Eco-Economy Indicator -- BICYCLES
December 13, 2005
Eco-Economy Indicators are twelve trends that the Earth Policy Institute
tracks to measure progress in building an eco-economy. Bicycle
production is included because it measures our ability to provide
affordable transportation, reduce traffic congestion, lower air
pollution, increase mobility, and provide exercise to the world's
growing population.
BICYCLE PRODUCTION REMAINS STRONG WORLDWIDE
by Elizabeth Mygatt
In 2003, global production of bicycles hit 105 million -- two-and-a-half
times the record 42 million cars produced. During the 1950s and 1960s,
bicycle and automobile production were nearly equal. In the decades
following, however, bike output soared, reaching 91 million in 1990,
when car production totaled 36 million. Since then, with the exception
of 1997 and 1998 (when output dropped to 90 million and then 87
million), about 100 million bikes have been produced each year...
For entire text see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/2005.htm
For data see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/Bike_data.htm
For an index of Earth Policy Institute resources related to BICYCLES and
TRANSPORTATION see http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/index.htm
And for more thoughts on "Redesigning Cities for People" (not cars), see
Chapter 9 of Lester Brown's ECO-ECONOMY: Building an Economy for the
Earth, at http://www.earthpolicy.org/Books/Eco/index.htm
--
Peter McCallum
Mackay Qld AUSTRALIA