Cambridge, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/16/2009 -- With the current state of the economy, threat of obesity, and the grim outlook for the global climate, it makes sense to commute by bike. In the last few years, thousands of people have quit their cars cold turkey, but for millions more, leaving the comfort and convenience of their trusted automobile in favor of a bike is inconceivable. Yet, Montague Corporation, a U.S. manufacturer of folding bikes, has developed a new concept called Drive and Cycle commuting that has proven to be effective in bridging the gap between commuting by car and commuting by bike, allowing people to choose to the moment how they want to move.

Montague recognized that most people’s commute to work is farther than they feel comfortable riding a bike. Thus they developed the SwissBike TX, a bike that looks and rides just like a normal bike, but folds to fit in the trunk of a very small car. In the case of Drive and Cycle, you simply put a SwissBike TX in the trunk of your car, drive part way to work, find a safe place to park, and pull out the bike for the rest of the ride. And if the day is not nice, you don’t have the energy, or you need to pick the kids up from school, you simply leave the bike safe and dry in the trunk until another day. Drive and Cycle is a first step that is easy for most people to commit to and still allows the use of a vehicle or public transportation when needed.

“The hardest part of commuting by bike is making the initial transition from your car to your bike” says Montague Corporation president, David Montague. “We spoke with hundreds of drivers and the overwhelming response was that people would commute by bike if they thought they could and it would save them money. With the development of the SwissBike TX and the introduction of the Drive and Cycle concept, we are making the transition from car to bike much easier for the average commuter.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household spent around $8200 on automobile related transportation in 2007. Conversely, a $700 commuter bicycle only costs roughly $70 (plus minor maintenance) per year over a 10 year period. The potential savings gained by adopting the Drive and Cycle concept are huge. In addition to providing relief from the economic downturn, Drive and Cycle commuting with a SwissBike promotes personal health, reduces roadway congestion, and helps the environment.

All signs point to a healthy increase in cycling participation for 2009. According to statistics recently released by the National Sporting Goods Association, the number of bicycle participants in the US has risen from 40 million in 2007 to 44.7 million in 2008. With National Bike Month in May and the introduction of the Drive and Cycle concept, it appears that cycling is about to revisit its roots as a viable form of transportation.

SwissBike is a division of the Montague Corporation which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is dedicated to advancing cycling through the development of inventive technologies that provide its customers with an unprecedented combination of performance and convenience. Visit http://www.swissbike.com or call toll free (800) 736-5348 for more information about SwissBike products and technologies.