Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
I just read the report from the NBDA that showed that between 2000 and 2012 one in three bicycle shops closed their doors which really speaks to the rise of internet sales as no brick and mortar operation can survive or compete with these low overhead models.
During this time we have seen a boom in cycling as more people are riding and more urban planning is being focused on developing improved cycling infrastructure with the thought that "if you build it, they will come"..........
A good point about internet sales hurting the LBS! I know lawn mower shops took a horrible nose dive a few decades ago when Sears (and Roebuck in those days) and other department stores entered the lawn mower market. But many if not most of the lawn mower shops that survived are still around today.
But it might be important to note..... that as other ways to buy lawn mowers (at lower prices) became available... lawn mower manufacturing also increased. With bicycles we are currently seeing a true drop in imports and manufacturing of product. It would be hard to find actual hard data that would support an increase in interest, sale, or users. Although... there are likely areas that have seen increase in use... those few areas are the exception as opposed to the rule.
As far as local communities that produce their own data that justifies the tax dollar investment in cycling infrastructure. I would question that data! Unfortunately.... corruption in government is not uncommon and "park services" deserves some of the most skepticism in many city budgets.