Even as gas prices fluctuate, there are still plenty of people whose driving habits haven’t changed. But, in what may be a sign of things to come, the sale of bicycles outpaced the sale of automobiles (2.6 vs. 2.5 million) in the U.S. for the first quarter of 2009.
Here are some more fun facts about our banana-seated, basket-laden, two-wheeled buddies:
- Total bike sales in U.S. for 2008: 18.5 million
- Number of bikes stolen in the U.S. in 2005: 250,000
- Chance that one's bike will be stolen in U.S.: 4.7%
- Percent of bicycles sold in U.S. in 2008 that were made in China: 99.53%. In 1994, 58% of bikes sold in the U.S. were made in the U.S.
- Number of electric bikes sold in U.S. in 2007: 120,000
- Cost of Aurumania’s 24k gold plated bike: $34,000, or $130,000 with crystals
If you're not already an avid bicyclist, it's worth switching from four wheels to two, especially if you or your family has a history of heart trouble. It turns out that something as simple as riding your bike could prevent purchasing costly medication, going under the knife, or death. A 2004 study compared those who rode bikes regularly versus those who underwent an angioplasty: 88% of the bike riders were incident free after one year, compared to only 70% of those who underwent an angioplasty. Experts are now recommending that doctors advise their heart patients to exercise more frequently rather than just performing the surgery.
So put down your car keys and pick up your bike. Unless it's an Aurumania bike. Those are just for looking at.
--Brandon
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