As the price of gasoline continues to rise, more and more people are turning to alternatives to driving. For example, ridership on public transportation is up. A lot of people prefer to bicycle – in part, because it affords a means of exercising. This gives rise to businesses that serve bicycle riders. For example, here are some:
Making custom made bicycles, such as high-end custom super-light carbon fiber cycles for enthusiasts costing over $2000, to ones for overweight people, to practical cargo bikes suitable for delivering freight, such as being done by Transition Industries in Tucson, to tricycles for uses like collecting and distributing books, such as Bicicloteca, a mobile library.
Custom Bicycles for cargo delivery fromTransition Industries
Providing services of all kinds, such as:
- collecting compost – for example Ecoscraps in Salt Lake City and Tempe, Arizona.
- delivering cargo (even furniture)
- taxi services for rescuing stranded cyclists, such as being done by London’s ClimateCars. www.climatecars.com
- repairing bikes from a van or truck going to where the bicycle is. This is being done in Europe by companies like Fix Fiets and Bikemobiel
- delivering soup
- organizing bike tours
- renting bicycles
- organizing bike sharing systems such as in Dublin and ways for bicycles owners to rent out their bikes. Spinlister is an example of this.
Adapting bikes for new bicycle technology, such as alternatives for bicycle chains, such as belt-driven systems made of polyurethane
Converting bikes into e-bikes. A kit is made by Shimano.
Producing add-on items like bike trailers, such as made by Ridekick, that provide extra storage and battery power for e-bikes.
Developing, selling and installing technology for bicyclists, such bike-mounted sensors, apps, and mechanisms for using pedal power to produce energy to power mobile devices
Restoring old bikes, outfitting them with custom components and painted to the taste of the buyer.
Guide on how to choose a bike according to science, that details 10 factors to consider and is packed with tips and advice.
Training people in classes or personal consultations to
– build bicycles, such as the United Bicycle Institute in Oregon and the Bicycle Academy in Africa.
– ride with confidence such as being done by Pedal Portland is doing.
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