Cycling Statistics

Posted on 22 August, 2023 by Rhys Smith

Top cycling statistics

  • Over 51 million people in the US cycle each year.
  • Men dominated cycling. For every 3 male riders, there is just 1 female cyclist.
  • There are 1 billion bicycles in use around the world.
  • China is the biggest producer and exporter of bikes. With 500 million bikes, they also have the most units in their country.
  • 58% of the Netherlands population commute using their bikes, making the Netherlands the number one country that rides bikes the most.
  • About 7% of all urban trips worldwide are done by bicycle.
  • The global industry of bicycles is estimated to be worth $69 billion in 2023.
  • By 2032, the bicycle market value is predicted to grow to $138 billion.
  • High-quality bikes with high-end parts cost more than $1,200, on average.
  • Lower-end bikes, on the other hand, can be purchased at prices lower than $250.
  • The bicycle accessories market size was valued at $12.5 billion in 2022.
  • By 2030, the forecasted value of the industry of bicycle gears and components is $25 billion.
  • The components that dominated the overall market in 2022 are the saddles, with almost 24% of the market allocated.
  • The components with the least market share are mirrors and water bottle cages, each covering 8.3% of the market.
  • The bicycle types that are expected to have the highest sales figures in the bicycle accessories industry are road bikes and MTB, with 39.3% and 22.2% of the market.
  • 21.3% of bike users switched from conventional bikes to e-bikes.
  • E-bikes are heavier than normal bikes by 10 kg.
  • The average cycling speed worldwide is 13.5 mph.
  • The average pace of women cyclists is 12.1 mph while men cyclists is 13.7 mph.
  • The use of a helmet decreases the risk of head injury by 85%.
  • 54% of cycling deaths are cyclists without helmets.
  • The longest bike ever has a length of 135 feet and 10.7 inches.
  • The largest bike ever has a wheel diameter of 10 feet and 9.92 inches.

Cycling demographics

  • In the US, cycling is the 3rd most popular outdoor activity with more than 51 million Americans riding a bike every year.
  • Around 870,000 Americans, or 0.6% of all employees in the US, bike to work.
  • In big cities, 1.1% of commuters go to work by cycling.
  • Outside the major cities, only 0.3% of employees get to their workplaces by biking.
  • 1% of commuters from ages 16 to 24 travel to work by cycling.
  • 0.7% from the 25 to 44 age bracket get to their jobs by bike.
  • 0.4% of 45-year-old and older workers commute by bicycle. 
  • In New York, 100,000 individuals ride to work every day.
  • Americans who commuted by cycling grew by 21% in 2020.
  • Since 2000, the percentage of people who biked to work in the US has increased by 43%.
  • 51% of American adults bike compared to 15% who run.
  • Globally, 42% of households have at least one bike. This roughly equates to over 580 million bikes.
  • In 2021, 10 billion miles with 480.2 billion feet of elevation gain were clocked in by cyclists around the world in Strava.
  • In 2020, 103 million people rode a bicycle.
  • For every 3 male cyclists, there is only 1 female cyclist.
  • Out of all the bicycle trips made, 76% are done by men while 24% are done by women.
  • With between 37% to 45% of women cyclists, the Twin Cities boasts one of the highest numbers of female bikers in the US.

How many bikes are there per country?

  • The estimated number of bicycles around the world is 1 billion. However, this figure is believed to have grown drastically during the pandemic.
  • Every day, 364,000 bicycles are manufactured and 47,670 bicycles are being sold.
  • China is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bicycles, producing 60% of bikes worldwide. It has 500 million bikes in use in the country.
  • It is followed by the US with 120 million bikes. 86% of the bikes sold in America are actually shipped in from China
  • There are 75 million bicycles in Japan, putting them third in line.
  • In Germany, 62 million bikes exist.
  • Next country with the highest number of bicycles is Brazil with 42 million units.
  • In Europe, the highest bicycle exporter is Portugal which exported 15% of all bicycles.
  • The biggest importer in the country, on the other hand, is the UK which accounted for 18% of all the ship ins.

