“Surprising promise of bicycling in America” study soon to land as free download

The upcoming market report “The Surprising Promise of Bicycling in America” by Jay Walljasper is soon to be available to the bicycle industry as a free download.

In announcing the report, Walljasper described 2017 as an important year and one that marks 50 years since the first on-street bike lanes landed in Davis, California, as well as 20 years since the bicycle industry committed to funding political movement Bikes Belong.

“If you look at the bike infrastructure we had 20 years ago and what we have today, it’s mind-boggling,” says John Burke, president of Trek Bicycles. Burke also pledged the first $100,000 for the Bikes Belong campaign.

Sponsored by Bosch eBike Systems, the report centres on eight positives for the trade:

• Bicycles now outsell cars in the U.S.

• Bicycling isn’t just for temperate climates – bike commuting is way up in places like New York and Minnesota

• The increase of women and people of colour in bike advocacy leadership is radically changing who rides

• Networks of protected bike lanes are making riding make safe and appealing for people 8 to 80

• Bicycling is not just for young white males—low-income people bike more than anyone else, older Americans account for more than 1/3 of new bicyclists each year, and Latinos ride more than any other racial group

• Bikeshare, which is changing who rides a bike, is available at tens of thousands of street side stations across the country with the swipe of a credit card

• Safe Routes to School and other innovative programs are successfully engaging a new generation of children and their parents to bike
• E-bikes are the fastest growing category of bicycle sales in the country because they’re breaking down many of the barriers—hills, distance, wind—for a wider group of riders

Veteran bicycle advocate Charlie Gandy said of the voice of those pushing for change: “The growth of organized local volunteers trained to tell their stories and who are strategically supported by well-staffed advocacy organization – their mission is to show that communities can be safe, fun and convenient for bicycling are safe and fun and vibrant for everyone.”

The report will be available for download on Tuesday, September 19th at PedalLove.org/Promise-of-Bicycling. To receive a reminder of the download businesses can sign up here.