Global Trends in Bicycles and Cycling

While global bicycle production was up 3.2% in 2007, and higher energy prices drove more people to take up bicycling, the use of bicycles in most western cities -- certain European countries excepted -- remains dramatically lower than in Asia.

"The share of all trips made by bike varies greatly among countries. Chinese cities still register some of the highest cycling rates in the world, despite growing consumer interest in private automobiles. In the most cycled cities, such as Tianjin, Xi'an, and Shijiazhuang, the bicycle accounts for more than half of all trips. In the west, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany have the highest rates of cycling, ranging from 10 to 27 percent of all trips. This compares with about 1 percent of trips in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia."

Encouraging trends noted by World Watch include a growing interest in integrating bicycle transportation in public policy; bicycle rental facilities; and electric bikes.