"Driving cars is expensive nowadays. Oil prices are going to remain at a high level," said Fabian Kuster, a spokesman for the European Cyclists' Federation in Brussels. For short-distance commutes, he added, "a bike is faster in the city and takes up less space." Paris, Barcelona and other cities in Europe have introduced bicycle loan programs that allow commuters to pick up bicycles at stands outside train stations. All that is needed is a swipe of a credit card to guarantee the bike will be returned.