The report offers a high-level set of unique insights on the state of cycling across the European continent in 2021.
Insights focus on three key elements.
- Government policies and investments
- Consumer cycling levels (ridership)
- Business performance indicators
Findings relating to the latter are partly drawn from the business impact study managed by Sports Marketing Surveys on behalf of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE).
Beyond this, the report draws on a range of data shared by a group of contributors, formed by CIE Members and Partners that regularly take part in the CIE Market Impact and Intelligence Expert Group. The group have provided valuable data and figures on behalf of their organisations and companies. These insights have been put together by CIE, providing an analysis of the information collected to gather evidence to help market forecasting, make cross sector comparisons, support stronger promotion of the sector, provide better information for the industry as well as NGOs, policymakers and investors.
7 key takeaways from CIE Market Intelligence Report 2022
- In 2021, all EU Member States committed to double cycling in Europe by 2030 in the framework of the Pan-European Master Plan for Cycling Promotion. This commitment fostered the adoption of (updated) National Cycling Strategies by most EU countries.
- 21 EU Member States have included cycling in their National Recovery and Resilience Plans, with a total of €1.7 billion earmarked for cycling infrastructure, safety, tourism and promotion.
- In 2021, one-third of the EU Member States had a national tax incentive in place for cycling, whereas half of the EU Member States had purchase incentives schemes in place.
- After the cycling boom in the second semester of 2020, bicycle use in Europe in 2021 has stabilised at 9.2% above pre-pandemic levels, with the highest growth in Italy (+27%) and the UK (+22%). Almost all EU countries experienced a significant bike traffic growth in weekends, while weekday riding did not see the same spectacular growth for all EU countries.
- Overall, the cycling industry sector’s outlook is extremely positive, with over three-quarters (78%) of the businesses reporting higher revenues for 2021 vs 2020 and 77% of companies (up from 53%) taking on new staff.
- Consumer research and business reporting suggest a cooling of demand in late 2021 vs 2020, mainly driven by the decrease in demand for mechanical bikes. However, both have positive trend lines vs earlier years.
- Business resilience is much improved, with 67% of companies no longer relying on external support to survive. Unsurprisingly, the number 1 issue is supply chain challenges, with 86% of companies reporting continuing problems and little confidence that the situation will be resolved in 2022.
These insights are only a taster of the information contained in the report. CIE Members will have access to the full version of the report.
If you are interested to find out all the insights included in the report, please consider joining CIE. For more information, contact info@cyclingindustries.com
Sports Marketing Surveys is a founder member of Cycling Industries Europe as well as of the Market Impact and Intelligence Expert Group. As well as operating bespoke work for clients across the cycling industry, SMS powers the Bicycle Association’s market data service, a programme that tracks an estimated 70% of all UK cycling goods sales – covering over 1 million individual product SKUs. For more information on how SMS can help you make better cycling decisions, contact marc.anderman@sportsmarketingsurveys.com
Cycling Industries Europe is the voice of cycling business, actively promoting the sector in Europe and worldwide. Our ambition? Reaching out beyond the traditional definition of the industry as a bicycle and parts industry and align all business and commercial actors in a common mission.
Changing the way we move – we are working towards a modal shift to active mobility and cycling in line with EU’s commitment to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050.
