Italian bicycle sales 'surpass those of cars'

[mvrider]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19801599

Italians bought more bicycles than cars in 2011 for the first time in decades, according to local media reports.

Last year some 1.75 million bicycles were sold, about 2,000 more than the number of new cars registered, La Repubblica newspaper reported.

It attributed the change to a slump in car sales during the economic crisis and the rising price of petrol, as well as bikes coming back into fashion.

Car sales have slumped to the level at which they stood in 1964, it said.

Though bicycling has a strong tradition in Italy, the centres of big cities are largely dominated by cars and scooters.

Ahead of a cycling conference being held in Italy this weekend, President Giorgio Napolitano appealed to Italians to "catch up" with other European countries by making their roads more cycle-friendly.

http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/more-bikes-sold-cars-italy-110609577.html

[AgilisMerlin]

" bikes coming back into fashion." :eek:

[Charles M]

If you knew how big the hassle is to live in Italy and buy a car, this wouldn't surprise you

[dave thompson]

If you knew how big the hassle is to live in Italy and buy a car, this wouldn't surprise you

Yeah, just *try* to drive in Rome! Absolute madness. I've done it, never again.

[tiretrax]

The hassle of driving is nothing compared to the hassle of parking! Driving in Rome is no worse than Boston, maybe even better. People seem to be less wasteful and respect their expenditures whereas in the U.S., goods are disposable.

[Fishbike]

Driving along the Amalfi Coast was combination of exhileration and fear. Roads are often just wide enough for one vehicle. Really fun when tour buses come the other way. It was pretty good choreography as vehicles would either back up or assert themselve. Somehow it works. But not for the faint of heart.

Good to see so many bikes being sold in Italty. More bikes anywhere is good. Except maybe on the MUP on a Sun. afternoon.

[Mark McM]

In the US, this would be a non-news item.

According to the National Bicycle Dealers association, 15.7 million bicycles were sold in 2011.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a total of 12.8 million light motor vehicles (cars and light trucks) were sold in 2011.

There have almost always been more bicycles than cars sold in the US in any given year.

[krhea]

+1