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Jun 27, 2008 6:05 pm US/Eastern
Folding Bikes See A Boost From Gas Prices
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A leading analyst is predicting gas could hit $7 a gallon in about two years. Friday oil prices hit yet another new record, at over $142 a barrel. These types of prices have some commuters looking for new options, for instance, folding bikes.
The compact, portable bicycles are selling fast and furious. At Community Bicycle Supply in the South End, owner Steve Coombs says sales have doubled in the last year.
"Most people would find it very easy to ride and very comfortable to ride," Coombs said.
"If I have to do an errand or something, instead of a car with the price of gas, I'll just ride my bike to pick up a quart of milk," said new folding bike owner Sherry Rosen.
More folding bikes are showing up on trains during rush hours, according to MBTA conductors who spoke with us.
With the explosion in bikes, the MBTA is making changes. Bike-friendly trains were just added to the Framingham-Worcester line, and new, secure bike cages are now being installed at Alewife Station.
Those are welcome changes for bike commuters like Mose Berkowitz of Sharon. He says if the train isn't crowded he can take his bike along, but wishes the trains were more bike-friendly all the time.
"It is definitely frustrating if I want to bring my bike home during rush hour traffic," Berkowitz said.
The MBTA plans to install 150 bike racks a year and have its entire bus fleet rack-equipped by 2012. Right now, 33 percent of the T's buses have bike racks.
So what's the next money saver for cash strapped commuters? Steve Coombs says he thinks the next wave in bicycle popularity will be electric - a sort of hybrid that has pedal-assist.
"You still pedal the bike but it actually boosts you with the power," he said. "So you use less energy."
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