More bicycles than cars were sold in the United States over the past 12 months the US Chamber of Commerce reports, with rising gas prices prompting commuters to opt for two wheels instead of four. Not since the oil crisis of 1973 have bicycles sold in such big numbers, according to Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, a Colorado-based industry association.

"Bicycle sales are near an all-time high with 19 million sold last year -- close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s," said Blumenthal. In a country where most of the population still relies heavily on cars, some 87 million people have climbed on a bike in the past year, Blumenthal said.

The average price of gas in the United States has increased 47.3% in the past year, according to figures recently published by the American Automobile Association. The US government has also done its part to promote a more bicycle-friendly environment. The federal government has set aside some $3.5 million dollars to create cycling trails over the next four years. (AFP via Physorg.com, Oct. 1)

See our last posts on the oil shock, the burgeoning bicycle culture, and its dystopian antithesis.