why is biking not promoted

[Ribenapigeon]

I've often wondered why you never see any advertising or promotion of bikes outside of bike magazines. There is a lot of talk in magazines about the threats to biking but is it any wonder when the bike world is so inward looking. There are several traing schools in Aberdeen but they don't advertisde, and several dealerships but not even any ads in the local rags. What do people think?

[Benno]

Might be there is some kind of legislation about not selling bikes because they're "dangerous" and have an inbuilt ability to target little blonde girls who are so pretty and who have so much potential who are innocently sitting in a pram?

Gotta agree with you that the bike world is a bit inward looking. There needs to be more marketing. But then..."selling out" may become an issue, however you interpret such a concept. I'm sure many people will find things change in ways they don't like, should the bike world be as "outward looking" as the car world is.

[Ribenapigeon]

I have wondered if its a health and safety issue. When you look at all the overpiced four wheeled rubbish we get shooved at us on tv which people bay into in droves then some tv advertising could work wonders and the more bikes on the road the safer it becomes.

[U_W v2.0]

fewer cars + more bikes = safer roads

why?

people would be more aware of bikes on the road as they'd be a more common encounter.

further more

fewer cars + more bikes = better environment

lets face it, most bikes are more fuel efficient due to the greatly reduced weigh the engines have to move

not forgetting

fewer cars + more bikes = less congestion

again, why? um you'll get more bikes passing through traffic lights than cars.

so you'd think the governments would actively promote motorcycling.

oh wait, they're always backwards thinking so it figures they dont
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[Ribenapigeon]

I wonder why manufacturers don't advertise in mainstream media? Do they in other countries?

[Derivative]

[Ribenapigeon]

I wonder why manufacturers don't advertise in mainstream media? Do they in other countries?

[Benno]

[Ribenapigeon]

Woops posted twice.

Its catch 22, don't advertise don't get sales, don't get sales then don't get to promote bikes.

[orac]

social programming, we are brought up being told that they are dangerous, and riding push bike. most people will only ever remember falling there push bike and then apply that thought x 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 for riding a motorbike

also bike pay less tax than car which mean that the goverment will make less money if everyone rode bikes
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[Ribenapigeon]

I don't think its the cost of advertising, after all big jap manufacturers are major international corporations.

[trikeschick]

There are markets where it is of material value to invest in advertising but the UK is typically referred to as an optimised market. That is, it's not a growth area.

However advertising tends to be more selective, representing the austerity of trading situation. So you'll see adverts around the bike racing events and of course the manufacturers use race teams as a form of advertising. And their sponsors tap into this too.
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[Englishman]

I was thinking exactly this acouple of days ago. I saw the history of Honda on an episode of Twisted Throttle on Discovery Turbo, and it said about a Honda ad they ran during the Superbowl in the 70's. The following day, there were queues waiting to get into Honda dealerships. It made me wonder why no-one does TV adverts for bikes anymore, let alone print ads in mainstream media.
Odd that in these austere days, when we're bludgeoned into doing our bit for the environment (and getting taxed to fcuk about it too) that bike manufacturers wouldn't go down every route to increased sales.
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[Taught2BCauti...]

You don't see rows and rows of unsold motorcycles parked up in fields, so perhaps the need for millions of pounds worth of advertising is less for motorcycles than for cars.

I always thought that massive advertising campaigns were mainly for things that wouldn't sell otherwise!
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[Benno]

[Ribenapigeon]

If you read bike mags and MCN there is a constant moan about how biking is under threat but you hardly see any real promotion outside of the bike world, which is pointless as its preaching to the converted.

[Rogerborg]

[Ribenapigeon]

Well said RogerBorg!

Speaking as a newbie im actually suprised how few low and medium sized bikes are available for the newly qualified. Its ok if you want to go out and buy a 650cc plus bike but theres very few 250-500cc bikes out there. Granted once someones put in the time and money to get qualified they are probably well hooked and will purchase a bigger bike, but thats not the point, in order to encourage new riders you need the scene to look less intimidateing as well.

[Hokum]

Tbh i'm looking at 250-400's as i'll be 33hp "limited" but even If I go the DAS route I want a light bike not a 1L, 3/4 ton monster.

I'd love more 250 ish adventure style bikes.
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[U_W v2.0]

those saying bikes make the government less money.

here my counter arguement.

bikes cause less damage to the road than cars do therefore the money saved from fewer road repairs could in the long run balance out quite nicely
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[Ribenapigeon]

there is of course the costs to the NHS :-/

[U_W v2.0]

also, safer roads = less accidents = less drain on NHS = more government savings
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[Sako]

until i read this thread i had never once thought about the fact that bikes aren't actively advertised, it is surprising really, as a few well timed ad's on TV might get people to go out and think about getting a bike.

[Alpha-9]

Probably all the P.C old people that write in every time they see something they 'think' is dangerous

Wouldn't shock me if people wrote in and complained about a motorbike advert as 'advocating dangerous activities' to youths.
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[Ribenapigeon]

Or given how expensive cars are becoming some well targeted advertising towards younger people. If I ran a training company I would be straight round the halls of residencies at the local Universities.