October 22, 2025 - For decades, bike-sharing was viewed as a niche experiment. Today, it stands as one of Europe’s most underrated urban innovations — a tool that does far more than cut carbon emissions. By bridging the first and last mile and extending the reach of public transport, bike sharing makes urban mobility more seamless, efficient, and attractive.
A groundbreaking study by EY – commissioned by Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) and EIT Urban Mobility – is the first of its kind globally to put hard financial evidence behind the impact of bike-sharing.
The results are extraordinary: €305 million in annual benefits — from cleaner air and healthier citizens to reduced congestion and job creation. This study demonstrates the transformative power of bike share and sets a new benchmark for understanding cycling’s true economic and social value.
A multidimensional impact
Bike-sharing schemes save 46,000 tons of CO2e yearly, but their real value lies in broader societal gains. By replacing car trips, they slash air pollution, preventing 968 chronic diseases and saving €40 million in healthcare costs. They also ease traffic, reclaiming 760,000 hours lost to congestion—worth €30 million in productivity gains. And with 6,000 direct jobs supported, they foster local economies while making mobility affordable, cutting transport costs by up to 90% compared to cars.
A smart public investment
For cities, the numbers speak for themselves: every euro invested yields a 10% annual return, generating €1.10 in positive externalities. By 2030, these benefits could triple to €1 billion if bike-sharing is prioritized.
The report projects 224,000 tons of CO2e avoided, 4,205 fewer chronic diseases, and 12,900 jobs — delivering a 75% annual return on investment for public spending.
How to unlock the potential
The study identifies four levers for growth:
• Demand increase (due to urban concentration and rising awareness)
• Supply increase (due to climate regulation and peripherical expansion)
• Fleet electrification (strong interest from users in these bikes)
• Territorial expansion (to address the gaps in major cities)
These successes rely on 3 conditions for success :
• Strengthen policy support (long-term funding, cycling infrastructure) and foster stakeholders’ cooperation
• Enable flexible bike-sharing by adapting supply, improving reliability, and using data-driven decision making
• Promote a strong cycling culture (through integration with public transport and continuous improvements in cycling infrastructure)
A call to act
The message to mayors and governments is clear: bike-sharing is not just sustainable—it’s strategic. With the right policies, it can reshape urban mobility, making cities healthier, fairer, and more efficient. The time to act is now. Success is within reach.
“For the first time, we will have robust evidence of the return on investment in bike-sharing. Bike-sharing plays a unique role in making cycling affordable and accessible for everyone while driving the shift to zero-carbon mobility. This study can transform the way cities see cycling as part of their transport and clean air strategies – showing how bike-sharing is not just a service, but a powerful tool for delivering greener, cleaner, and more liveable cities, and healthier, happier Europeans,” commented Lauha Fried, Policy director at Cycling Industries Europe.
Read more here.
