Bike Shops Popping Wheelies in Flattening Economy
Katie O'Block
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News
Boulder residents are clicking out of their seatbelts and instead clicking into pedals.
Though many businesses are feeling flat these days, but bike shops around Boulder are benefitting from this down economy. Full Cycle, a Boulder bike shop since 1987, hasn't seen their business decrease, but rather the opposite. Service manager James Keller said that both sales and service is up two to one since last year.
Much of that increase began this past summer when gas prices rose to over $4 a gallon. And the trend of ditching the car for the bicycle has stuck.
"People that live and work in Boulder realize that the cost of owning a car, the cost of gasoline, and just the environmental impact alone all put together is a very simple option, an inexpensive option to get a bicycle and ride around town," said Chuck Gartrell, director of sales at Full Cycle.
Companies around Boulder may be feeling the benefits of cycling employees as well. In October, Congress passed the Bicycle Commuters Act, which will give companies a tax credit of $20 a month per cycling employee.
Not only is riding bikes cost effective, but easy, said daily commuter Bryan Alders. And that ease is what is prompting so many to start riding to work again.
Boulder has over 300 miles of well established bike paths. Commuters can find routes in GOBoulder maps around town.
Watch the Video
Though many businesses are feeling flat these days, but bike shops around Boulder are benefitting from this down economy. Full Cycle, a Boulder bike shop since 1987, hasn't seen their business decrease, but rather the opposite. Service manager James Keller said that both sales and service is up two to one since last year.
Much of that increase began this past summer when gas prices rose to over $4 a gallon. And the trend of ditching the car for the bicycle has stuck.
"People that live and work in Boulder realize that the cost of owning a car, the cost of gasoline, and just the environmental impact alone all put together is a very simple option, an inexpensive option to get a bicycle and ride around town," said Chuck Gartrell, director of sales at Full Cycle.
Companies around Boulder may be feeling the benefits of cycling employees as well. In October, Congress passed the Bicycle Commuters Act, which will give companies a tax credit of $20 a month per cycling employee.
Not only is riding bikes cost effective, but easy, said daily commuter Bryan Alders. And that ease is what is prompting so many to start riding to work again.
Boulder has over 300 miles of well established bike paths. Commuters can find routes in GOBoulder maps around town.
Watch the Video
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