AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Nice Spring weather gave bike sales a boost in the Netherlands last year. Between January and October the number of bikes sold rose with 13% compared with 2006.
Bad weather in summer and autumn was the reason for a dramatic drop in sales resulting in overall 2007 sales only 2% higher compared to 2006. The total number of new bikes sold ended at 1.35 million units. In particular e-bikes were popular in Holland in 2007; the number sold increased by over 50% to over 100,000 units.
Yesterday, these figures were published by RAI Vereniging at the trade fair FietsVak 2008. Industry association RAI Vereniging emphasised that the 2007 results have once more made it clear that bike sales and weather conditions are strongly related.
The average sales price of a bicycle bought at a dealer in Holland remained at € 702. Due to the big rise in e-Bike sales, with an average consumer price of over € 1,800, the amount spent for bikes in the other segments was under pressure.
Bike Theft Register
Yesterday, the Dutch Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Guusje Ter Horst, officially opened an on-line Bike Theft Register at the FietsVak trade fair in which 4.5 million bikes are registered. This public data base (see www.fietsdiefstalregister.nl) can be checked for tracing and tracking of stolen bikes and in case of buying a second hand bike. The Dutch Police is equipped with a scanner that is linked to the online database.
For Market Report the Netherlands 2006, click here
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