Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are

Increase in number is correct idiom. Only B used correct idiom.

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I went with B.

In A, I asked myself what is the role of being in the sentence? Is it acting as a modifier? In that case, what is it modifying? an increasing number? Do we really need being to modify an increasing number? The answer is no in my view. If we drop being from the sentence, it makes no difference to the meaning. This implies being, as used in the context, is redundant.

In B, an increase in the number used for both transportation and recreation is succinct and clear. used for both transportation and recreation is a participial phrase that modifies the number, and the number, in turn, modifies an increase. This option is superior to A. Eliminate A and keep B.

In C, increasing numbers doesn't make much sense. In order to clear doubts as to what numbers refer to, it has to be modified with an of phrase. For instance, increasing numbers of bikes/cycles that are used for both transportation and recreation. Even if it were so, C would still have suffered from lack of brevity just as A did, compared to B. that are used for transportation and recreation is wordy compared to used for transportation and recreation. Eliminate C.

The use of being in D is redundant just as it is in A. The trick is to remove being and see if the sentence still makes sense. Eliminate D.

The same old redundant use of being in A and D is repeated in E. Eliminate E.

B is the best answer.

A) Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are probably still relegated to garages and basements, the rising price of motor fuels has led to an increasing number being used for both transportation and recreation.

B) Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are probably still relegated to garages and basements, the rising price of motor fuels has led to an increase in the number used for both transportation and recreation.

C) Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are probably still relegated to garages and basements, the rising price of motor fuels has led to increasing numbers that are used for both transportation and recreation.

D) Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are probably still relegated to garages and basements, the rising price of motor fuels has led to an increased number being used for both transportation and recreation.

E) Although most of the hundred million bicycles in the United States are probably still relegated to garages and basements, the rising price of motor fuels has led to an increase in the numbers being used for both transportation and recreation.

I went with B

But it was a bit of a tough choice between B and E.

The rest of the options (A,C,D) make it sound as if number/numbers was a standalone noun that was used for transportation and recreation. It was fun imagining a person riding an 8 around the city

In B and E the phrase "increase IN the number/numbers" made more sense as it would have us ask the question - "number/s of what?"

Between B and E, E seems to lean towards making numbers a standalone noun by following it up with "being". Most answers with "being" also tend to be cancelled on grounds of redundancy or fragmentation. Finally, "numbers of bicycles" seems too odd to use in this context - "number" would be better. So went with B instead.

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