Covid-19 Accident Prompts A Surge In Bicycle Sales In Portugal

Affected by the new crown epidemic, Portuguese bicycle manufacturers were forced to suspend work for two months starting in March. They were worried at that time. However, as the epidemic prompted people to change their lifestyles, bicycle sales later soared, which surprised them.

Reuters reported that Bruno Salgado, a member of the executive board of the well-known European bicycle manufacturer "RTE Bikes", originally thought that the bicycle manufacturer was in a "disaster", but later found that the company was "a blessing in disguise" because many people were "more willing to avoid contracting the new crown virus." "Biking or walking" instead of "crowded bus."

Reuters reported that Portugal is the largest bicycle manufacturer in Europe, and 90% of its bicycles are exported to countries such as Germany, France and Italy. In response to the epidemic, the Portuguese government had previously had to ask nearly 40 bicycle factories to suspend production and allow more than 8,000 employees to take temporary leave. However, as many countries have gradually eased epidemic prevention and control measures, bicycle dealers across Europe have run out of stocks, forcing Portuguese bicycle manufacturers to step up production.

Salgado said the production line is running at full capacity, with approximately 5,000 bicycles produced in Japan, up from 3,000 to 4,000 in the same period last year.

Christina Latoela, a resident of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, said that she spent 800 euros (about 6,390 yuan) on an electric bicycle during the epidemic, because she was afraid of catching the new crown virus on the crowded public transportation in winter, so she chose electric Bicycles are a "safer mode of transportation."

Before the outbreak, concerns about climate change and yearning for a healthier lifestyle had already prompted some people to switch to bicycles. Statistics from the European Union Bureau of Statistics show that the output of bicycles in Portugal in 2019 increased by 42% year-on-year, setting an annual output record of 2.7 million. This figure is close to a quarter of the total bicycle production in the European Union.

The Portuguese Bicycle Association predicts that this year's Portuguese bicycle production will set another record.