Gas price may make people talk about buying bikes, but I doubt it will result in more sales. As the article states, bikes are thought of as diversions here, not practical tools - and that's not going to change anytime soon. There are too many compromises people have to make to use one as daily transportation, and society here is not big on compromise - hair gets messed up, no a/c or heater (unless you're on a 'wing, LT, etc...), rain protection, storage, passenger accommodations (especially kids), and of course, safety. As riders already, we don't mind any of these - or at least overlook them. Someone who isn't interested in anything except transportation likely won't.
Maybe, when wagons become more popular than SUV's, bikes will start to become more than a diversion to most people. I'm not holding my breath.
