So, what’s the reality of cycling trends globally? According to Eco-Counter, a company founded specifically to count cyclists (and pedestrians) on roads across all continents, we now have some solid data.
In their recently published report, Eco-Counter states that the number of cyclists globally is stagnating. Their 2023 review, which analysed cycling traffic trends in 14 countries between 2022 and 2023, recorded a slight decrease of 1%.
But let’s not get too disheartened – Eco-Counter also highlights a longer-term upward trend. The report indicates that cycling numbers have been on the rise since 2019, with an overall global increase of 11%.
However, the growth varies from country to country. In the United States, for instance, more and more people are hitting the trails, particularly in suburban areas where bike paths are seeing a noticeable uptick. Over in Europe, cycling traffic on key routes grew by 11% between 2019 and 2022. And looking at the jump from 2022 to 2023, Canada led the way with a 10% increase, followed by Belgium (+4%), and a 2% rise in Poland, Austria, and France.
You might be wondering where and how they came up with these numbers. Eco-Counter, headquartered in Brittany, France, with subsidiaries in Canada, the USA, Germany, and Hong Kong, has been developing pedestrian and cyclist counting solutions for over 20 years, providing municipalities with the tools they need to gather and share critical data. They design and manufacture a range of counting systems described as robust, waterproof, and discreet. Eco-Counter’s solutions include counters installed along bike paths as well as software for data analysis.
To collect initial data, Eco-Counter uses an inductive loop system, which allows them to compare bike rides across consecutive months, seasons or years. The system accurately analyses the electromagnetic signature of each bike using 13 distinguishing criteria. A unique algorithm detects all types of bicycles. If the loops are installed on a mixed-use road – not just a bike path – the system ignores cars, motorcycles, and larger vehicles, counting only cyclists.
Having accurate, real-time data is key to smart city planning and managing active transportation. The idea behind this counting is to give city officials solid traffic insights, helping them make informed decisions about where to build cycling infrastructure or how to evaluate the impact of their investments. For instance, in Dublin, Ireland, a counter was used during the international cycling summit Velo-City where conference attendees received precise information about the number of cyclists in the streets.
If precise numbers fascinate you, you might be curious about the most popular cycling locations. In the USA, according to Eco-Counter’s data, it was the Manhattan Bridge in New York, with approximately 1.6 million crossings! Globally, it was Paris – Sébastopol, with over 4 million crossings. You can explore the latest data at this link.
A sceptic might look at the global map and point out that regions like Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan are well-covered, while countries like Vietnam, China or Laos, where cycling traffic would also be of interest, are missing. Nevertheless, it’s still an impressive achievement. Can you find your city on the online map?
