Key figures of cycling in France Statistics and ressources

Discover in video the main key figures of cycling in France since 2019.

In 2019...

The modal share of cycling in home-to-work trips was 3.6% in metropolitan France according to INSEE.

According to a study by ADEME, cycling in France has avoided the emission of nearly 2 million tons of CO2, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of over one million cars.

In 2020…

According to the Observatory of Active Mobility, cycling represents 6% of daily trips in France. More than 3.8 million bicycles were sold in France, an increase of 25% compared to 2019. Electric bicycles accounted for about 40% of total bicycle sales. The city of Lyon launched an electric bike-sharing project with cargo bikes to facilitate deliveries in the city center. This project, called "Vélo'v cargo," has been praised for its ecological aspect and its contribution to reducing car traffic. According to a survey by FUB, nearly 70% of French people consider cycling as a practical and economical mode of transportation, and over 80% want cycling lanes to be built in their city.

In 2021...

The French government launched a 200 million euro plan to encourage French people to use bicycles more. This plan includes the creation of temporary cycling lanes, the development of electric bicycle rentals, and the installation of secure bicycle parking facilities. The Tour de France, the world's largest cycling race, attracted over 10 million spectators along the route, according to the organizers. Paris has become the most bike-friendly city in France, according to the ranking of the "Baromètre des villes cyclables" by the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB). The city received an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5, thanks in particular to the creation of numerous cycling lanes and the implementation of restricted traffic zones for cars. The "Coup de pouce vélo" program, implemented by the French government to encourage bicycle repair and maintenance, has enabled the repair of over 1.2 million bicycles since its creation in 2020. These figures show that cycling is becoming increasingly popular in France, whether for leisure or daily commuting.

References and other key figures

• Commissariat général au développement durable (nov.22) : Les Français et le vélo en 2022

• Observatoire du Cycle (avril.23) : Etat des lieux 2022 en vidéo