Benefits of cycling in the Netherlands more than 77 billion euros

The European Cyclists’ Federation presented Tuesday, December 6th, the report “Economic Benefits of Cycling” in which the financial and social value of the bicycle is calculated in Europe.
The report shows that the benefits of cycling go beyond mobility or the environment.
The bike has a potential in areas in which the national authorities play a key role within Europe.
Growth and employment, public health, industrial policy and social integration domain in which the bike has great economic value.

To put the cycle high on the agenda in Europe the ECF shows that even in countries where the bicycle share is low, the benefits are enormous. Fietsersbond supports the European umbrella ECF in efforts to get bikes up the agenda of the EU. The research shows that the benefits of cycling in the Netherlands exceed 77 billion euros. Spending on bikes of the joint authorities in the Netherlands amount to about half a billion euros per year. Fietsersbond therefore advocates around the parliamentary elections for a substantial additional investment in cycling in the next term of government, particularly for urban accessibility, station stalls and fast routes.

The economic benefits

• The economic benefit of cycling in Europe is more than 500 billion euros per year. This is € 1,000 per head of population in Europe.
• More cycling means more economic benefits: countries with a high modal share benefit most. The potential of the bike is huge. Currently, the bicycle occupies within Europe accounts for 8% of total traffic
• The main benefits we see in public health. By cycling is more than 190 billion euros to save taxpayers’ money.
• Cycling is not only good for our society, but also has many financial benefits! Cycling provides a number of social benefits, including easier integration of refugees, access to mobility and improving employability which an estimated value of 60 billion euros per year.