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Bikes Are the New Toiletpaper


PygaSchmyga

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True story. My friend owns a LBS and bike sales went up post lockdown. He is also noticing an increase in EBike sales...

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Might be true in the states.

they all got USD1300 x2 as a payout. and people used it to buy whatever they wanted

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Might be true in the states.

they all got USD1300 x2 as a payout. and people used it to buy whatever they wanted

Many countries are seeing similar bike booms. Australia was one of the first that was widely reported: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/22/bicycles-are-the-new-toilet-paper-bike-sales-boom-as-coronavirus-lockdown-residents-crave-exercise

 

We're hearing some similar news from SA and our web traffic shows a massive increase in interest locally. Obviously many social, economic and infrastructure differences for us vs. US, Europe and Aus, but even a small boom in SA would be welcome :)

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I hope this is a sign of things to come. Cities have been around for 1000's of years, and Cars (of the internal combustion engine variety) have only been roaming them for a little over 100. From that perspective, they are not the norm in any way, just the result of our short-lived and unsustainable flirtation with fossil fuels.

 

Walking is too slow (mostly) and cycling as a way of getting around is really the best option for so many reasons. Many still need vehicles of course, but the fewer and greener they are, the better. I say this without my cyclists hat on. I hope one day we look back on the era of queues in single occupancy 2L diesel engines on a choked up motorway as one of vulgar and unnecessary consumption.

 

I have a dream.

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Many countries are seeing similar bike booms. Australia was one of the first that was widely reported: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/22/bicycles-are-the-new-toilet-paper-bike-sales-boom-as-coronavirus-lockdown-residents-crave-exercise

 

We're hearing some similar news from SA and our web traffic shows a massive increase in interest locally. Obviously many social, economic and infrastructure differences for us vs. US, Europe and Aus, but even a small boom in SA would be welcome :)

 

 

 

Lots of new bikes in the R8000 to R15,000-00 price category selling fast. Sportsmans Warehouse hasn't seen bikes move this fast, or running shoes for that matter. It's likely because Walking running and cycling are the three permitted outdoor activities. Surf shops in Muizies also starting to see a revival interest. Haven't see so many wave riding tools on roof racks since the early 90's

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I hope this is a sign of things to come. Cities have been around for 1000's of years, and Cars (of the internal combustion engine variety) have only been roaming them for a little over 100. From that perspective, they are not the norm in any way, just the result of our short-lived and unsustainable flirtation with fossil fuels.

 

Walking is too slow (mostly) and cycling as a way of getting around is really the best option for so many reasons. Many still need vehicles of course, but the fewer and greener they are, the better. I say this without my cyclists hat on. I hope one day we look back on the era of queues in single occupancy 2L diesel engines on a choked up motorway as one of vulgar and unnecessary consumption.

 

I have a dream.

 

 

Once the schools go back then life will normalise. The traffic jam will be back. More companies will reopen demanding employees be at their desks.

The real revolution happens when people in the townships see the bicycle as viable and safe means to get around and not a SADC immigrants quirly way of social distancing. Work from home becoming a formalised thing will also drive a healthy culture. 

 

We're not Europe so the flirtation with bicycles requires a massive cultural shift to displace mini bus taxi's

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Once the schools go back then life will normalise. The traffic jam will be back. More companies will reopen demanding employees be at their desks.

The real revolution happens when people in the townships see the bicycle as viable and safe means to get around and not a SADC immigrants quirly way of social distancing. Work from home becoming a formalised thing will also drive a healthy culture. 

 

We're not Europe so the flirtation with bicycles requires a massive cultural shift to displace mini bus taxi's

ja, i'm not so sure - without exception, every single business that i have spoken to, including the dyed in wool conservative accountants, bankers, VC guys, to any form of desk-based/service business - the whole lot of them from my sample are relooking at the need for these big-@ss offices with stupid rent and considering leaving work at home in place as far as possible.  admittedly this is a sandton bubble view,  but given how high rental are, and how workable WFH has been, who knows, maybe we are in a working environment forever?

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I hope this is a sign of things to come. Cities have been around for 1000's of years, and Cars (of the internal combustion engine variety) have only been roaming them for a little over 100. From that perspective, they are not the norm in any way, just the result of our short-lived and unsustainable flirtation with fossil fuels.

 

Walking is too slow (mostly) and cycling as a way of getting around is really the best option for so many reasons. Many still need vehicles of course, but the fewer and greener they are, the better. I say this without my cyclists hat on. I hope one day we look back on the era of queues in single occupancy 2L diesel engines on a choked up motorway as one of vulgar and unnecessary consumption.

 

I have a dream.

i hope so too, and maybe, just maybe we can start developing a more cycling friendly culture.

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ja, i'm not so sure - without exception, every single business that i have spoken to, including the dyed in wool conservative accountants, bankers, VC guys, to any form of desk-based/service business - the whole lot of them from my sample are relooking at the need for these big-@ss offices with stupid rent and considering leaving work at home in place as far as possible.  admittedly this is a sandton bubble view,  but given how high rental are, and how workable WFH has been, who knows, maybe we are in a working environment forever?

 

 

 

Yes for some industries I think it's going to stick. Sales reps, IT Helpdesk (Software), Specialist roles, Some financial functions.

Both my employer and my wifes are looking at how to make this a much more permanent scenario. Both our companies own the buildings they're in and I have 4 bloody offices anyway so whats another one!

For blue collar jobs there's no getting around being at work and thats the bulk of the employment. I had WFH in place when my boss sat in Sydney. Now reporting locally there was a great deal of resistance despite my protestations. Now the tide has turned. At worst I'll be in office two days a week, a week in JHB and Durban every 8 weeks is most likely outcome. That 3hrs of commuting I save will go toward training hours and additional productivity. Downside is you have to push back harder because the lonely workaholics will message and call at all hours for a quick chat to bounce ideas and designs for review. Work Life balance becomes harder to manage if you're new to the game.

 

weve been managing a project virtually since lockdown started. And its been an absolute treat.

Edited by DieselnDust
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There's nothing to deep to look into. It's summer.. We're stuck at home... We have more time for family because there's no commute.... So everyone's buying bikes to cycle around the park or the neighborhood

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There's nothing to deep to look into. It's summer.. We're stuck at home... We have more time for family because there's no commute.... So everyone's buying bikes to cycle around the park or the neighborhood

"summer" there, fixed it!

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There's nothing to deep to look into. It's summer.. We're stuck at home... We have more time for family because there's no commute.... So everyone's buying bikes to cycle around the park or the neighborhood

 

 

and using the Bike to Work scheme to finance it

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Once the schools go back then life will normalise. The traffic jam will be back. More companies will reopen demanding employees be at their desks.

The real revolution happens when people in the townships see the bicycle as viable and safe means to get around and not a SADC immigrants quirly way of social distancing. Work from home becoming a formalised thing will also drive a healthy culture. 

 

We're not Europe so the flirtation with bicycles requires a massive cultural shift to displace mini bus taxi's

 

I agree about the schools but less so about taxis. They are taking >12 people in one vehicle so are not really the big problem ITO congestion. Single occupancy vehicles are. But yes, taxis definitely make the roads feel less safe and so less attractive to cycle commuters. In terms of "near death experiences" while I'm on my bike, taxis and aggressive drivers in big bakkies are neck and neck for pole position. 

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