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Bikes make comeback as gas prices increase

Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

COLUMBIA COUNTY — Rising gas prices are pushing residents into their garages or storage sheds, some in search of their old, forgotten bicycles, others to squirrel away gasoline at prices that may someday seem bargain-basement.

“We’ve been doing more bike repairs,” said David Endy, owner of Steiner’s Sports at Third and Warren streets, Hudson. “People are going into their barns to dig out bikes from 20 years ago to be serviced. These are mature people, 40, 50, 60 years old, buying bikes to run a few errands.”

Endy said the “Grocery Bag,” which can be installed on the rear rack, with zipper compartments for money and coupons, and shoulder straps, has become very popular. In general, he said, commuting accessories, like racks, lights and bags, are popular.

“People are riding their bikes for short-distance trips instead of cars,” he said. “In this location especially, an urban area where you’re likely to go a couple of blocks.”

Endy attributes these phenomena to the rising gas prices. Gasoline has not, however, upped his bike sales, either in Hudson or at the Steiner’s Kinderhook store, which carries a lot more bikes.

Grant Hermans, at Bash Bish Bicycles in Copake Falls, confirmed this finding. He said he had not seen a dramatic increase in bike sales because of gas prices, but he has had more service work because of people getting their old bikes out and having them fixed up.

He said that, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, many urban areas have seen dramatic increases in bike sales. Out here, “the distances are kind of far,” he said.

George Pulver, of Pulver’s Glass, 90 Green St., Hudson, which has also been a bike sales-and-service shop since 1914, said he repairs a lot of bicycles people purchased at a major box store.

“We make more on the bike than they do,” he said. “I hope they sell a million.”

He said he’s also seeing bikes that have been pulled out of garages, and that haven’t seen the light for years.

“Some you just dust off and oil up, others need extensive work,” Pulver said.

People are using their bikes for local shopping and commuting to work, he said.

“Some are buying quality bikes, but the days of selling 150 for Christmas are gone,” he said. “Now I sell that all year long. But I still do 1,200 repairs a year.”

The gas prices still haven’t hit hard enough for a mass shift to bicycles, Pulver said.

“You’re talking about America,” he said. “People are lazy. You might see change if it hurts them hard enough. They like engines, getting fat. They’re not going to walk if they can drive.

“There’s some changing,” he said. “The green people are pushing it more. But the bikes are not 100 percent the idea in America. You can’t ride on the sidewalks; there are no real trails.”

Peter Mezynski, manager of Tractor Supply in Greenport, said he’s noticed one major change because of rising gasoline prices.

“There’s been an increase in gasoline containers,” he said, “so people can store it.” Not just the little plastic containers, but the fuel tanks that fit on the back of a pickup truck, which can hold up to 100 gallons.

He said he also noticed people are doing more shopping on a single trip, rather than making several trips.

Jeremy Ruben, manager of Grossman’s Bargain Outlet in Greenport, said sales are up, and he attributes this to customers wanting to save gas by shopping in their own area, rather than traveling to the big box stores.

Also, he said he’s noticed a lot of people upgrading their doors and windows to save on fuel, and adding weather stripping and insulation.

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