From PeopleForBikes.org
By: Ray Keener, Contributing Writer
Due to a pandemic-related bike sales boom and ever-improving infrastructure, demand for bicycles for Americans is at an all-time high. While PeopleForBikes research shows that more than 50% of Americans (171 million) own or have access to their own bike, new ways to access bicycling are on the upswing outside of purchasing from a local bike shop, mass retailer, or online.
Bike share programs continue to grow every year, with bikes available on a cost-per-use basis. There are also new bike leasing programs for adults as well as youth-focused programs that provide bikes for kids in need. These types of efforts are part of a broader ecosystem of organizations working to expand access and create pathways for more adults and kids to get on bikes.
Outside of those core programs, there is a lesser-known approach that’s doing great work to make bikes accessible to underrepresented and low-income populations: bike libraries.