According to a new study, cycling in the city should be the future of transport

One of the largest consultancies in the world, Deloitte, has highlighted urban cycling as very important for future urban traffic in a new study. Deloitte published the study on the growing popularity of bicycles as a means of transport around the world, especially in cities. The company claims that technological innovations, such as electric bicycles (e-bikes), will fuel the growth of cycling around the world.

Eco-friendly cycling in the city

The study predicts that the number of bicycle commuters in many cities around the world will double by 2022. Technological innovations, such as bicycle parts and tools for urban planning, largely help fuel this growth. The bicycles in the coming years will reduce traffic and significantly improve the air quality in cities. However, this is especially true for heavily populated cities.

The impact of so many more bikes on the road, and consequently fewer vehicles, could be significant and lead to societal change. In this way, for example, vehicle traffic can be optimized, which would considerably reduce congestion. More cyclists and less pollution are also good news for public health. This becomes even more important when you factor in future population growth, especially in cities whose transportation systems are already reaching their limits. According to the study, another 2.5 billion people will be living in cities by 2050. To put this into perspective, the United Nations reported that 1.7 billion people lived in cities in 2018.

Technical innovations

Deloitte also believes that this dramatic increase in cycling to work is fueled in large part by technological innovations in the industry. Such innovative approaches make cycling in the city increasingly easier and more attractive for many.

“This growth in cycling is based on a number of different technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D printed parts and electrification,” the study says.

The role of e-bikes is obvious here. Despite the controversies they have sparked, such as the authenticity of e-bikes as real bikes and safety concerns about higher speeds, these remain a better alternative for now. As the study points out, it is not exactly a new concept either. The first patent for an electric bicycle was created in 1895.

Put simply: e-bikes make commuting easier and enable more people to do so. Other reports confirm that electric bikes are increasingly becoming better alternatives to vehicles. According to Deloitte the number of e-bikes worldwide is expected to increase from 200 million to 300 million between 2019 and 2023.