Although purchases of folding bikes have been growing rapidly in the USA over the last several years, most Americans have never seen a bike that folds. In fact, even though Californian David Hon was among the first to bring folding bikes to mass production in the late 1970's, folding bicycles are more likely to be seen on the streets of Hong Kong or London than in the USA. Surprised? Don't be.

While the oil crisis of the 1970's (click graph to enlarge) led consumers worldwide to cut their fuel consumption, in the USA, long commutes and strong oil reserves made it politically impossible to impose massive, new taxes on oil at the pump. Meanwhile, other industrialized nations with little domestic oil production (like France, Japan & Germany) were doubling the cost of gasoline and directing the taxes to enhance their mass transit and high speed rail systems, creating a demand for ways to get to train stations, subways and bus stops more quickly. Enter the folding bike.

With Americans (on the other hand) feeling less pressure to embrace mass transit, minimal public funding for mass transit systems in the USA and the long commutes due to American suburban sprawl, most Americans have continued to use their personal motor vehicles for transportation. As a result, only 5-7% of Americans use mass transit and less than 1% bicycle to work to this day. The 40% of Americans that do own bicycles use them primarily for recreation and fitness.

In the last few years, spikes in the cost of gasoline (click graph to enlarge) have led more Americans to look into commuting by bicycle; however, design improvements, falling production costs and the Internet are the real factors fueling interest in folding bikes in the USA. Through online bicycle forums and reviews, cyclists are learning about new folders that take only 3 seconds to fold and roll when folded (Mobiky Genius), folding bikes that "stretch" so one bike will suit a cyclist from childhood to adult (Giatex BICI & CHIBA) and even full size mountain bikes that fold so they can be transported inside a car trunk (Montague MX & Paratrooper). Even those that bicycle only for recreation can appreciate features like these.

If you have comments on this topic, let's hear them.

NOTES:
- Fuel/Diesel/Petrol prices across Europe
- USA Today: US Gas Costs Aren't Really High
- World Oil Price Chronology: 1970-2000
- Crude Oil and Gasoline Prices Timeline: 2001-2006
- Why gasoline prices go up and down

Respectfully,
Larry Lagarde
World-Class-Bike-Trails.blogspot.com
Urging bicycling for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.