![Bikeshop Rainbow (by [Zakkaliciousness])](http://static.flickr.com/1359/863873882_dc47adc633.jpg "Bikeshop Rainbow (by [Zakkaliciousness])")
Row of new bikes for sale outside a local bike shop in Copenhagen.As one might expect in a cycling nation, bike sales are healthy. According to the Danish bicycle industry, the good people of Denmark bought 500,000 new bikes in 2006. Not bad for a country of 5.3 million people.
It appears to be new record. We here at Copenhagen Bike Culture Blog are guessing that the number will increase in 2007 since we seem to be seeing a lot of new bikes on the streets.
The average price of a bike in Denmark in 2006 is 2900 kroner [€386 / $580], which is up from 2500 kroner in 2005.
The increase in sales causes a boom for bike workshops, too. While Danes [along with the Dutch] cycle more than any other nation - 1000 km a year per capita - most people can't be bothered repairing their bikes themselves. Whether it is a flat tyre or a rusty chain, Danes prefer dropping them off at a local bike shop.
The result is a shortage of bike mechanics in the Danish kingdom. It is estimated that 100 bike mechanics are needed nationwide to keep up with the demand.
Via epn.dk
9 comments:
As ever, green with envy at those who live in a bike-centric country.
Here in bike-phobic Britain, a journalist writes in the "Times" newspaper advocating decapitating cyclists with piano wire:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article3097464.ece
Time to get serious about this move to a civilised country.
This should be a proper link to the Times article:
Love the CMY treatment in showing off the bikes!
Somersetbiker:
Ah, the so-called slow-news day editorials, you get them every now and then in Australia, too, though not too often with so much bile - or is it the subtle art of journalistic humour? It is not for a humble mortal such as I to speculate on the complex & elevated deliberation of the mighty, but I really fail to see exactly what he tries to achieve by such publications, but notoriety do tend to spread a lot faster, and perhaps any publicity is better than no publicity!
Mr Parris writes brilliantly - but this time he's way off the mark.
Viz., I learned while reading the scores of comments that sport cyclists don't drink from cans - they fill up reusable plastic bottles that sit in cages on the bike's frame or in pockets on their back.
(Sorry to go all technical on you.)
Despite that he did make me chuckle. The sheer draconianness (draconeity?) of it all...
Hmmm shortage of bike mechanics...I have turned a wrench or two in my day. I wonder if the Danish Government allows guest workers ;-)
Aaron
if you're from the EU and you can do a job that we need, you're in. unemployment is historically low so we need loads of people...
No such luck...USA maybe I can "naturalize" ;-)
Aaron
then all you need is to meet a Danish girl. That's the primary way to get into the country.
Mrs. 2whls3spds I am sure would have a few objections ;-)
Aaron
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