As reported on Treehugger and many other sources, bicycle sales in the US have overtaken sales of cars. High fuel prices have a lot to do with it and apparantly the boom approaches that which took place during the 1970s oil embargo. To me, this is actually evidence that higher fuel prices might strengthen some parts of our economy - people won't give up their cars alltogether, they'll just buy a bike for that extra convenience.
The more people discover the benefits of occasional or full time bike commuting and recreational use, the more they will demand better bike infrastruture - paths, rights-of-way, parking etc. They'll also discover better health and energy and tell their friends. In other words, they'll create a huge business opportunity! What better way to help people, environment and profits alike than getting into bicycle related business? This has my gears turning...
I've just started biking myself, and one of the things I've wondered about is whether there exists, or could exist, cycling insurance, for people who bike to commute or do other regular, on-the-road cycling. I guess it would be part health insurance, part damage for the bike (I'm assuming that one of the things that we'll start to see is costlier bikes for commuters), and part coverage for damage you may inflict on other people (pedestrians). It may be that none of that is of much worth except for the health part, which is probably covered already if a person has health insurance (and if they don't, how likely are they to get cycling insurance? enough to sustain a system like this?).
Actually - with the price of bikes these days, theft insurance is not a bad idea. San Francisco, despite being a very safe city otherwise, has a major bike theft problem - you literally can't leave any bike worth more than $50 on the street anywhere. Of course, secure parking at destinations would work too!
I'm a member of the Cyclists' Touring Club (www.ctc.org.uk) in the UK and membership automatically covers you for third party insurance in the case of hitting someone. (At least, it did when I joined, I'll have to double check.) It also gives me access to a cycle specific insurance scheme, which I've just used to cover my girlfriend's shiny new folding bike.
>Of course, secure parking at destinations would work too!
If I can meander for a moment, what would you consider secure? Bike lockers, or would something less than that be enough?
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