The history of the bicycle is a captivating journey through two centuries, characterised by numerous innovations and cultural changes. The forerunner of today’s bicycle is the draisine (a two-wheeled vehicle without pedals) invented by Karl von Drais. Riders propelled it by pushing themselves against the ground with their feet, similar to the way children use balance bikes today. Later, in 1860, the first pedal-powered bicycle was invented in France. The velocipede had pedals attached to the front wheel, but this led to a very rough ride on the cobbled streets of the time, hence the nickname “boneshaker”
Ten years later, the penny-farthing with its large front wheel and small rear wheel was considered a significant improvement in terms of speed and efficiency, but was also quite dangerous due to its high centre of gravity. The bicycle as we know it today, with equally large wheels and a chain-driven rear wheel, was developed in the 1880s. in 1888, John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre, which significantly improved the comfort and speed of bicycles. In the 1890s, the bicycle became an absolute must. Almost anyone could learn to ride a bicycle, and almost everyone did. The bicycle also played a role in the emancipation of women, as it offered them more mobility and a symbol of freedom. After the great wars, the popularity of the bicycle declined in many Western countries as the car and cheap oil emerged. In many developing countries, however, they remained indispensable.
Recently, interest in bicycles has increased significantly, mainly due to debates and concerns about health, climate change and urban congestion. Innovations in materials (e.g. carbon fibre), design (e.g. mountain bikes and road bikes) and electric bikes (e-bikes) have contributed significantly to this development. The 21st century brought a boom in the production of different types of bikes, including mountain bikes, racing bikes, hybrid bikes and e-bikes. Bike-sharing alternatives and infrastructure improvements in many cities have promoted the bicycle as a sustainable mode of transport. Bicycles today are equipped with advanced technology, e.g. electronic gears, GPS navigation and intelligent sensors. In the meantime, the e-bike industry has experienced rapid growth, making cycling even more accessible and popular.
Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world today. Founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Taiwan, the company produces a wide range of bicycles, including road bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes. Giant Manufacturing is known for its innovative designs and high-quality products. It has production facilities in Taiwan, the Netherlands and China and distributes around 70 per cent of the bicycles sold worldwide, making the company a leader in both production volume and market reach.
In Europe, the largest competitor is the Accell Group N.V. from the Netherlands, which owns a number of well-known bicycle brands such as Raleigh, Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus and Koga. The company produces a wide range of bicycles, from traditional models to e-bikes, and is recognised as a major player in the European market, known for its innovation, quality and extensive distribution network throughout Europe.
China is the world’s largest bicycle market in terms of sales. The great popularity of bicycles among the Chinese is due to the fact that the country attaches great importance to environmentally friendly means of transport, the bicycle infrastructure in urban areas has recently been expanded at an accelerated pace and health and fitness awareness is increasing among the population. The market for e-bikes is also booming in China, along with an extensive network of bike-sharing programmes
As far as Europe is concerned, Germany represents the largest market on the continent, with a strong cycling culture supported by an extensive infrastructure, many kilometres of dedicated cycle paths and bike-friendly urban planning. The growth of the German market is also favoured by numerous government initiatives to promote cycling, which strengthen the population’s environmental awareness, while cycling is perceived as a healthy way of life. The e-bike segment in particular has experienced accelerated growth in recent years.
Despite all this, the Netherlands is the country with the most bicycles per capita in Europe. With a long-standing and deep-rooted cycling culture, where the bicycle is the main mode of transport for many Dutch people, the Netherlands offers an extensive and impressive cycling infrastructure with bike-friendly cities and extensive bike parking facilities, making cycling a convenient and popular choice for both commuting and leisure. It is said that there are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands (around 23 million bicycles in a country of around 17 million inhabitants), which perfectly reflects the declared Dutch commitment to a sustainable and healthy lifestyle.
The transition from using the bicycle as a leisure activity to an environmentally friendly means of transport in everyday life took place gradually over the years. The infrastructure of large cities, which used to be unfriendly and dangerous for cyclists, is now designed in many parts of Europe as if it were specifically designed for cyclists. With the significant increase of cyclists on the roads, the need for stricter regulations for this activity has also arisen. In most European countries, cyclists are not allowed to ride without holding the handlebars with at least one hand, are not allowed to be towed by cars and must have bicycles with working brakes, bells and night lights. Some countries have also introduced additional requirements in terms of visibility, wearing a helmet, special seats for children and a minimum age for cycling in road traffic.
The first cycle paths in Europe were built in cities at the beginning of the 20th century, starting in the 1920s and 1930s. However, the pioneers were the Netherlands, where the city of Utrecht built separate cycle paths as early as 1885. Berlin began building cycle paths in the 1920s, Copenhagen a decade later. After the Second World War, cycling declined due to increasing car use, but since the 1970s there has been a resurgence of interest in cycling infrastructure, particularly in the Netherlands and Denmark, which openly prioritised cycling in urban planning and significantly expanded their cycle path networks, setting an example for other European cities.
Today, the Netherlands is the European country with the most extensive network of cycle paths covering the entire country. Dutch cities such as Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam are particularly well known for their well-developed and safe cycle paths. Dutch cycle paths are often separated from car traffic and offer cyclists safer and faster routes for commuting and leisure. The flat Dutch landscape has also contributed to the popularity of cycling in the country. The infrastructure includes not only urban cycle paths but also overland routes, making cycling a convenient option for longer journeys. In general, people today prefer more environmentally friendly modes of transport and are looking for cheaper and faster ways to get around. Various factors such as infrastructure, safety, urban planning and government policies can encourage people to cycle more often. Local measures such as congestion charges, green vignettes or limited parking facilities in cities can discourage car use.
