Top 10 Countries with Most Bicycles per Capita

Facts… Facts… Facts…  what fascinating results.   Did you know that there are over one billion bikes on the planet?  I didn’t know this. That means 1 out of every 6.94 people on the planet have a bike.  The results show us who, how and why they are using these bikes.   Are you ready for the results?  Here goes…

#10.  China

• People: 1,342,700,000
• Bicycles: >500,000,000
• Cyclists: >37.2%

Fact: 60 percent of local cyclists in Shanghai (most populous city in China) pedal to work every day. The city is home to 9,430,000 million bicycles and 19,213,200 people.

#6.  Finland

• People: 5,380,200
• Bicycles: 3,250,000
• Cyclists: ~60.4%

In Finland 9% of all trips are made by bike. The average distance cycled per inhabitant per day is 0.7 km. Fins ride bicycles without reference to the age or social status, both children and grown-ups: tourists and housewives, pensioners and students. Although the cycling season in this country  traditionally starts in spring or summer, some fans of bikes is not afraid of neither the rain, nor slush, nor event winter snowstorms. The love of Fins cyclists to the bicycles can be compared with their love to dogs, or to fishing, or to sauna.

#3.  Germany

• People: 81,802,000
• Bicycles: 62,000,000
• Cyclists: ~75.8%

In the Germany 9% of all trips are made by bike. The average distance cycled per inhabitant per day is 0.9 km. Cycling is ingrained in the German culture. It is rare to find an adult German who did not grow up riding a bike and whose children, parents, and even grandparents probably still ride bikes.  This fact makes drivers and pedestrians understanding and accommodating to bicycle riders (unlike in the US).

#1.  Netherlands

• People: 16,652,800
• Bicycles: 16,500,000
• Cyclists: ~99.1%

In the Netherlands 27% of all trips and 25% of trips to work are made by bike. The average distance cycled per person per day is 2.5 km. Holland and bicycles go together like bread and jam. Despite the recession the cycle-happy Dutch are still spending a lot of money on their bicycles – nearly 1 billion euros’ worth a year. About 1.3 million bicycles were sold in the Netherlands in 2009, at an average price of 713 euros ($1,008) each. Amsterdam (the capital and largest city of the Netherlands) is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world. It has 400 km of bike lanes and nearly 40% of all commutes in Amsterdam are done on bike. Strangely, most cyclists don’t wear helmets. And bike theft is a big problem, with about one of five (20%) bicycles being stolen each year.

For Comparison

USA

• People: 310,936,000
• Bicycles: 100,000,000
• Bicylists: ~32,2%

In the USA only 0,9% of all trips are made by bike. The average distance cycled per person is 0.1 km.  For the US, biking means exercise. For many other countries people use bikes for transportation, culture and  lifestyle.

**  For more statistics/facts on all the rest of the Top 10 Countires with most bicycles per capita click here