Bikes Beat Cars As Europeans Vote With Their Wallets

In 25 of the 27 European Union members for which data is available, bikes are outselling new cars, research conducted by National Public Radio has found. Though many European cities are known for their bikeability, the buying pattern is a new trend.

1 minute read

October 30, 2013, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"We know that Europeans love their bicycles — think Amsterdam or Paris. Denmark even has highways specifically for cyclists," observes Krishnadev Calamur. But in what is "becoming a Continent-wide phenomenon", bicycle sales recently surpassed car sales in Spain and Italy.

Calamur looks at the top countries for bicycle sales and rates of bicycle-to-car ownership, and examines what may be behind the numbers. 

Thursday, October 24, 2013 in NPR

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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