Did you know that every year, millions of road bikes and mountain bikes come out of factories all over the world? Fifty years ago, the production of bicycles and cars was practically the same, with about 20 million units manufactured annually, according to the Worlddometers barometer. However, in recent decades, the growth in bicycle use has been unstoppable.
The rise of the bicycle: more production and sustainable mobility
In 2003, car manufacturing reached 42 million units, just over double that of 1965. Meanwhile, the bicycle sector experienced an unprecedented boom, surpassing 100 million units sold, five times more than four decades ago. In 2015, the trend continued to rise, with more than 120 million bicycles produced worldwide, compared to 62 million cars. That is, for every car manufactured, two bicycles are produced.
In Spain, more than one million bicycles are sold every year. However, it is paradoxical that, despite being one of the countries with the highest bicycle sales, their use in large cities remains a minority. Cities like Madrid, which face pollution problems and traffic restrictions due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide, could greatly benefit from a greater push for bicycles as a means of sustainable transport.
The promotion of urban cycling and the development of suitable infrastructure for bicycle mobility are key factors for greener and more efficient mobility. Both road bikes, ideal for fast commuting around the city, and mountain bikes, perfect for off-road routes, are viable and sustainable alternatives in the current context of growing environmental concern.