The hub of cycling in the U.S. — Detroit?

[PotomacCyclist]

https://fortune.com/2014/10/09/detroit-bicycle-manufacturing/

Motor-less City? Bankrupt Detroit’s booming bike industry

by Jen Wieczner @jenwieczner OCTOBER 9, 2014, 1:40 PM EDT

From FORTUNE.com

– Seven bicycle manufacturers have started up in Detroit in recent years.

– Detroit Bikes produces about 3,600 commuter bikes a year (priced at a modest $699 each), with plans to ramp up to 50,000 bikes a year. This would nearly double current U.S. bike production (which was only 56,000 bikes last year).

– Leftover machinery, powdercoat shops and automotive company veterans are providing the bike companies with a lot of resources.

– Detroit has added 150 miles of bike lanes since 2006.

– Poverty in Detroit has led to a 20% drop in car commuting since 2007, but a 43% increase in bike commuting.

Tough times in Detroit now, but maybe bikes can be a big part of the city’s rebirth.

Topic

[Geoff]

Having grown up about 70 miles north of Detroit, I love this stuff.

[baiskeli]

Just happened upon this similar story today, even though it’s from 2012:

“In the midst of economic turmoil in Europe, more Italians are turning to bikes as their preferred mode of transportation. Such is the bicycle’s popularity in Italy that purchases of the pedal-powered two wheelers have eclipsed automobile sales for the first time since World War II.”

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/italians-buy-more-bikes-than-cars-for-the-first-time-since-wwii/

[Author]

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