Last year I noted that autumn and winter in Melbourne sees a dramatic drop-off in the number of commuter cyclists, and while I've been doing my bit to make sure this trend continues, it appears that others are working to reverse it. According to The Age:
Bicycle Victoria statistics reveal a 36 per cent growth in cycling in June compared with the same time last year, bucking the seasonal trend for a drop in numbers during the colder months.
While in an extensive two-minute search I haven't been able to locate the relevant stats on the BV web site, I'm quite prepared to accept those figures. A few months ago I mentioned that bikes were growing in popularity in the UK and NZ. And even in the USA, according to ESPN (via Commute by Bike), Bikes are the new SUV:
I'm way ahead of the curve on this one, but bicycles are poised for a quantum leap in popularity. Continuing concerns about global warming, rising obesity, diabetes and traffic snarls will prompt more people to ride bicycles in the coming years.
Which is the biggest reason I love the Tour. Most of America's most popular sports are enjoyed only from the couch. Not biking. No matter your age or weight, everyone can bike -- and should. It's fun, and a good way to get around -- the extra time it takes to bike somewhere is easily made up by the time you save not looking for a parking space or going to the club for a workout.
More importantly, it's good for you, good for the environment and good for the country. Who is more patriotic, the person who commutes to work on a bike, or the guy who slaps a U.S. flag decal on his SUV that gets 12 miles per gallon?
But surely this would never catch on in Australia? Well, try last week's Sydney Morning Herald (via Spinopsys and pedaller):
But, the booming interest in the Tour also reflects a rapid increase in participation in cycling in Australia, where many have caught on to its value as a sport. Over the past five years cycling has become a sport that is enjoying record success at all levels and ages…
Australians, it seems, can't get enough of "the bike" - and those who don't believe it had best accept the truth.
Indeed. And now we even have celebrity commuters like Shane Wakelin of Collingwood Football Club:
The Magpie defender has been catching the train to games and training sessions for the last six weeks after selling his 1972 Mercedes.
Motivated by wanting to do his bit for the environment, Wakelin rides his bicycle to Hampton station on match days, going largely unnoticed on the trip to the city.
In a way I'm not surprised, but where has this burst in popularity come from—and so quickly? Add up health and fitness, environmental concerns, traffic gridlock, and Tour de France mania and do you get a tipping point?
The BV stats are really remarkable given that so far winter 2007 in Melbourne has been wetter and colder than last year.
Surely cycling is so much more than a sport - as presented in the SMH article - in fact a sport/exercise/fitness focus to cycling may actually put off some less atheletic folks from taking up the treadly. But good one Shane Wakelin (ex-Sainter) - a sporting role model who took to riding his bike not for exercise but to do his bit for the environment. I'll drink to that - DrHB
I can't account for it. Last winter was a much kinder to the winter commuter (if not the water catchments) than this year.
Yeah, I noticed that SMH article sort of skirted around the fringes of cycling for transport, yet that's where the real burst in numbers is taking place, I'd be willing to bet.
Forgot about Wakelin's former allegiance—no wonder he's such a good guy!
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Treadly - I'm tagging you with the "Name Five Things About Yourself that Few People Know" tag. I got tagged, I'm just sharing the wealth.