The BBC says people in 26 European countries bought more bicycles than cars in 2012. One reason for this is the recession in many countries after the global financial crisis. Austerity measures left consumers with less money. They bought bicycles instead of cars. Fuel prices also made motorists buy bicycles. Another reason is that cycling is becoming more popular. The BBC said it is spreading "beyond the traditional 'cycling capitals' of northern Europe".

Europeans bought 12 million cars in 2012 and 19.2 million bicycles. The Italian car giant FIAT said this was bad news. He called it "carmageddon". Car sales in Italy fell to their lowest levels for five decades. The Italian cycling federation believes this is because of a cycling "revolution". The Italian bicycle maker said customers now want bikes they can get to work on. They will invest in expensive, top-of-the-range bikes.