It is probably no surprise to you that cycling is a great thing to do. But do you have all the facts you need to convince even the most car-loving person to switch to the bicycle?
This article will provide you with key facts and figures about cycling and the benefits it can have on the environment and your social and physical wellbeing. Keep reading for the grand cycling expertise!
Let’s Start With the Basics
- There are approximately 1 billion bicycles in the world
- Most bikes are found in China (450 million)
- The Netherlands is the nation with the most bicycles per capita, 17 million inhabitants own 23 million bicycles
- In Europe, 8.0% of people use the bike frequently for transport (41 million people)
- The countries with the largest growth in numbers of bicycles counted (+10%) are: Poland, Chile, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic (5-10% growth in Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and France)
- China is the biggest producer of bicycles
- The EU produced over 11.4 million bicycles in 2019, Portugal manufactured 2.7 million bicycles followed by Italy (2.1 million) and Germany (1.5 million)
- In Copenhagen, Denmark – the “City of Cyclists” – 52% of the population use the bike for their daily commute
- A bike is faster in a city than a car
- The average cycling distance is 3km (measured in the Netherlands)
Interested in knowing more? We’d recommend you to take a look at the Worldwide Cycling Index.
We Only Have One Planet Earth
- In the EU, 16 million tons of CO2 equivalents per year are saved through cycling
- Value of the savings are up to 600 million Euros
- Cycling has a carbon footprint of 21g of CO2 per kilometre
- A car produces 122.4g of CO2 per kilometre (new passenger cars in the EU)
- 7km by bicycle save an emission of 1 kilogram of CO2 as compared to the same distance by car
- Improving cycling infrastructure results in 45% less car traffic
- Cycling saves resources: A bike only weighs 1.5% of the weight of a car, meaning that fewer resources are needed to build it
- Environmentally damaging resources such as platinum or palladium are not used to manufacture bikes (they are used for the construction of cars, though)
- Cycling saves space: One car parking spot equals 10 bicycles
Healthy Lifestyle, Happy Life
- Air pollution causes 7 million (WHO) premature deaths per year; cycling and physical activity are the best ways to counteract
- 50 million people in Europe are exposed to damaging noise levels that can cause premature deaths
- Cycling lowers premature mortality by up to 30%
- Cycling helps to prevent
- Type 2 diabetes
- Breast cancer
- Cardio-vascular diseases
- Colon cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Physical activity reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s disease by up to 29%
- The odds for developing depression are lower if one takes part in moderate physical activity
- The average concentration level of adults is higher if they cycle to work
- Cycling to work also results in 1.3 fewer sick days per year on average
- For children, cycling results in less fatigue, more attendance, and better academic performance
- More cyclists on the streets equal fewer cycling accidents
Money, Money, Money
- The EU bicycle market is expected to grow with an annual rate of 5.5% until 2022 (car market only by 1.7% until 2024)
- Projected sales of E-bikes worldwide in 2023: 40.3 million (2014: 31.7 million)
- In the EU, 525.000 people work in cycling tourism
- There are an estimated 2.3 billion cycle tourism trips in the EU per year which correspond to 44Bn Euro economic value
- Cyclists are more likely to shop locally and spend more money than car users
As you might have already guessed, cycling is also a big social benefactor. As a bike is much cheaper than a car, cycling offers an affordable form of transportation for people with low income, minors and elderly people.
Cyclists all over the world would further agree that cycling connects people from various backgrounds. Cycling causes a vast sense of community worldwide! Moreover, investment in cycling infrastructure will benefit pedestrians and people with disabilities as well.
Still not enough numbers for you? Check out this brochure by the European Cyclists’ Federation.
All set to take action now? Head over to our article “How to make a city bike-friendly” to see how you take the first steps towards real changes in the cycling infrastructure of your city.