In the last decade, the bicycle has become a central element of urban mobility in many European cities. Faced with the increasing challenges of pollution, traffic jams and climate change, local authorities saw the advantages of bicycle traffic and began to systematically develop it. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend. Thousands of people across Europe have started using bicycles as a safe and flexible means of transportation.
Leaders in transformation: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin
Amsterdam has been known as the “cycling capital of the world” for decades. But even today Amsterdam does not stop investing in infrastructure. The city has more than 500 km of bicycle paths and about one million bicycles, which is more than the number of inhabitants. Special attention is paid to bicycle parking, with garages that can accommodate thousands of bicycles.
Copenhagen is also among the leading cities – every day more than 40% of residents go to work by bicycle. The city is investing in “Cycle Superhighways”. This patch will connect suburbs with the center, with minimal stops and priority at traffic lights.
Paris has taken a revolutionary turn. From 2015 to 2023, the city doubled the number of cycle lanes, abolished car parking spaces to make room for cyclists and introduced a green wave at traffic lights for those on two wheels. During 2022, bicycle traffic increased by as much as 166% compared to 2019.
Over the past five years, Berlin has invested more than 50 million euros in cycling infrastructure, including pop-up cycle lanes and safety features at intersections. The city has the ambition that by 2030, 30% of all trips will be made by bicycle.
Impact on traffic and quality of life
Investing in bicycle traffic has multiple benefits. Studies show that increasing the number of cyclists reduces the pressure on public transport, relieves traffic congestion and significantly contributes to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. In London, for example, cycling has been estimated to have saved the city more than £1 billion through reduced pollution costs and improved public health.
Also, safety improves when the number of cyclists increases – the well-known “safety in numbers” effect shows that the more cyclists there are, the more drivers notice them and ride more carefully.
Conclusion: The future of cities is two-way – but with more places for bicycles
European cities that dared to give more space to cyclists are reaping the fruits of that policy today. Better mobility, healthier population, less pollution and lower costs of transport infrastructure – these are all the benefits that bicycle traffic brings.
The future of urban mobility is sustainable, quiet and healthy. And the bicycle, a simple and affordable means of transportation, plays a key role in that future.
