Europe's cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs - Cycling industry employs more people than mining and quarrying with potential for a million jobs by 2020, says new study (from The Guardian)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Europe's cycling economy has created 650,000 jobs
(9 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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Oops, that should have gone in "cycling news" rather than "infrastructure" - not sure if I can edit that?
ADMIN EDIT
NO you can't.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"Cycling industry employs more people than mining and quarrying" without creating huge environmental destruction, noise and pollution to boot.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Hmmm. Where do you think the titanium comes from?
Posted 10 years ago # -
Thanks ADMIN!
Posted 10 years ago # -
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
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..
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.Posted 10 years ago # -
"Where do you think the titanium comes from?"
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.
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.
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
"Hmmm. Where do you think the titanium comes from?"
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.
Posted 10 years ago # -
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,
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.
Is plane supported bike tourism good or bad I wonder? Fly-cycle rather than fly-drive.
Now if Scotland had a ferry to Europe we could exploit the ferry-cycle tour market - although DFDS must get a few bits of bike business via Newcastle.
At least rail-cycle may become better here with new franchise.Posted 10 years ago #
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