COVID-19 Pandemic Fuels Bicycle Boom

As social distancing is the order of the day, riding a packed subway to get around is not exactly what the doctor subscribed. Add to that the need for people to stay active as gyms and sports centers across the nation are closed and you‘ve got the perfect recipe for a bicycle boom, which is exactly what the industry has been seeing for the past two months.

According to figures from the NPD Group’s retail tracking service, bicycle sales in the United States soared in March 2020, with some categories seeing growth rates of more than 100 percent compared to the previous year. “Consumers are looking for outdoor- and kid-friendly activities to better tolerate the challenges associated with stay-at-home orders, and cycling fits the bill well,” said Dirk Sorenson, sports industry analyst at NPD, adding that kids bikes and affordable adult leisure bikes were selling particularly well.

Survey data from U.S. bike manufacturer Trek gives us an idea why cycling is so popular these days. 85 percent of Americans consider it safer than public transportation during the coronavirus outbreak, while 63 percent of respondents feel that it helps to relieve stress/anxiety associated with the pandemic.