Social attitudes towards cycling also play an important role in this decision. The growing awareness of environmental issues and the desire to reduce the carbon footprint can encourage people to favour the bicycle over the car. Recognising the health benefits of cycling, including improved fitness and mental wellbeing, can often do the same. Cycling is also a cheaper mode of transport. Economic incentives such as the rising cost of cars and fuel and the increase in taxes on car ownership have recently made cycling an attractive alternative. Across Europe, there are around 300 tax incentives, mainly offered at national or local level, to make the purchase and use of bicycles instead of cars more attractive. In the Netherlands, for example, employees can receive a significant tax rebate if they buy a new bike through their employer. Since 2017, the German Bundestag has approved a rebate of up to €500 for electric bikes and some federal states have successfully implemented it. In Belgium, the tax allowance for bicycles has just been increased from €0.27 per kilometre to €0.35 per kilometre at the beginning of 2024, with an annual maximum of €3,500. (Source: KPMG.com) In January 2016, the city council of Oslo launched a subsidy programme amounting to 20 percent of the purchase price of new electric bicycles, with a maximum amount of €500. Newer innovations such as bike-sharing apps are also making cycling more accessible and convenient for many. People are encouraged to rent their bikes instead of buying new ones, and this trend is also on the rise. A hire bike is often cheaper and you don’t have to worry about theft or maintenance.
Favourable weather conditions and terrain can influence cycling mode share, but there are good examples that sunny weather is not so important when it comes to people’s preference for cycling. The lower number of cyclists in Italy and Spain compared to the Netherlands, despite the better weather, can be attributed to various factors, from existing infrastructure or urban planning (Italian and Spanish cities, especially larger ones, sometimes have urban planning that prioritises car traffic, with sprawling layouts that make cycling less practical) to cultural differences. In Italy and Spain, for example, the cultural preference for the car is more pronounced and cycling is seen as a leisure activity rather than a primary mode of transport. The perceived and actual safety of cycling is also an important reason. While in the Netherlands roads and intersections are specifically designed to protect cyclists, in Italy or Spain bicycles often have to share the same roads with cars, which can be intimidating and more dangerous. Finally, extreme heat waves in the Italian or Spanish summers can make cycling uncomfortable and unattractive for most. The reduced economic incentives for cycling can also lead to more people opting for the car. Despite all this, some of the most famous and most watched cycling races in the world take place every year in Italy, Spain or France. Competitions such as the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia, televised annual multi-stage cycling races that pass through many large and small towns and villages, have contributed significantly to the popularity of cycling and inspired many people to take it up either as a sport or a leisure activity. Watching professional cyclists can motivate people and emphasise the benefits of this activity. Professional cyclists often become role models, especially for young people. Cycling is often portrayed in the media as an exciting and prestigious activity and a viable mode of transport. Major cycling events can boost the local economies of host cities and regions, often leading to improved cycling infrastructure which can subsequently encourage more everyday cycling. Many fans travelling to races often cycle themselves and explore the region by bike, encouraging a wider cycling culture.
It’s essential to recognise that bicycles are not only an ecological and healthy mode of transport, but also represent a global economic sector with a turnover of several billion dollars. The global bicycle market was estimated to be worth over $110 billion in 2023 and is expected to almost double by 2030. Around 100 million bicycles are produced worldwide every year. In recent years, Portugal has been the largest bicycle producer in the European Union. The most popular and modern bicycle brands in Europe include Cervélo, Gigant, Pinarello, Scott, Specialised, Trek, Merida and Bianchi.
Technological improvements have greatly helped the cycling industry by making it easier for consumers to access high quality and trendy equipment. GPS tracking has created online communities of cyclists who share their experiences and motivate each other. Groups of cyclists, many of whom are past their prime and are out on the roads in their well-fitting suits, especially on weekends, have become commonplace.
Cycling has become a popular leisure activity, but also a favoured choice for commuters who can travel to work by bike, which is much cheaper and often faster. The cycling industry is growing at a significant annual rate across the world, with millions of cyclists joining every year. Technological improvements and increased production volumes have made it possible to produce relatively high-performance bicycles for all budgets. At the same time, more and more consumers are looking to reduce their spending and their environmental footprint, and the cycling offers an answer to both questions.
E-bikes seem to be a good alternative for less sporty people. The American Ogden Bolton Jr. is regarded as the inventor of the battery-powered bicycle (1895). Asian countries are currently the largest producers of electric bicycles. In the EU, over 80 per cent of all imported electric bicycles come from China. Sales of these bikes are rising steadily. Demand has risen significantly in Germany, France and the Netherlands in particular. Currently, a quarter of bicycles sold in Europe are electric (source: Brussels Times), with around 26 million e-bikes expected to be sold in the region in 2022 alone.
The price of bicycles rose slowly and steadily over the last few decades until the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, many factories had to close overnight; manufacturers had major problems with the supply chain and transport costs increased up to 20-fold. This situation led to enormous competition between manufacturers for the scarce components available, while the demand for bicycles skyrocketed. The logical consequence: an excessive price increase. Some manufacturers capitalised on this situation and accelerated production at great expense. However, many saw all the excess production from the pandemic period in their warehouses afterwards. People preferred to spend their money on holidays or other hobbies instead of buying expensive bikes. This is the reason why almost all major brands offered deep discounts and launched sales last year. All the classic online shops are currently offering a large selection of bikes with discounts of over 30% in some cases. Now seems to be an excellent time to buy a bike, as prices are falling and the supply of bikes is significantly higher than demand at the moment.
From the draisine to today’s high-tech e-bikes, the bicycle has come a long way, reflecting both technological progress and changing social dynamics. Bicycles are not only efficient and cheap means of transport, but sometimes also represent status or influence cultural and social change; they have become symbols of freedom, efficiency and the transition to environmental awareness.
alexandra.paucescu@europe-diplomatic.eu
