General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn Almost Every European Country, Bikes Are Outselling New Cars
We know that Europeans love their bicycles think Amsterdam or Paris. Denmark even has highways specifically for cyclists.
Indeed, earlier this month, NPR's Lauren Frayer reported that Spain, which has long had a love affair with cars, is embracing the bicycle: For the first time on record, Lauren noted, bicycles outsold cars in the country.
But it's becoming a Continent-wide phenomenon. More bikes were sold in Italy than cars for the first time since World War II.
This prompted us to look at the figures across the 27 member states of the European Union for both cars and bicycles. New-car registrations for Cyprus and Malta weren't available, so we took them out of the comparison.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/24/240493422/in-most-every-european-country-bikes-are-outselling-cars?ft=1&f=1001
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)Taitertots
(7,745 posts)it is not a good thing.
Are these people riding bicycles because the productive gain of the masses are being siphoned to a tiny cabal of rich people?
Or are they riding because it is a reasonable alternative to using a car?
I've been to Amsterdam, I wouldn't have a car if I lived in the city center.
I live in Michigan. Not owning a car would be an onerous burden everyday.
seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Less autos are a good thing, and it gives a little more breathing room for those that need to use them. A win for both!
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)This is more of what comes to mind when I think of Paris traffic: