MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean commuters take to bikes to keep fit and save

Chilean bike manufacturers and promoting groups reported this week that bicycle sales increased 30% during the first six months of 2008 in Santiago. New lightweight and easily transportable aluminum bikes have much to do with this sharp increase in sales and bike use, as do increased petroleum prices and new bicycle cycle lanes

"We are making our greatest sales among middle-class buyers," said Teodoro Lahsen, General Manager of Lahsen bicycle company Teodoro Lahsen. "Motor bikes have been very successful, too. We sold 4,000 motor bike models last year". The Lahsen company plans to market electric bicycles in 2009. Lahsen said the bikes are 100 percent green and will be available for US$600. "We promote cycling because it is a clever way to keep in shape," said a representative of the Bicicultura Center, a non-profit bike culture association located in the Santiago borough, Nuñoa. Still, cycling in Santiago is not always fun. "Riding a bike in Santiago is really dangerous and is not always pleasant," a daily cyclist, named Jean told the Santiago Times. "But it helps me avoid paying bus fair, which is ridiculously over-priced". The Santiago Times