Inclusive transport

A diagram showing different kinds of bicycles and their ability to transport heavy loads

Mobility is one of the basic needs of urban dwellers. We often hear prejudices about city transport: that cycling is impossible in hilly cities, that building a good transit system costs too much, and so on.

The numbers, however, tell a different story. Consider these facts: bikes weigh around 14 kg on average, while cars weigh several tonnes. The infrastructure damage caused by bicycles is negligible compared to that caused by cars, meaning repairs are needed far less often. Bikes are also cheaper to buy, and riding one costs far less than filling a car with petrol. The environmental footprint of a bicycle is minimal compared to a car – a bike requires only the energy and materials used in its production, while cars consume far more energy both during manufacturing and everyday use. The same holds true when both reach the end of their life and become waste.

Infographic showing three transportation options (car, moped or bus, and e-bike) with their respective CO2 emissions: 7,000kg, 2,500kg, and 300kg for a 15,000-mile journey.

Step outside and watch the traffic, and you will quickly notice that most cars carry just one person per journey. This makes cars remarkably inefficient in terms of both fuel consumption and the space they occupy in the city. Electric bicycles are not as eco-friendly as regular ones due to their lithium batteries, but they are still far better than cars. Electric cars are an improvement over fossil-fuel-powered ones, but they bring their own problem – they take up just as much space as conventional cars. Here is some data from the Mobility Atlas on cycling across the EU:

Illustration showing how bicycle sales were up, and car sales down, in 2020

Statistics showing that cargo bike users use them to replace car trips

Infographic showing the cost savings of cargo bikes versus cars

Now take a look at this infographic comparing bike and car usage statistics in the USA:

Infographic showing cost savings of using a bicycle instead of a car in the USA

Want to try a quick experiment? Head outside during rush hour and watch the cars go by. Count how many carry more than one person. Now picture all those people travelling by public transport or bicycle instead. How much space would open up? What could that space become?

Many people assume that building public transport infrastructure is prohibitively expensive – and in some cases, such as metro construction, it can be. But cities do not have to start there. Adding protected bike lanes separated by parked cars or other low-impact barriers, and expanding bus services to underserved areas, are practical first steps. When you factor in the full costs of cars – fuel, infrastructure, and the wider social and health consequences – it becomes clear that investing in cycling and public transport infrastructure is the smarter choice for cities that want fast, clean, and affordable mobility.