Country

Number of bicycles

China

500,000,000

USA

120,000,000

Japan

75,000,000

Germany

62,000,000

Brazil

42,000,000

India

32,000,000

Italy

24,000,000

Indonesia

22,000,000

UK/France

20,000,000

Netherlands

16,500,000

Which countries ride the bike the most?

  • Approximately 7% of urban trips in the world are by bicycle.
  • 60% of worldwide urban trips are completed by bicycle in Chinese cities.
  • The Netherlands has the most daily bike riders in the world. 58% of the population use their bike for transportation 2 times per week or more.
  • This is followed by Germany with 36% of their population who commutes with a bike.
  • Same with Germany, India has 36% of people use cycling to go places twice or more in a week.
  • Fourth in line is Sweden with 31% of bike riders.
  • With 30% of the population who maximise biking for transportation, Finland comes fifth.
  • South Africa and the United States come in 15th and 16th place, with 14% and 13% of people who bike at least two times a week or more frequently. 

Country

Percentage of the Population

Netherlands

58%

Germany

36%

India

36%

Sweden

31%

Finland

30%

Brazil

29%

Switzerland

28%

Italy

26%

China

25%

Spain

24%

Russia

22%

France

18%

Canada

17%

UK

15%

South Africa

14%

US

13%

Global bicycle market size

  • The estimated global revenue of bicycles in 2023 is around $69 billion.
  • The market size of bikes in 2022 was $64 billion.
  • In 2021, the bicycle market generated a revenue of $60 billion.
  • The bicycle industry is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 8% from 2022 to 2032. 
  • In 2032, the bicycle market is estimated to reach $138 billion.
  • During the pandemic, bike sales in the US expanded by 25% in 2020 and 30% in 2021 compared to the 2019 sales.

Year

Market value (in billion)

2015

$39.98

2016

$42.78

2017

$45.77

2018

$48.98

2019

$52.41

2020

$56.07

2021

$60.00

2022

$64.00

2023

$69.12

2024

$74.65

2025

$80.62

2026

$87.07

2027

$94.04

2028

$101.56

2029

$109.68

2030

$118.46

2031

$127.94

2032

$138.17

The average price of bicycle per type

  • Ordinary bikes that are usually sold in department stores cost less than $250 on average.
  • Entry-level bikes that are used for leisure or commutes are usually priced around $250 to $500.
  • Entry-level road bikes, as well as average-quality commute bikes are worth between $500 to $750. 
  • Mid-range road and mountain bikes are in the price range of $750 to $1,200.
  • Bikes with superior quality and first-rate components are over $1,200.
  • It is advisable to invest $1,000 to $2,500 on your first bike unless it’s only an occasional hobby.

Bicycle’s level of quality

Average price

Low-end bikes

<$250

Basic, entry-level recreation bikes

$250-$500

Mid-range recreation bikes and entry-level road bikes

$500-$750

High-quality recreation bikes, entry-level to mid-range MTB and road bikes

$750-$1,200

Higher end bikes

>$1,200

Global bicycle accessories market size

  • The forecasted revenue of bicycle accessories in 2023 is $13.44 billion.
  • The market size of bike apparel in 2022 was $12.5 billion.
  • The offline sales network of bicycle accessories accounted for a 55% market share in 2022. The online sales channel, on the other hand, covered the remaining 45%.
  • The global market value in 2021 was $12 billion, which grew by 4.2% in 2022.
  • On the other hand, the US market of bike accessories was valued at $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
  • The market size for bike gears and accessories worldwide is predicted to soar at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% from 2022 to 2032.
  • The global bicycle accessories market is expected to reach over $25 billion by 2030.

