Bicycles outsell cars in 26 European Union countriesDecember 4, 2013 - 13:03 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Figures from industry bodies indicate that bicycles outsold cars in 26 of the European Union's 28 states in 2012. It is thought the trend reflects a slump in car sales brought on by the continent's economic crisis, BBC News said. The popularity of cycling appears to be going beyond the traditional "cycling capitals" of northern Europe such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Italy was typical of many southern European states, with 1.6 million bikes bought as against 1.4 million cars. The northern Italian city of Milan is among the latest European cities to roll out a public bike-sharing scheme, modelled on widely-used predecessors in Paris and London. In 2011 car sales in Italy slumped to the level at which they stood in 1964, according to local media. The Spanish capital, Madrid, has recently unveiled plans for a "green ring" of cycle paths looping ten kilometres around the city. Only in Belgium and Luxembourg did car sales outstrip those of bikes in 2012. "There are more and more people cycling, as a fashion thing, but also for economic reasons," Pedro Carvalho, head of a magazine for cyclists in Portugal, told AFP. Authorities in London say the number of trips per day in the city by bike went up by 66% in the 10 years up to 2011 to reach 500,000. However, in November, six cyclists were killed on London's roads in the space of 14 days, raising questions over how safe it is to cycle on the capital's road. Related links: Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |