Cycling Promotion Fund's Stephen Hodge was interviewed in the following article, The Courier Mail: Cycling hits top gear as Aussie riders help propel economic cycle. (8th January, 2010)

Some have dubbed it a lycra-led recovery. As car manufacturers relied on tax incentives to entice buyers, the demand for bicycles continued to gain pace in Queensland last year. 

Anecdotally, bike store owners say it has been a good year despite the global financial crisis, and part of the problem has been getting hold of the imports customers want. Improved infrastructure, growing environmental awareness and fitness concerns have all been credited for an explosion in cycling, which has seen bike sales soar.

Nationally, bicycle sales have outstripped cars for nine years with about 1.5 million bikes sold each year.

Last year more than one million bikes were imported into the country. Despite the financial crisis, new bike shops have been springing up in the city and in Logan over the past 12 months, all feeding an industry which is estimated to be worth about $1 billion a year.

Cycling Promotion Fund spokesman Stephen Hodge said cities still needed to invest more in biking infrastructure to encourage cyclists, because it was not the kiddie cycles driving market growth. Instead, more people are commuting to work. Read more.