Popular Cycling Cities See Pedal Prices Rise

A Freakonomics blogger has trouble finding an affordable bike in Portland, and looks into the reasons why.

1 minute read

August 21, 2009, 9:00 AM PDT

By franny.ritchie


"What's up with this bike micro-inflation? Why does there seem to be no market in Portland for used bikes that are actually cheap? Portland is otherwise a pretty cheap city. Beer is cheap. Used clothing is cheap. By major urban standards, housing is cheap too, unless you compare it to the strip-mall-type cities. And certainly there are plenty of people in town who can't afford to spend $475 - never mind $1,000 - on a bike."

Thanks to Franny Ritchie

Monday, August 17, 2009 in The New York Times: Freakonomics Blog

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