lights. I figure I'm only saving about 3 gallons per week, but that's $12.00 and rising, not to mention having zero carbon footprint.

[XemaSab]

11. But staying in shape is priceless!

:toast:

[End Of The Road]

12. I love biking, but it's not going to be the answer

Biking is my favorite form of exercise. Somehow it relaxes my mind while working my body, and any day is better if I get a few miles in.

But using it for commuting? Using it for grocery shopping? Using it to pick up the dry cleaning or run to the drug store? No way. It's just too hot in Texas in the summer, or too cold in Montana in the winter, or too rainy or windy wherever, for the bicycle to have a future as a utility vehicle.

I'm waiting for stories to appear that read "Gas crisis kindling new interest in Low-Speed Electric Vehicles." Why are we using our big highway cars for local errands? My route to the grocery keeps me on streets that have a 35MPH speed limit anyway, so going 25 MPH wouldn't be a big deal. LSVs, heck, even golf carts (!) have storage compartments to stow your stuff, and some protection from the elements. And they get up to 75 miles or so on a single charge.

[kestrel91316]

13. You are SO correct. We can't use bicycles 100% of the time for

100% of our transportation needs, so it's imperative that we abandon them altogether. They are completely useless.

:sarcasm:

I live in the HOT part of Los Angeles, where it can reach 119 degrees in the summer. I do NOT ride my bike here in the hot weather. I DO ride it when it's not so ghastly. Funny how that works.

[happyslug]

15. Before the US went Car crazy, these problems existed and people worked around them

One way is to rent vehicles if you need it for an errand. Another is a Trailer on the Bicycles, I use a Trailer to haul a good bit of material. As said above, people can work around the weather, that what they use to do, i.e. DON"T go anywhere in the hot of the day, and in winter wait for it to warm up. You be surprise how far you can bike in Cold Weather, in fact you be surprise how far you car WALK, once you accept the idea that most things are within walking distance. In pre-1900 American anything within 20 miles was viewed as "Walking Distance" for that is how far a person could WALK in a day, under load and taking his time (force marches can be even faster, but 20 was found to be the best distance, thus in the eastern 2/3 of the US Counties tend to be only 20 miles across, so people could walk to and from their county seat in a day).

Yes, adjustments will have to be made, such as living closer together, closer to your work (These two may or may NOT be the same, in the City the same, in the Country people may have to live closer to the farm they are working on, and thus further from each other).

[End Of The Road]

16. Sorry, I'm just not buying it

Like I said, I adore biking, and I bike regularly, but I don't believe we're going to be able to recreate early-20th century conditions, and I'm hoping for 21st-century solutions.

Thanks to horrendous post-War zoning practices, we are saddled with suburbs throughout America that make a return to the pre-car lifestyle very very difficult. Those suburbs aren't going to be retrofitted overnight.

Also pre-WWII, most women didn't work outside the home. Again, I don't think it's a practical solution to the gas problem to expect Mom or Dad to come home from work (on mass transit, of course), and then jump on a bike and pump their way to wherever to pick up whatever.

Yes, with good planning, most shopping and errands can be done on weekends. But I'm not going to put a week's worth of groceries for a family of four on the back of a bike in 100-degree Texas heat. And I certainly don't want to have to rent a car every weekend.

I'm NOT saying, by any means, that bicycles are not going to be part of the solution. They are. But I want an affordable, non-polluting, small electric vehicle, in which I can take care of local business without starting up the gas-guzzler. Small, independent companies are already building them, and they're entirely practical for the modern living situations in which many Americans find themselves.

[IDemo]

17. The first part of "The Solution" will be recognizing that it must be multi-faceted

Just as electric vehicles don't currently fit many people's needs (600 mile range, snow-capable, seats 8, etc.), bikes also aren't the answer for many. But for many others, they are. Just as it will require many different energy technologies and conservation efforts to move us forward, transportation is going to take many different forms in the time to come. Not just a one-size-fits-all solution.

[End Of The Road]

18. Yes, FLEXIBILITY is key

to solving our future energy needs. I think our government is looking for a one-size-fits-all solution (the nuclear one) and I'm for using wind (where it works), solar (where it works), and anything else that's environmentally and socially workable.

But my posts were about my hope for a cheap, LOW SPEED VEHICLE (LSV) for short-mileage needs. I was not talking about the "seats 8" kind at all. IMHO, too much gas is needlessly wasted (and too much pollution needlessly created) by taking the mini-van to the liquor store.

I've got a friend who uses his golf cart around town (he lives in a pretty small town, though). He's 62, has a bad knee, and a bicycle won't work for him. Maybe I should just tell him to get back in his Tahoe.