end of the bicycle boom? - Survey: Cycling less popular since the end of the pandemic
The traditional bicycle has lost much of its interim popularity since the end of the Corona pandemic. In contrast, the e-bike maintains stable popularity, as shown by a survey conducted by HUK Coburg. Thanks to the e-bike, cycling has become the second most popular mode of transport for 26% of the German population, after the car.
HUK surveyed 4,101 people aged 16 and above across Germany in January and February as part of its annual mobility study. The results are representative of the entire German population and all 16 federal states. Participants were asked which mode of transport best meets their personal preferences in the coming years.
Notably, the popularity of traditional bicycles without an electric motor has decreased: In 2021, during the peak of the pandemic, 26% preferred the bicycle, but in the 2024 survey, this figure has dropped to 16%. While e-bikes were once primarily associated with the older generation, this trend seems to be shifting: Among 16-24 year-olds, only 11% consider the non-electric bicycle the best means of transport, compared to 28% in 2021.
E-bike popularity remains stable
Unlike traditional bicycles, the popularity of e-bikes has not seen a significant decline: In 2021, 11% of participants considered the e-bike their preferred mode of transport, compared to 10% in 2024. "The restrictions on public transport during the corona period greatly boosted the popularity of bicycles," said HUK board member Jörg Rheinländer. "However, the e-bike seems to have opened up new target groups in the long term."
Regional differences are also notable: 22% of respondents in Hamburg reported cycling or using an e-bike more frequently than before, compared to just 8% in Saarland. The national average is 14%, with six federal states below this average: Hesse, Thuringia, Bavaria, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Bicycle sales also declined
The survey results reflect the sales and production figures of the bicycle industry: According to a March estimate by the ZIV (German Bicycle Industry Association), the number of bicycles and e-bikes in Germany increased by over 10% to 84 million between 2018 and 2023. However, the sales of conventional bicycles decreased by half a million to 1.9 million in 2023 compared to the previous year. In contrast, e-bike sales remained stable at 2.1 million, marking the first time e-bikes outsold traditional bicycles.
The survey conducted by HUK Coburg revealed that e-bikes have become the second most popular mode of transport for 26% of Germans, surpassing the traditional bicycle which is now preferred by only 16% of the population. Despite the end of the Corona pandemic, Germany continues to show stability in e-bike popularity, with 10% of participants considering it their preferred mode of transport in 2024.
