A salesman helps a shopper choose a bicycle at shop in downtown Yangon.

SALES of bicycles and bicycle parts have grown significantly in Yangon since the beginning of November as increasing numbers of people are using them to travel short distances in the city.

“Our bicycle sales have increased by about 30 per cent,” said Ma Sandar Win, the manager of Ko Tar Aung and Brothers bicycle shop. “This is a good season for the bicycle market, but sales usually only increase by 10 per cent.”

“But this year more and more people are switching from taking buses to riding bicycles, so the market is very active right now,” she said.

Bicycles at Ko Tar Aung range in price from K40,000 to K100,000, but the biggest demand in the Yangon market in general is for bicycles that sell for K30,000 to K40,000.

Ma Sandar Win said that in previous years the increased demand in November came from people in small towns but this year the growth has come from consumers in Yangon, especially people living in suburban townships such as North and South Okkalapa.

Meanwhile, demand for spare bicycle parts has also skyrocketed.

“Many people had unused bicycles at home, and now they are repairing them and using them again,” said Ma Sandar Win.

However, the recent increase in bicycle use does not mean people are interested in spending more money.

“Most people prefer inexpensive spare parts,” said Ma Sandar Win.

U Than Shwin of Super, which manufactures bicycle pedals, said most pedals in the Myanmar market are imported from Hong Kong, China and India, and cost about K1500 a pair, while domestically made pedals cost K70 to K95 a pair.

Domestically made pedal brands include Super, Hobo and Hero.

“I started producing pedals two years ago, and never before have I had so many orders as I’ve had this year,” said U Than Shwin.

He attributed this popularity at least in part to the quality of his products, but said it has become harder to maintain these high standards.

“Though there is more demand in the market right now, the price of raw materials has also increased by about three per cent since last year,” he said.

Many manufacturers are reluctant to increase prices out of fears of losing customers, so they compensate by using cheap but less durable recycled plastic, he said.

“Right now our company is trying its best to keep the quality high because in the long term I think the spending power of people will increase again,” U Than Shwine said.

Daw Ma Ma Khine, the owner of Golden Fish bicycle shop, said that unlike other markets, bicycle retailers cannot increase prices too quickly.

“In this market people are more concerned about price than anything else,” she said.

She said she has also found that people in Myanmar are fond of domestically made bicycle products.

“Pedals, sprockets and baskets can be made locally,” she said. “I hope in the future we will be able to produce all bicycle parts in the country.”