There is much data available that ensures that The bicycle is the most efficient mode of transportation in economic terms, the cleanest in environmental terms and one of the most beneficial for health. It consumes no fuel, produces no greenhouse gases, is easy to park and, according to the World Health Organizationextends the life of those who use it.
The bicycle, despite having almost two centuries of history, was not recognized by European institutions until a few years ago (2024) as one of the most sustainable, accessible, inclusive, economical and healthy forms of transport for European society and economy.
Economic and public health benefits
According to data from the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) of 2024, the Bicycle use generates about 90,000 million euros annually. This figure encompasses improvements in public health, reduction of emissions, fuel savings and less congestion and urban noise.
Specifically, bicycle use prevents 18,110 premature deaths annually in the European Union, which is equivalent to an economic impact of 52 billion euros. In addition, it saves more than 3 billion liters of fuel, an amount similar to the total consumption of road transport in a country like Ireland. The impact on noise reduction also has its economic translation, saving around 300 million euros annually, taking into account that road traffic noise causes around 8,900 premature deaths in Europe and almost 800,000 additional cases of hypertension.
Ally against climate change
Transport accounts for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, with road traffic contributing 73.2% of that total. According to the European Environment Agency, this is the most difficult sector to decarbonize. In this scenario, according to experts, active mobility emerges as one of the few measures capable of offering quick results without large technological investments.
ECF calculations indicate that cycling generates only 21 grams of CO₂ per kilometer, compared to 271 grams for a passenger car (almost thirteen times more). An urban bus is somewhere in between with 101 grams, a figure that varies depending on its level of occupancy.
In addition, to these data we should add the study published in 2025 by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States that estimates that, if all cities in the world imitated the Copenhagen cycling network, emissions from private vehicles would fall by 6%, generating health benefits valued at 435 billion dollars annually.