10 facts that prove that the bicycle is fashionable

Fernando Fernán Gómez said in 1977 that bicycles are for the summer. Nothing could be further from the truth.  The sale of bicycles in Spain broke historical records in 2020 and 2021 and managed to stabilize in 2022.

If we look at the statistics of the Association of Brands and Bicycles of Spain (AMBE), the data is illuminating.

But what is the reason for the rise of this popular velocipede? And why is the sale of electric bicycles skyrocketing?

We summarize it in 10 key points:

1. 1% of Spaniards (between 14 and 70 years old) use bicycles with some frequency. That’s almost 20 million bicycle users. Of these, more than 6 million use it to go to work or school.
2. In 2022, 1,357,854 new bicycles were sold. To this data should be added the second-hand market.
3. The acquisition of electric bicycles continues to increase, reaching the figure of 236,183 units in 2022. It is the vehicle with the highest volume share in the bicycle market, representing 45.6%.
4. The explanation for the above data is due to the regional and state aid for the purchase of electric bicycles. We recommend you check the aid website in your community, with which you can benefit from fixed amounts or up to 50% of the amount of your electric bicycle.
5. In Spain there are 3111 bicycle sales points, 401 specialized companies and 189 national manufacturers. This means that 24,456 people work directly in the bicycle sector.
6. Public bike-sharing systems, such as Bicimad in Madrid, Bicing in Barcelona, Valenbisi in Valencia or Bizi in Zaragoza already have a fleet of more than 20,000 bicycles that allow you to travel around the main Spanish cities in an affordable way.
7. Spanish cities continue to improve their cycling networks, trying to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In 2023, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility created a guide of recommendations to optimise the design of cycling infrastructures in our country.
8. The reasons given by users to travel by bicycle are health, ecology, greater mobility and economy. Following that order of importance.
9. According to the United Nations Environment Program, one kilogram of CO2 emissions is saved for every 7 kilometers a person travels by bicycle, instead of driving by car. The same article states that 150 grams of CO2 are saved for every kilometer travelled by bicycle instead of by car.
10. The savings of choosing the bicycle as a means of transport are 73% compared to the option of the car and 27% compared to public transport.

If you’re still considering using the bike, these facts should be more than convincing. There is no means of transport that takes care of your health, your time, your economy and, of course, the environment at the same time.

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