China’s bicycle ownership on the rise as low-carbon travel takes off

China’s bicycle ownership has topped 200 million, with an additional 380 million electric-powered two-wheelers in use, bolstering low-carbon travel, data from the China Bicycle Association showed yesterday.

Chinese urbanites use bicycles or e-bikes for about 30 out of every 100 trips they make, according to the association, cited by Xinhua.

The figures point to a shift in China, where growing environmental awareness is prompting more commuters to opt for two-wheeled, low-carbon alternatives.

According to estimates from the association, two-wheeled travel reduces carbon emissions in China by about 10,000 tonnes per day, the equivalent of saving roughly 6.6 million liters of gasoline.

China’s embrace of bicycles and e-bikes is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable urban mobility and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. With more than 580 million two-wheeled vehicles now in circulation, China has the world’s largest fleet by far.

Cities such as Hangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu are leading in bike infrastructure development. Hangzhou was one of the first cities in the world to implement a large-scale public bike-sharing system as early as 2008. Today, it remains a model for integrating bike lanes with metro systems and dedicated e-bike parking.

According to a 2024 report by the International Transport Forum (ITF), Hangzhou has over 1.5 bicycles per capita, one of the highest rates in Asia. Beijing, despite its car congestion, still maintains approximately 1 bicycle per resident, bolstered by extensive bike lanes and aggressive promotion of electric two-wheelers.

In contrast, Tokyo averages about 0.6 bicycles per person, while Seoul stands at 0.4, often limited by hilly geography and car-centric infrastructure. Among Western cities, Amsterdam leads with nearly 2.2 bikes per resident, and Copenhagen with 1.7, according to data from the World Cycling Alliance.

China’s policy support for green travel – including subsidies for e-bikes, pilot “cycling cities,” and integration with public transport – has helped shift the urban modal share in favor of two-wheelers. In cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, delivery drivers and commuters rely heavily on e-bikes, which also reduce travel time and congestion.

China’s growing bike culture is also supported by the digital economy: apps like Meituan Bike and Hello Bike have made dockless bike-sharing ubiquitous, especially in second- and third-tier cities where public transit coverage is still expanding.