Citybikes to provide bikes for Brussels politicians

When it was announced that Belgian politicians would need bikes for their parliament, many cycle companies were suddenly alerted to the news but it was the Czech cycle company, Citybikes, who ran out eventual winners. They will be providing 25 electric bikes for the thousands of politicians to use who work in the main offices in Brussels.

The company, who have just celebrated 10 years in business, was originally founded by a group of friends who spotted a gap in a growing market. Back in 2006 when town bikes weren’t as popular, Citybikes noticed that bikes could help to fill a gap created by the devastating floods in 2002 in which the metro was closed for a number of months. With roads clogged and therefore trams affected also, bikes were possibly the easiest and most efficient way of getting around. The problem with bikes already on the market was that they hadn’t been adapted for the streets of Prague which included cobbles and tram lines. As a result, Citybikes developed bikes with quicker steering and with a design that allowed for people wearing suits and dresses. The bikes also boasted high visibility as well as protection via mud guards.

At the same time as selling other models from other well-known manufacturers, they developed their own model, the Kolos, in Hostivar, the suburbs of Prague. Now, hundreds of electric and traditional bikes are being sold every year with the cheapest models available from around 30,000 crowns (€1,100). With the company pleased with the products on offer, they have been able to place a new focus on customers in recent years with many options now available with a purchase including bike colour, brakes and seat design. An online store has also launched which allows customers to see the price change as they add or remove features.

Martin Riha, one of Citybikes’ founders, has said that their ability to meet demands and their flexibility allowed them to win the contract as well as offering a competitive price. It is now thought that around 300,000 bikes are sold in the Czech Republic every single year with Citybikes owning a small but ever growing share of the market. In addition to this, nearly 20,000 electric bikes were sold in 2015, a number which is expected to increase in 2016.