In these sluggish economic times, the business of biking is enjoying a resurgence across York County.

Area bike stores say sales are up and repair jobs are keeping them busier than ever. Elected officials say they're working to add more bike lanes to area roads. And a local cycling club says its numbers are climbing.

Across the country, more people are turning to bikes as they search for ways to avoid high gas prices and aggravating traffic jams. The trend is playing out locally at businesses such as College Cycles on Oakland Avenue near Winthrop University.

"You always had college students who were riding for transportation," said Robert Baker, now in his 18th year as manager. "Now, you've got a lot more diversity. We're at the beginning of a change. We're going to start driving less and riding more. We have to."

It's not just new bike sales. Former riders are dusting off their old two-wheelers and bringing them in for repairs, said Andrew Morrison, manager at the Rock Hill Bicycle Shop on Ebenezer Road.

The store cleared 100 repair jobs in July, more than any month since it opened in 2005.

"A lot of people are saying, 'I'm going to start running some errands on my bike,'" Morrison said. "As more people do that, other people see them, and they're, like, 'Oh, I could do that.' It kind of builds on itself."

The uptick mirrors national figures that show more Americans are eager to push the pedals. In June, nearly 11,000 first-time riders took part in Bike to Work Day in Denver, organizers estimated.

An estimated 131,000 people pedal to work in New York, up 77 percent since 2000, according to a group called Transportation Alternatives, which advocates bicycling, walking and public transit.

Some cyclists say Rock Hill and York County have lagged in preparing for the change in culture.

"We have bike paths in the city, and unfortunately, they don't tend to go anywhere," Baker said. "I don't see a bike lane on Oakland Avenue, I don't see a bike lane on Cherry Road. They're making progress, but not nearly at a fast enough rate."

That's true, said York County Councilman Rick Lee, long known as a proud and avid bike rider.

"It's a gradual process," Lee said. "You just have to keep after it. I think we're making progress. It's good that people are impatient. As they're impatient, it'll keep the pressure on."

The future looks more promising. In the 2003 "Pennies for Progress" road-improvement program, voters approved 34 miles of bike lanes, including:

*Mount Gallant Road, Ebinport Road and Eden Terrace between the Winthrop Coliseum and Anderson Road in Rock Hill.

*A series of rural two-lane roads in western York County known as the Nemitz Loop.

Plans for a new U.S. 21 bridge over the Catawba River call for 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides. A network of trails will connect Rock Hill's downtown area to Manchester Village and other landmarks near the Catawba River.

Cyclists are working with city leaders to help Rock Hill earn recognition as a bike-friendly city. Spartanburg already holds the designation, which recognizes cities that provide bike racks, lanes and similar options.

Steve Shepard, president of the Rock Hill Bicycle Club, remembers a time when a handful of riders would show up to the group's weekly Monday night rides.

Now, more than 500 members are transforming the club from a social gathering into an advocacy group that can exert influence on public policy.

"It was more of a niche sport; there were a few hardcore cyclists," Shepard recalled. "It's starting to broaden its base to appeal to people who are commuting. People are seeing it more as a mode of transportation than just a recreational outlet."

Matt Garfield *329-4063