Thanks in part to high gas prices, buyers are keenly interested in homes that are in close proximity to bike trails, according to reports from real estate practitioners in bicycle-friendly areas.

Craig Della Penna, an associate with Murphys Realtors Inc. in Northampton, Mass., estimates that half of his 18 closings last year came from emphasizing homes near bike trails.

Danny Davis, a top producer for Citi Habitats, says, “It’s no secret that biking is the most efficient way to apartment hunt in this city.”

Matt Kolb in Bolder, Colo., started his bike-focused agency, Pedal To Properties, 16 months ago. He now has a fleet of bikes for buyers to use. Every Wednesday evening, he leads a tour of at least six houses.

In Portland, Ore, Prudential Northwest Properties associate Kirsten Kaufman, regularly meets shoppers at a bike-friendly coffee shop then leads them on bike rides to tour houses in nearby neighborhoods.

“Wouldn’t this be great to just roll your bike out of in the morning?” she cheerfully asks a couple of prospects, pointing out the easy-access garage.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nancy Keates 08/22/