59% of respondents say cycling infrastructure in their local area have improved in the past year
This year's report concludes that there is a substantial disparity between European countries regarding people's perception of cycling infrastructure. Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with the statement "Cycling infrastructure has improved in my local area over the past 12 months."
Again, looking at the net difference between those who agree and those who disagree within each country, Poland (+47.7%), France (40.2%), and Finland (33.1%) occupy the highest positions, while Greece (-18.8%), the Czech Republic (-17.8%), and Bulgaria (-4.7%) occupy the lowest positions. The Netherlands (+4.1%), Belgium (+8.9%), and Denmark (+7.6%) are all among the seven worst-ranked countries. With all three long considered pioneers in cycling, it will be a shock to many that they rank so low. However, this disparity does not reflect failure, but rather an expectation. In mature cycling markets, people become accustomed to good infrastructure and their standards continue to rise.
For the industry, this presents a clear challenge: when leading markets lose momentum, they may also lose their role as benchmarks for growth, innovation, and cultural leadership. If infrastructure in these countries does not continue to evolve, participation may stagnate, ambition may diminish, and cycling risks becoming a traditional mode of transport rather than a dynamic driver of health, mobility, and daily life.
Portugal ranks 4th in Europe in terms of improvements in cycling infrastructure, with 59% of respondents reporting that facilities in their local area have improved over the past year.
This positive sentiment results in a net improvement score of +31.76%, placing Portugal well ahead of traditional cycling powerhouses such as Germany (+10.19%) and the Netherlands (+4.10%).
Ties van Dijk, advocacy specialist at Shimano Europe, said:
The State of the Nation report is a wake-up call for all those concerned about the future of cycling in Europe.
"We see millions of people who want to ride bicycles, but are kept away by barriers that shouldn't exist, from lack of availability and complexity of maintenance to concerns about whether it's safe for children to ride bicycles."
"Physical infrastructure is improving in many places, but that infrastructure alone is not enough. If we fail to make bicycle maintenance easier and ensure the safety of the next generation, we risk declining participation precisely when society most needs active and sustainable mobility."
