Cycling Is Creating More Jobs in Europe Than Automakers Are in the U.S.

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/12/03/not-just-health-and-fitness-cycling-has-created-650000-jobs-europe?cmpid=tpnews-eml-2014-12-5-pregnant

(Photo: Getty Images)

A new study finds that getting on a bike doesn’t just cut carbon emissions—it boosts the economy.

December 04, 2014 By Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill is TakePart's associate environment and wildlife editor.


Want to lower greenhouse gas emissions, get fit, and create new jobs? Ride a bike.

That’s the finding of the first comprehensive study on Europe’s cycling industry, which details a cycling economy that employs more than 655,000 people in industries such as retail, manufacturing, infrastructure investment, and tourism.

On just two wheels, the industry is creating more jobs than Europe’s high-fashion footwear industry (388,000 jobs), its well-established steel sector (410,000), and the United States’ Big Three automobile companies (Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) combined (510,000).

Holger Haubold, fiscal and economic policy officer at the European Cyclists’ Federation, which commissioned the study, said that cycling allows cities and countries to cut carbon emissions without hindering economic growth.

FULL story at link.

[BlueJazz]

1. Sad to say but you ride a bike to work in this country and you're taking your life in your hands.

(in most places)

[progressoid]

8. Yup. n/t

[edhopper]

2. Unfortunately for this country

It isn't backed by a Giant Corporation, so we won't invest.
Also biking is for dirty, fucking hippies.

[jwirr]

3. I like this idea but I live in the middle of nowhere and would have to be considerably more healthy

to get anywhere close to the things I need. We do have a bus service through the reservation that helps a lot of us get around more efficiently though.

[NewDeal_Dem]

4. Our bus system has the bike racks so you can do part of your route by bus, part by bike.

I've not tried it because so far the bus worked for me, but I'd like to -- maybe in the spring.

[jwirr]

9. That is a great idea. We just bought all new buses to it is probably not practical this time but I

will put in the idea next time.

[NewDeal_Dem]

11. pretty common, i think.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bus+bike+rack&biw=961&bih=694&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=-V-JVIHYHYKyogTk1YDwDg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. I'd have about a 20-mile round-trip...

no biggie. But I will NEVER ride the roads in Raleigh. At least they're making a lot of progress with the Greenway... maybe someday.

[daleanime]

6. K&R....

[Jenoch]

7. I am glad that cycling is good for Europe.

It's also good in the U.S., where it works. Much of the U.S. is so spread out, and/or rural that cycling has little impact in any meaningful way.

[Ink Man]

10. Poor reporting.

So for bikes they use "study on Europe’s cycling industry, which details a cycling economy that employs more than 655,000 people in industries such as retail, manufacturing, infrastructure investment, and tourism." But for US cars they only use the number of people making cars. If they use manufacturing, selling, insuring, financing, renting, repairing, infrastructure, oil and gas and investment I know cars in the USA win big. I'm a big bike rider and would love to see more bike trails but the writer needs to be honest in his reporting.