The energy crisis , amplified by the war in Ukraine, which puts pressure on fuel prices and the costs of transport services , does not stop the two wheels that run in Sardinia and make the 82 Sardinian companies grow , with over 200 employees , which deal with production and maintenance of bicycles.
A sector in continuous expansion: only 2 years ago the total number of companies did not exceed 31 realities but today the "green transition" modifies mobility models, favoring the use of more sustainable means.
These are the numbers that emerge from the "2023 Artibici Report", a dossier on the two-wheel economy produced by the Study Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna to analyze the bicycle supply chain and to understand its future trends.
THE NUMBERS – At a territorial level, 30 enterprises (9 artisans) are located in Northern Sardinia (Sassari-Gallura), 20 in the old province of Cagliari (14 artisans), 15 in Nuoro (2 artisans), 12 in Southern Sardinia and 5 in Oristano (3 artisans).
The growth of the bike economy has continued even during the pandemic. In 2021, in fact, the sector exceeded the corresponding period of 2019 by +8.8%, proving to be one of the most interesting and growing sectors of manufacturing and craftsmanship . On the island, 30,000 people go to work, school or university by bicycle every day.
«With these data in hand, we can certainly say that despite the pandemic, indeed in some respects we could say "because of the pandemic" - comments the President of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna, Maria Amelia Lai - the bicycle is the trump card of the sector, the sector capable of adapting and responding to the new needs that have emerged. A crescendo that affects not only production but also the turning point towards active mobility that embraces environmental, tourism, health and well-being issues".
NATIONAL DATA – In the bicycle supply chain, according to the Confartigianato report, 60% of the businesses are made up of artisan realities, and the turnover has exceeded one billion euros at a national level. Again at a national level, at the end of 2022 the bicycle supply chain, which in addition to the production of bicycles and their components also includes repair and rental, had 3,233 companies. The heart of the supply chain is represented by 1,989 artisan enterprises which are 61.5% of the supply chain, 2.5 times the average of 24.7% recorded for the total economy . The companies in the supply chain are mainly dedicated to repairs which count 1,839 companies and represent 56.9% of the sector, a share which rises to 81.8% in the craft sector, in which 1,627 sector companies are registered.
Companies in the bicycle supply chain grow by 1.4% in one year, in contrast to the 0.7% drop in total companies, driven by +7.5% in bicycle rental, accompanied by +0, 3% of the repair of bicycles, sporting goods and camping equipment while the manufacture of bicycle parts and accessories decreased by 1.4% and the manufacture and assembly of bicycles by 2.3%.
"We are on the right track even if there is still a lot to do - comments Daniele Serra , Regional Secretary of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna - the data show that the margins for improvement, for the construction of infrastructures and for the creation of new businesses, are large . For some years now we have been pleased to note that both the Region and the Municipalities have decided to invest in sustainable mobility. This is an important sign of attention towards the whole sector».
For Confartigianato Sardegna, increasing investments in this sector has numerous impacts, it means increasing tourism but also supporting the road construction sector, the bicycle manufacturing and repairing crafts, as well as trade. Each cyclist, in fact, spends 130 euros a day compared to 70 for someone who goes to the beach . Furthermore, around 200,000 euros are needed to build one kilometer of track.
Looking at the cycle path network of Sardinia, as a whole (2,700 km, 52 itineraries from north to south of the island), numerous funding lines are now available for the construction of the infrastructure , especially from the PNRR, for the regional cycle path and for the urban cycling.
«We have to believe it - concludes Serra - for this reason our invitation goes to the local administrations to focus on this type of economy and development, in the cities but also in the rural areas and in the interior because this tourism can give excellent results : we have a territory and a landscape that lends itself optimally to two-wheelers and we have accommodation facilities that are already equipped to receive guests with their bike following their bike. We just have to be able to create a system».
(Unioneonline/vl)
