August 20th, 2008
Fuel Prices Fuel Bike Sales
What we already knew intuitively is now official. A new survey out today, published by the Bikes Belong Coalition (an industry group comprised of shops and manufacturers), shows many bicycle retailers are doing very well this year and most think it’s because of high gas prices:
The majority of retailers who responded said their sales of transportation-related bicycles, accessories, and service have increased in 2008 compared to 2007:
- 73% said they are selling more bikes.
- 84% said they are selling more accessories.
- 88% said they are selling more service.
Is this increase in sales because of high gas prices? Most retailers who we surveyed think so:
- 95% of shops said customers cited high gas prices as a reason for their transportation-related purchases.
- 80% of retailers said gas prices were helping them sell more bikes for transportation.
- 86% thought accessory sales were getting a boost.
- 89% said they were selling more service because of high gas prices.
This is great news; let’s hope the trend continues.
View the survey results →
9 Responses to “Fuel Prices Fuel Bike Sales”
I keep hearing that more bikes are being sold…which I don’t doubt, but I haven’t noticed more cyclists on the road or bike paths than previous years. I wonder if these recent bike sales are like gym memberships - a way to feel like you’ve done something about high fuel prices without actually doing the hard bit - riding the bike.
from gas..to gastronomics-eat the road, cyclists! mangia strada!!!!!! and in winter, have some salt on that. if you’re a horse, or surly pugsley, all the world is your road.
@Vik
It must vary from one area to the next. Just in the past 4 months I’ve seen the number of bicycles on the Amtrak commuter train increase dramatically, to the point that some days they’re overflowing into the passenger area.
That’s good news Alan…perhaps the cold months up here affect people’s perception of how useful a bike can be even when the weather is fine for riding? I’d welcome more cyclists as it would allow us to demand more $$$ and more cycling dedicated infrastructure. Several people I know have bought bikes this year, but that hasn’t really resulted in them using them for transportation/utility cycling vs. a Sunday ride.
OTOH if there are more bikes at people’s houses that might eventually result in more transportation cycling if pressures continue to dissuade people from driving.
Are you seeing many of these new bikes setup with e-assist?
The number that really doesn’t surprise me, in the slightest, in there 88% of shop owners reporting a jump in service requests. You should see the junkers that people wander into shops with around here. It’s awesome.
Actual conversation overheard at a local bike shop:
Shop worker: “Wow, that’s a lot of rust. Where’d this bike come from?”
Customer: “I just pulled it out of a dumpster like two minutes ago.”
Shop worker: “And you want to ride it?”
Customer: “Well, I don’t want to walk it all the way back to the dumpster. I’ll look stupid.”
@Vik
“Are you seeing many of these new bikes setup with e-assist?”
Not a one. Most of what I’m seeing are what Croupier described above - junkers that look as if they were just taken down out of the rafters. Lots of low-end mountain bikes that are badly beaten, old rusty cruisers, with just the occasional nice bike in the mix. I try to chat it up with any bike commuter that will bite, and many of the new recruits that I encounter are doing it for the cost savings, and most are not cycling enthusiasts per se.
That’s an interesting observation Alan…so if new bike sales are up - which I believe watching bikes fly out of the LBS in my area and neither of us is seeing loads of new bikes being ridden - where are the new bikes going?
I wonder if it’s the same place all those blue Bic pens go…=-)
On this mornings commute with school back in session, there were at least half a dozen parents on bikes with tots in tow, and many more on foot making the trek to school. I kicked the pace down to enjoy the unfolding scene, and not slalom between “our future” (…peddlers that is).
Spin Cyclz is humming along steadily. I did about $105k part-time (est. 10-15hrs/wk) in the past 12mo’s ending in June, which is about 30% better then 06′, and 50% better then 05′.
Can’t wait till we hit $15/gal., because then I’d have to quit my day job eh.
An article about surging bike commuters on LA transit:
http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10270383
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