Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Cycling Revolutionizes Urban Transport Globally
Cities around the world are seeing a big increase in people using bicycles for transportation.
This is because bikes are good for the environment, save money, and help reduce traffic.
Many cities have added bike lanes and bike-sharing programs to make cycling easier and safer.
Some people are happy about this change, but others, especially car drivers, are not.
There are also some problems with faster electric bikes, like more accidents.
But overall, cycling is becoming a popular and important way to get around in many cities.
Montreal has become a leading cycling city in North America, with over 14,000 cyclists per day on Saint Denis Street.
Bike-share schemes have seen significant growth, with 13 million trips in Montreal in 2023 and 250,000 trips per week in New York.
Copenhagen has almost half of its commuter journeys by bike, and Paris is catching up with traditional bike capitals like Amsterdam.
The COVID-19 pandemic and advancements in e-bike technology have contributed to the rise in cycling.
Bike-friendly infrastructure, such as separated bike lanes, has made cycling safer and more appealing, but it has also sparked culture wars between cyclists and motorists.
- Who
- Urban planners, cyclists, and city officials
- What
- The rise of cycling as a primary mode of urban transport
- When
- Over the past decade, with significant growth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
- Where
- Cities across the rich world, including Montreal, New York, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Beijing, and Dhaka
- Why
- Cycling is energy-efficient, reduces congestion and pollution, and is more cost-effective than cars and public transport
- Montreal Bicycle Usage
- 14,000 cyclists per day on Saint Denis Street
- Montreal Bike-Share Scheme
- 13 million trips in 2023
- New York Bike-Share Usage
- 250,000 trips per week
- Copenhagen Commuting
- Almost half of commuter journeys by bike
- London Cycling Statistics
- Cyclists outnumber cars in the City by two to one
- Paris Cycling Statistics
- Cyclists outnumber motorists across the whole city
- Beijing Cycling Resurgence
- Increasing number of cyclists, many using modern bikes
- Dhaka Electric Rickshaws
- Rapidly replacing petrol-powered rickshaws