http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Europe's cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs en Mon, 18 May 2026 16:09:44 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171971 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:28:23 +0000 LaidBack 171971@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Surprisingly, the lion’s share of jobs in the new free-wheeling economy are in bicycle tourism – including accommodation and restaurants – which employs 524,000 people, </em></p> <p>Got a small taste of that at the Park beside canal as we sat outside last Sunday. Cyclists and cafe stops. Still more people coming by car but considering we were in November. I was also pleased to hear of two new Helios tandem customers cycling back to Oban via stops at Auchinstarry, Dunoon and Portavadie last week. Local hotels there should appreciate the business late in season.<br /> Is plane supported bike tourism good or bad I wonder? <em>Fly-cycle</em> rather than <em>fly-drive</em>.<br /> Now if Scotland had a ferry to Europe we could exploit the <em>ferry-cycle</em> tour market - although DFDS must get a few bits of bike business via Newcastle.<br /> At least <em>rail-cycle</em> may become better here with new franchise. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171968 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:55:21 +0000 I were right about that saddle 171968@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Hmmm. Where do you think the titanium comes from?"</p> <p>I don't think the quote is intended to disparage mining, just to point out that cycling is a huge industry that might merit the same serious treatment that primary extraction gets. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171965 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:35:13 +0000 crowriver 171965@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Where do you think the titanium comes from?"</p> <p>Recycled jet bombers? Where does the alumnium come from for your laptop/tablet/smartphone? Not to mention the logic board fabrication's use of rare earth metals.</p> <p>Laidback's points about distribution and Chinese manufacture are fair enough. Given that many, many products are made there, no need to disparage the bicycle industry.</p> <p>Bikes (usually) last a lot longer than smartphones before replacement/disposal, and often last longer than private motor vehicles in this respect. Stil largely user serviceable too, though that's changing with things like headset design, cartridge bearings, etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171945 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:49:43 +0000 LaidBack 171945@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My inbox is full of Chinese companies looking for a distributor. Rare to have any European operation mail out. Having said that it would be a major pain not to be in EU </p> <p>Manufacturing is only part of story though. Marketing is vital to differentiate between models. Promo model used by supermarket bike shops needs that plus logistics - boxing stuff up and warehousing. Free delivery get's translated into self employed Yodel van drivers as the search for lower pricing goes on..<br /> Yes it would be nice to have more locally made products but the trend seems to be increasingly global with localised branding on bike models. Oil prices have fallen and new shipping routes open up. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171933 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:09:12 +0000 jdanielp 171933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks ADMIN! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171932 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:05:36 +0000 stiltskin 171932@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hmmm. Where do you think the titanium comes from? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171931 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:02:47 +0000 crowriver 171931@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Cycling industry employs more people than mining and quarrying" without creating huge environmental destruction, noise and pollution to boot. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171929 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:49:14 +0000 jdanielp 171929@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oops, that should have gone in "cycling news" rather than "infrastructure" - not sure if I can edit that?</p> <p>ADMIN EDIT</p> <p>NO <em>you</em> can't. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13919#post-171928 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:47:58 +0000 jdanielp 171928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/12/europes-cycling-economy-has-created-650000-jobs">Europe's cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs</a> - Cycling industry employs more people than mining and quarrying with potential for a million jobs by 2020, says new study (from The Guardian) </p>