Year

Market value (in billion)

2021

$12.00

2022

$12.5

2023

$13.44

2024

$14.45

2025

$15.53

2026

$16.69

2027

$17.95

2028

$19.29

2029

$20.74

2030

$22.29

2031

$23.97

2032

$25.76

The global market value of bicycle accessories by component

  • The anticipated leading component in the 2023 market size of all bicycle accessories are pedals followed by saddles, taking 23.2% and 19.5% of the sales figure, respectively.
  • The projected market value of pedals and saddles in 2023 is estimated at around $3.11 billion and $2.62 billion.
  • In 2022, the pedal component also had the most market share in all the bike accessories with an almost 24% market portion or around $2.96 billion.
  • The next component that dominated the overall market in 2022 is the saddle, covering about 19% of the revenue which is approximately worth $2.32 billion.
  • In 2021, pedals accounted for 22.8%, saddles for 18.8%, fenders, and mud flaps for 12.8%, locks for 12.1%, lighting systems for 11.4%, mirrors for 8.7%, water bottle cages for 8%, and others covered 5.4%.

Component

Market share in 2021

Market share in 2022

Market share in 2023

Saddles

18.8%

18.6%

19.5%

Pedals

22.8%

23.7%

23.2%

Lighting System

11.4%

10.9%

11%

Mirrors

8.7%

8.3%

8.5%

Water Bottle Cages

8%

8.3%

7.3%

Locks

12.1%

11.5%

12.8%

Fenders & Mud Flaps

12.8%

13.5%

12.8%

Others

5.4%

5.1%

4.9%

Global market share of bicycle accessories by bicycle type

  • In 2023, road and mountain bikes are anticipated to dominate the bicycle accessories industry with 39.3% and 22.2% of market shares, respectively.
  • The bicycle type with the most bicycle accessories market share in 2022 was the road bike covering 39.4% of the market.
  • The next with the second-highest share of the bike accessories market is the MTB.
  • Cargo bike is the bicycle type with the least market share with only 3.9%.

Bicycle type

Market share in 2021

Market share in 2022

Market share in 2023

Road

39.2%

39.4%

39.3%

MTB

22.5%

22.8%

22.2%

Hybrid

16.7%

15.7%

15.6%

Cargo

3.3%

3.9%

4.4%

Others

18.3%

18.1%

18.5%

E-bikes statistics

  • In America, e-bikes move up to 28 mph on average.
  • There are approximately 300 million e-bikes in the world.
  • In 2023, the projected market value of e-bikes worldwide is estimated at $33.69 billion.
  • The global market size for electric bikes in 2021 is $26.73 billion.
  • The compound annual growth rate or CAGR of the e-bike market between 2021 and 2027 is 12.27%.
  • Consequently, the global e-bike market is expected to expand to $53.53 billion in 2027.
  • 21.3% of cyclists converted their bikes to e-bikes.
  • In China, 36 million electronic bikes are produced every year.
  • E-bikes are 10 kg heavier than standard bikes.

Year

Market value (in billion)

2021

$26.73

2022

$30.01

2023

$33.69

2024

$37.83

2025

$42.47

2026

$47.68

2027

$53.53

Bike speed statistics

  • The global average cycling speed is 13.5 mph.
  • According to Strava, the average cycling speed of women is 12.1 mph while the cycling speed of men is 13.7 mph.
  • A beginner cyclist has an average speed of 8 to 12 mph.
  • An intermediate cyclist bikes at an average pace of 12 to 16 mph.
  • Advanced and professional cyclists are much faster at average speeds of 16 to 24 mph and greater than 24 mph, respectively.
  • On roadways that are meant for bikes, the average cycling speed is from 7.7 mph to 16.4 mph.
  • In 2018, Denise Mueller-Korenek recorded the fastest cycling speed at 183.9 mph.
  • The fastest speed achieved on an indoor treadmill is 207.91 mph, recorded by Bruce Bursford.
  • The average bike commute distance in the US is about 3 to 4 miles.

