BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The RMT union has called a tube strike for 9th–11th June. If it goes ahead, millions of Londoners can "expect to see their daily commute go down the tube," says a press release from Evans Cycles.
"However there’s one group of commuters that won’t be giving a moments thought to the latest industrial action – the legions of cyclists commuting to and from work by bike in the capital."
The urban commute category is the fastest growing category in cycling. For instance, an online sampler for the Bike to Work Book has had nearly 150,000 downloads and views.
Evans Cycles says: "Using a bicycle for your regular commute on one of the many cycle routes available across London is an excellent way of beating the tube strike. It is also healthier and better for the environment and beats using overcrowded public transport."
Tim Rees, manager of Evans Cycles’ largest store at Spitalfields, says:
“Ever since the strike has been in the news we’ve been hectic. Commuters are fed up with the reliability of London’s transport and the sweltering conditions of the tube.”
The store group is promoting a ‘Beat the strike with a folding bike’ campaign, offering a ten percent discount on its range of bikes, including folders from Brompton, Dahon and own-brand Pinnacle bikes.
The offer small print says the offer is "valid until 11/06/09 or until the RMT strike is called off." Evans Cycles has 34 stores nationwide and the small print says nothing about the offer being specific to London.
Ben Hart, Evans Cycles’ Marketing Manager says: ‘”We always see an increase of sales surrounding tube and rail strikes as Londoners try cycling to beat the strikes, realise how quick and easy it is and keep cycling instead of going back to the daily drudgery of the tube.”
