New San Francisco Bicycle Shops Attracting Market Street Pedalers
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Several new bicycle shops have opened recently on Market Street, drawn by the growing number of 2-wheeled commuters downtown.
Market Street Cycles at the corner of Franklin Street opened 3 weeks ago to what co-owner John McDowell said was surprisingly good business considering the time of year.
"The commuter traffic is coming by and coming in, and the neighborhood is coming in," McDowell said.
With Twitter set to move in up the street next year, McDowell recognized opportunity with the tech savvy crowd that likes to pedal to work.
"We're going to have laptop bags for sale in here for sure," he said.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
McDowell had been watching that particular intersection, one of the busiest for bikes and cars, for about 3 years waiting for a doable rental to open up.
He wasn't the first to try and take advantage of what the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition describes as the busiest bicycling corridor on the West Coast.
In November, Huckleberry Bicycles opened up at the corner of 7th Street. And for 2 years, My Dutch Bike has been selling handmade city bikes from Europe on Market between 1st and 2nd streets.
Commuters welcomed all the competition.
"If I get a flat tire, I want to here. I want to be in my neighborhood," said Tim Hurley, who started biking to work from Hayes Valley a year ago.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
