Brussels, 14 October 2025 – A new study commissioned by EIT Urban Mobility and Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), and conducted by EY, has for the first time quantified the economic and social return on investment of bike-sharing schemes in Europe. The analysis finds that bike-sharing generates €305 million in annual benefits, confirming its role as a key element in sustainable urban mobility.
Bike-sharing is now present in over 150 European cities (EU-27, UK, Switzerland and Norway), from large metropolitan systems like Paris with 42,200 bikes to Brussels with more than 11,000 and smaller towns operating just a few dozen bicycles. London is Europe’s leading city for dockless bike ridership, with 28 million trips recorded in 2024. Together, these networks make up a fleet of 438,000 shared bikes, providing millions of trips each year and connecting people to work, education, and public transport.
The study shows that shared bikes contribute to significant environmental, health, and economic benefits. Each year, bike-sharing saves 46,000 tons of CO₂ emissions and 200 tons of harmful air pollutants. By replacing car trips with active mobility, it helps to prevent 1,000 chronic diseases, resulting in €40 million in healthcare savings. Congestion is eased, with 760,000 hours of productivity saved—valued at €30 million—while 6,000 full-time equivalent jobs are supported across Europe. For users, bike-sharing offers a cost-effective mode of transport, reducing mobility expenses by up to 90% compared with cars. (....)