20 000 people rode the Sustrans' C2C route over the Pennines in 1995-6, the year of its opening. A recent report for Sustrans has estimated that the demand for cycle tourism trips could increase by up to 10 percent a year for the next ten years.
Share of journeys by bicycle
UK 2.3 percent
Sweden 10 percent
Germany 11 percent
Denmark 18 percent
Netherlands 27 percent
Bicycle sales per 1,000 population
UK 37
Sweden 49
Germany 63
Denmark 71
Holland 88 (Source: Bicycle Association)
In Holland, 39 percent of all the 1.35m bicycles sold there (1998 figure, 3 percent up on 1997) are 'Dutch style roadsters'. Mountain bikes account for only 5 percent of the market. 70 000 bikes are bought per year in Holland by businesses for use as 'company bikes'. 87 percent of all Dutch bicycles sales go through IBDs, an increase of 3 percent. over 1997 figures (Source: NSS Market Research).
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