Travelling to Bath on the train this week I’ve noticed an increase in the number of folding bikes. There’s still not many, but in light of the ever increasing cost of oil, the increasing cost of running a car and the general move of society towards greener modes of transport I can’t help thinking that bicycle use is going to increase in the coming years.
Which means that there’s going to be business opportunities. In particular I see an increase in the demand for small lightweight/portable (and therefore probably folding) bikes and accessories. There’s also a potential secondary market for rentals - imagine being able to rent a bike from your destination railway station or even locally as needed, perhaps along the lines of ZipCar.
Picture by celesteh
This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
Have you seen that Sir Clive Sinclair is back - with an electric folding bike?
I haven’t - I saw his A-Bike on Badger or Bust last year, but it didn’t look particularly practical.
I think its because these bikes are becoming more affordable. You can also easily take them on the train.
In Copenhagen, they already have a city wide scheme of bikes that you can rent. You simply put some money into the bike, like you would if you were using a trolley at the airport, then you ride around all day on the bike, bring it back to another location, where you can return it in exchange for the money you originally put in.
It’s not great as a money making scheme, but it could be modified to make it generate revenue…