CO2 emissions savings
Cycling saves emissions equaling more than 16 million tons of CO2 equivalents per year in the EU.
Reduction of air pollution
Value of reduced air pollution through cycling: 435 million euros
Reduction of noise pollution
The value of reduced noise pollution through cycling is 300 million euros.
Noise pollution from road traffic is the cause of around 8 900 premature deaths and almost 800 000 additional cases of hypertension per year in Europe.
Fuel Savings
The current levels of cycling in the EU correspond to fuel savings of more than 3 billion litres per year, which corresponds to the fuel consumption for road transport of a country like Ireland.
Vehicle Production
The average weight of a car in the EU in 2017 was almost 1400 kg, a bike rarely weighs more than 20 kg, or 1.5% of the weight of a car. This means that much less resources are needed for its construction.
Longer + healthier lives: Reduced mortality + morbidity
Cycling prevents 18 110 premature deaths per year in the EU-28. This corresponds to an economic value of EUR 52 bn per year.
Public Health
Engaging in moderate physical activity reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s disease by 29% and for cognitive decline by about 26%.
Employees that cycle to work regularly have on average 1.3 days less sickness absence per year. This means a gain of almost 5 bn EUR per year for employers around the EU.
Bicycle manufacturing and related industries
The value of the bicycle market in Europe was estimated at 13.2 bn EUR in 2016.
It is expected to grow with an annual rate of 5.5% until 2022.
Cycle tourism
There is an estimated number of 2.3 billion cycle tourism trips per year in the EU, which stand for a total economic value of 44 bn EUR.
Cycle tourism is linked to ca. 525 000 jobs in the EU.
Cycle logistics
Cargo bikes have the potential to replace the following share of motorised trips in urban areas:
+23-25 %ofthecommercialdeliveriesincities
+50 %ofthecommercialserviceandmaintenancetrips
+ 77% of private logistics trips (shopping, leisure, child transport)
