Bike sales cruising despite recession | January 2, 2009 | Palo Alto Weekly | Palo Alto Online |

Palo Alto Weekly

News - January 2, 2009

Bike sales cruising despite recession

Concerns over gas prices, environment boost Palo Alto bicycle sellers' bottom lines

by Sue Dremann

At a time when doom-and-gloom reports on retail sales are making headline news, the fortunes of some local bike shops continue to speed, managers and owners said.

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Staff Writer Sue Dremann can be e-mailed at sdremann@paweekly.com.

Comments

Posted by Greg K
a resident of Downtown North
on Dec 31, 2008 at 4:35 pm

I think it is great that more people are biking around town. More bicycles = less pollution, less global warming, less offshore drilling, less money to OPEC.

Now we just need to work on improving bicycling facilities around town, especially secure bicycle parking and safe bike routes avoiding high-speed car traffic (e.g., freeway interchanges).


Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Dec 31, 2008 at 5:16 pm

Opening up the paths beside the creeks would be really helpful to give bicyclists a safe path without traffic. A map of Palo Alto bike paths would also be very helpful.


Posted by Richard
a resident of Midtown
on Dec 31, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Palo Alto bikes have great bikes and equipment to chose from. Their service is top notch too. Just sold my crappy Specialized for one of their Trek Madone. Love it. My wife bought a Look bike. Keep the money in our city!


Posted by Greg K
a resident of Downtown North
on Dec 31, 2008 at 5:54 pm

There is a detailed map of current bike routes and bike paths on the city of Palo Alto web site.

Unfortunately, the designated routes from anywhere in Palo Alto to anywhere in East Palo Alto is very convoluted. And there are no designated bike routes to the city parks on the west side of I-280 (Arastradero and Foothill Parks). We really need to work on filling in these gaps.


Posted by Hulkamania
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 3, 2009 at 8:56 am

A friend has a stationary bike. It didn't start out that way.


Posted by Tim
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 3, 2009 at 9:32 am

Heard on KGO yesterday that new bikes sales were way down, but used bike sales and repairs are way up. Sales for used bikes on Craigslist and eBay are strong and people are pulling their dusting bikes out of the garage and getting them tuned up.
This interview was from a person who works for the city of San Francisco, who keeps track of what transportion people use.
I just fixed my older Cannondale, put a rack on the back and now ride it to the store and coffee shop.


Posted by Rob
a resident of Woodside
on Jan 6, 2009 at 2:37 pm

I'd like to see more valid evidence of bike sales being strong right now. Sure they were strong for 2008, as gas was close to $5 and the Bay Area didn't even notice much of the early recession. But for the last quarter of 2008 through now, I can't imagine many folks buying bikes over $250 or so. Who would buy a high end bike when their 401k is smushed and you fear a layoff? I bet these reporters simply asked some $8hr bike shop dude how business is and the dude said it was busy.


Posted by Bond, Kim
a resident of another community
on Sep 6, 2009 at 9:33 pm

The bike shop owned by a friend of mine in Texas is booming, furiously busy on fri/saturday with great sales of accessories, repairs, fits and bikes ranging from $300-4000.
and this is Sept. 2009. People obviously have not stopped their love of all things bicycle.


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