Statistics and Numbers about Bicycling
A Handy Guide to Convincing Anyone Cycling's the Way to Go
Buckle up, folks! You're about to uncover some mind-blowing perks that come with cycling — from lip-smacking environmental wins to unexpected health benefits and a financially sound future. Read on to join the cyclists' worldwide movement!
Let's get the Ball Rolling
- Earth is home to approximately 1 billion bicycles, with China leading the way (450 million) followed by a cycling-loving Netherlands (17 million inhabitants own 23 million cycles!).*
- In Europe, around 8.0% of folks rely on the bicycle for frequent transportation (that's 41 million people!).
- With Poland, Chile, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic leading the pack (+10% growth in Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, and France), the bicycle buzz is spreading fast!
- China, most surprisingly, is the globe's largest producer of bicycles, with the EU manufacturing over 11.4 million bicycles in 2019 (Portugal: 2.7 million, Italy: 2.1 million, Germany: 1.5 million).
- In Copenhagen, Denmark ("The City of Cyclists"), an impressive 52% of populace commute by bike daily.
- Quit moming about speed — a bike beats a car in city traffic.
- The average cycling distance? A friendly 3km (Netherlands data).
Want to delve deeper? The Worldwide Cycling Index is your go-to source!
Our One and Only Planet Earth
- In the EU, 16 million tons of CO2 equivalents are spared annually due to cycling, equating to potential savings of up to €600 million.*
- Cycling carries a moderate carbon footprint, at around 21g of CO2 per kilometer versus cars' 122.4g of CO2 per kilometer (new EU cars).
- Cycling saves 1kg of CO2 for every 7km traveled, compared to a car journey, and helps reduce traffic by up to 45% with improved infrastructure.
- Bicycles are a featherweight, at just 1.5% of a car's weight, saving crucial resources during production.
- Environmental no-no's like platinum and palladium, used in cars but not bikes, are kept out of harm's way. Parking becomes a cinch, too: a single car spot hosts up to 10 bicycles!
Be Healthily Happy
- Suffocating air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths annually. Cycling and physical activity help counteract this toxic trend.*
- 50 million Europeans are exposed to damaging noise levels that may lead to premature deaths.
- By cycling daily, you lower your mortality risk by up to 30%.
- Cycling fends off various diseases, including: Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, colon cancer, osteoporosis.
- Physical activity reduces the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 29%, while curbing depression odds.
- Improved concentration and less absenteeism characterize cyclists commuting to work.
- For children, cycling aids better academic performance and reduced fatigue.
- Safer streets lead to fewer cycling accidents, cycling being less dangerous overall.
Leaving No Stone Unturned
- The EU bicycle market is poised to grow by a staggering 5.5% each year until 2022, while the car market stagnates (1.7% growth until 2024).*
- Projected sales of electric bicycles worldwide in 2023: 40.3 million (up from 31.7 million in 2014).
- Employment in the EU cycling tourism sector stands at a robust 525,000 workers. The EU sees an estimated 2.3 billion cycle tourism trips per year, generating an enticing economic value of €44 billion!
- Cyclists prove more inclined to patronize local businesses than car users.
Not convinced yet? Check out this brochure by the European Cyclists' Federation for additional insights.
Feeling inspired? Jump on over to our article "Creating a Bike-Friendly City" to learn practical steps towards fostering bike-friendly infrastructure in your city.
- Cycling is an essential part of health-and-wellness, with daily cycling lowering the mortality risk by up to 30%. This physical activity can counteract air pollution, fend off various diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and even help reduce depression odds.
- In the environmental-science sector, the use of bicycles spares approximately 16 million tons of CO2 equivalents annually in the EU alone, saving up to €600 million. With electric bicycles projected to reach 40.3 million worldwide by 2023, the bicycle market is growing significantly, while the car market stagnates. The EU's cycling tourism sector employs 525,000 workers and generates an economic value of €44 billion from annual cycle tourism trips.
