The Weekend Australian
By: Kate Hardie-Buckley, William Shrubb
Source: Additional reporting: Matthew Clayfield
As the financial crisis tightens its grip, more Australians are opting for two wheels over four.
With petrol still about $1 a litre, the worry of climate change and the pressure to get fit, people across the country -- indeed, the world -- are turning to bicycles as their first choice of transport and leaving their cars behind.
John Coffey, manager of Sydney retail store Cell Bikes Australia, has seen a huge increase in demand. His business has enjoyed a 42 per cent spike in sales since last year, with a 34 per cent rise in commuter bikes alone.
The surging popularity of commuter bikes is consistent with a one-third increase in city riding worldwide.
Mr Coffey is just one of thousands of commuters who have opted for a greener, cheaper and healthier mode of transport. "I prefer to ride the 6km to work, which takes me 14 minutes instead of the half-hour it takes in the car,'' he said.
Elliot Fishman, from industry group Cycling Promotion Fund, said the first three-quarters of the year showed a boom in bike sales.
"Compared to the first three-quarters of 2007, sales are actually up by about 45,000 bikes,'' he said. "That's in stark contrast to the car industry.''
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1.05million cars were sold in Australia last year, compared with almost 1.5million bikes.
Mr Fishman said last year's record 1.42million bike sales would probably be equalled or broken this year, with bikes expected to outsell cars by about 400,000.
"There's a lot more awareness now about the role that transport plays in our greenhouse gas emissions,'' he said. "Being able to use a carbon-free form of transport is something that's starting to appeal to Australians.''
Mr Fishman said while fewer bikes were being sold in the $2000 to $3000 price bracket, there had been a significant increase in sales of $400 to $800 bikes.
Sydney City Council has committed $70million to build cycling networks over the next four years to cope with the surge in popularity.