Cycling remains one of the most popular outdoor activities in the world. With the health benefits, fun, and economic value it gives, it's not surprising that professional and leisure cycling will continue to thrive in 2023.
However, its popularity also comes with few consequences. In this blog, we'll look at some cycling statistics for 2023 every cyclist should know.
1. More cyclists on the road.
As we've mentioned, more and more people are enjoying the benefits of cycling. As of this writing, it's estimated that over 1 billion people are already cycling regularly, with China, the USA, and Japan leading the count.
Because of this growth, the cycling industry has also grown into a whopping $81 billion industry with over 800,000 jobs across the globe. Furthermore, a bike is sold every second in the world.
In 2022, researchers have also found that the average distance regular cyclists take is 2-3 miles a day, or approximately a regular commute to a city workplace. There has also been an overwhelming 60% higher demand for bicycles compared to cars over the last ten years.
2. Cycling as a daily means of transportation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unprecedented trend in cycling as a daily transportation. More people realized that they could actually save money and keep up with their health routine while commuting to their workplace.
2022 has witnessed a 30% rise in cycling transportation within major cities, with e-bikes leading the charge. According to surveys, most people commute to their workplace on their bikes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Before, Baby Boomers and Gen X are still leading the worldwide users of bikes as of 2022. However, Gen Z and Millennials are also keeping up with their seniors as there's been a 5% increase in their use, mainly due to various smart bike technologies being introduced to the market.
3. Safer roads for cyclists.
There has been a significant decline in fatal cycling accidents over the last five years. Last year, the recorded fatalities involving cyclists were up to 1,089, while it was only 675 in 2021.
While this decline in fatal accidents is definitely something to celebrate, cyclists shouldn't be too comfortable. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported more than 49,000 cycling-related injuries last year. While only a small portion of them was fatal, most accidents caused irrevocable trauma and injuries to cyclists.
So, it's still imperative for cyclists to get premium biking accessories to keep themselves and other road users safe.
4. Road visibility is still the number one problem among cyclists.
Countries and cities have reported various reasons for cycling accidents, including unpaved cycling lanes, low-quality bikes among cyclists, and unruly pedestrians. However, poor road visibility among cyclists is still the number one cause of accidents.
A whopping 44% of cycling-related road accidents in the last ten years have been caused by poor visibility of other motorists toward cyclists. More than half of these cases happened in major cities.
Because of these alarming numbers, various countries have included bike lights in their road regulations. While there are still no fixed brightness levels required among countries, most cities require a minimum of 200-lumen bike light during daytime use and 400-lumen for nighttime. Aside from this, some places also require a combination of front and rear lights.
If you'll be riding in major cities this 2023, securing the best front and rear lights for your bicycle is best. Not only can they keep you safe, but you can also be assured that you won't be pulled off on the road while cycling.
5. Increasing numbers of bicycle theft.
A recent study in the USA showed that a bike is stolen in the region every 30 seconds, totaling about 2 million bikes a year or $350 million lost in properties. This is significantly higher than the average of 1 million automobiles stolen annually.
The trend in bicycle theft is alarming, but it's not surprising. Even though some bicycles (especially customized ones) are more valuable than automobiles, bicycles are still drastically easier to steal than automobiles. Furthermore, there's no common trend among bicycle theft incidents–they are being stolen near coffee shops, on the beach, in the city, in the countryside, and pretty much everywhere.
Lucky for us cyclists, more and more bike accessory companies are exploring anti-theft technology. Bike alarms and GPS tracking devices are already available in the market today.
However, experts and professional cyclists alike have agreed that bike lights with anti-theft technology are the best way to reduce bike theft. The motion-sensor present in like lights acts like an alarm trigger for force. Some premium bike lights could also be connected to your phone. This way, you can track your bike through your smartphone app wherever you go.
Cycling in 2023.
The persistence of cycling-related accidents has brought numerous cycling innovations to the market, and the growing cycling industry has attracted theft. The cycling industry's growth has brought equal benefits and consequences to cyclists.
For 2023, every cyclist should find a way to keep themselves safe to ensure a continuous enjoyable cycling experience.