Cyclist’s skill level

Average cycling speed

Beginner

8-12 mph

Intermediate

12-16 mph

Advanced

16-24 mph

Professional

>24 mph

Average cycling speed by bicycle type

Bicycle type

At zero elevation

At 5% inclines

Competitive downhill

Road bike

14-18 mph

8-12 mph

-

MTB

10-14 mph

4-8 mph

29-32 mph

Hybrid

12-16 mph

6-10 mph

-

Bicycle accident statistics

  • 2% of the total car crash fatalities in America involve cyclists.
  • Deaths caused by cycling increased by 5% from 2020 to 2021.
  • In 2018, approximately 857 bike riders died due to traffic accidents, with 79% of these deaths being in urban areas.
  • Drivers who attempted to overtake bike lanes between intersections resulted in 25% of bike rider deaths.
  • Wearing a helmet while cycling can reduce up to 85% chance of acquiring a head injury.
  • The typical bike commute times are from 6 AM to 8 AM and 6 PM to 10 PM. Consequently, these times have low-light conditions and the highest number of deaths by bike crashes.
  • Downhill mountain bikers have an injury rate of 43 injuries per 1,000 hours cycled.
  • 54% of bicycling fatalities involve cyclists without helmets.
  • 29% of death victims of cycling are found wearing a helmet.
  • The remaining 17% are not determined, whether they are wearing a helmet or not.

Cycling fun facts

  • The minimum speed to which bicycles can balance on their own without wobbling is around 8 mph. 
  • The first bike helmet was produced 300 years after bicycles became widely used.
  • The longest bicycle in the world measured 135 feet and 10.7 inches.
  • The largest bike, on the other hand, has wheels that measure 10 feet and 9.92 inches in diameter.
  • Riding a bike is three times faster than walking.
  • Fifteen bikes can fit in the same area that a car occupies.
  • The number of bicycles is double the number of cars in the world.
  • Approximately 100 million bicycles are produced globally per year.
  • Every year, the 19th individual in the world buys a bicycle.
  • The manufacturing rate for bicycles is 2.5 times higher than for cars.
  • Only 1% of total road traffic is comprised of cyclists. 
  • The most bike-friendly country is Denmark. 9 out of 10 of their population own a bike.
  • 25% of all the trips in Denmark shorter than a 5-km distance are cycled.
  • Every year, there are approximately 15 million bicycles are disposed of by their owners.
  • The highest bicycle expenses per user recorded from 2007 to 2016 was $23.02 in 2015.
  • The lowest bicycle expenses per user in the same period was $13.69 in 2008.
  • In the US, 188,500 bicycles are stolen every year.
  • The bicycle theft count in the UK is even higher at 400,000 bikes per year.

Sources

https://www.statista.com/statistics/674381/size-global-market-electric-bicycles/

https://www.statista.com/chart/25156/share-using-bike-for-transportation-regularly/

https://completetri.com/cycling-and-biking-statistics/

https://www.livestrong.com/article/13730398-cycling-statistics/

https://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/burning_calories/cycling-burns-calories.htm#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20cycling%20burns%20over,while%20men%20will%20burn%20450

https://www.actionaid.org.uk/blog/2021/03/19/8-weird-and-wonderful-facts-you-didnt-know-about-cycling

https://www.worldcycletours.com/blog/2019/22-interesting-facts-about-cycling

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/ten-fun-facts-about-bikes

https://www.bikethesites.com/how-many-bicycles-are-in-the-world/

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/bicycle-accessories-market-report#:~:text=The%20global%20bicycle%20accessories%20market%20size%20was%20estimated%20at%20USD,USD%2012.14%20billion%20in%202023.

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/bicycle-accessories-market

https://www.nsc.org/safety-first/bicycle-safety-statistics-may-surprise-you

https://www.pioneersportscolorado.com/bike-statistics-and-facts-2019/

https://www.bicycle-guider.com/bike-facts-stats/

https://www.factmr.com/report/bicycle-market

https://www.ridepace.com/how-much-are-bikes/

https://www.bikelockwiki.com/average-cycling-speed/

Author
Rhys Smith
Rhys Smith
Rhys is an expert in all things cycling and bicycles who at a young age pursued the dream of becoming a professional cyclist by racing for a French and then Belgian road racing team at the Elite level. He is heavily involved in the cycling scene and runs one of Australia’s highest-rated online bicycle parts stores. He’s THE expert when it comes to testing cycling shoes.