BICYCLE OBSERVATORY
Key figures
L’utilisation du
vélo a bondi de
200%
en 2020 par
rapport à 2019
500’000
nouveaux vélos ont été vendus en 2020
dont 171’000 vélos électriques
source : vélosuisse.ch
+21%
d’accidents
en 2020 par rapport à 2019
FIGURES
In Switzerland, according to the Federal Statistical Office, 8.6% of commuters will cycle to work in 2020.
In Switzerland, according to the Mobility and Transport Microcensus
60% of trips, regardless of their purpose, do not exceed 5 km, a distance for which cycling is considered attractive.
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Source : Rérat, P., Giacomel, G., & Duro Martín, A. (2019). Au travail à vélo... : La pratique utilitaire de la bicylette en Suisse
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CYCLING!
01
It only takes 30 minutes of physical exercise a day to stay healthy, so why not start cycling to work or school!
​
But you still need to know how to ride a bike... Training cyclists means allowing citizens to be and stay healthy!
02
A 2017 British Medical Journal study, for example, shows a 45% reduction in the risk of developing cancer and a 46% reduction in heart risk for people who bike to work, compared to workers using passive modes.
03
"Studies are consistent in showing the health benefits of cycling: reduced risk and mortality of stroke and heart attack as well as certain cancers, prevention of diabetes and overweight, etc."[1]
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[1] Rérat, P., Giacomel, G., & Duro Martín, A. (2019). Au travail à vélo... : La pratique utilitaire de la bicylette en Suisse.
04
You burn calories, tone your body, maintain your breath, flexibility and vitality.
05
If you have a 15-20 minute bike ride to your office, the math is quickly done: every week you get the weekly exercise recommended by the WHO.
06
One hour of cycling per day allows you to burn between 450 and 600 calories, which is between 30 and 40% of your daily needs.
07
This excellent anti-stress activity also improves your resistance to pain, your sense of direction, and helps you get a better night's sleep (with restful sleep).
THE ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS OF CYCLING
01
Greenhouse gases (whose concentration has increased considerably over the last fifty years) are responsible for the current global waring. This observation, made a quarter of a century ago by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), is no longer contested and the scientific community is now unanimous in recognizing the urgent and imperative need to limit the rise in average temperature at the earth's surface to 2° (compared to the pre-industrial era). Experts estimate that we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050 to have a chance of staying below the critical 2° threshold. Failure to do so would have devastating effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, food security
and health, as well as a dramatic rise in sea levels, an increase in extreme weather events, etc.
02
According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN, 2017), 32.1% of greenhouse gas emissions result from transportation. Cycling to work can help reduce our carbon footprint
Source : Rérat, P., Giacomel, G., & Duro Martín, A. (2019). Au travail à vélo... : La pratique utilitaire de la bicylette en Suisse.
ACCIDENTOLOGY
Between 2016 and 2020, 30% of the victims of serious injuries following an accident in Switzerland were cyclists, and in 68.5% of the cases, the responsibility lies with the cyclist. The challenge of training cyclists in safe riding is therefore very significant.
In 2019, 802 cyclists were seriously injured and 16 killed on Swiss roads. Every cyclist can help to reduce the risk of bicycle accidents, by equipping themselves properly and riding safely.