Cycling is on the rise in France. According to a survey published Tuesday by the Ministry of Transport, one in four French people cycle at least once a week. This practice is much more regular among men (31%) than among women (19%), according to this survey carried out by the CSA institute among 12,576 people aged 11 to 85, in June and October 2023.
The share of regular cyclists is a little higher in city centers (30% on average) than in the suburbs or rural areas (less than 26%). These cyclists are on average younger (34% of regular cyclists among 11-34 year olds, 14% for 65-85 year olds). The share of regular cyclists also increases with household income. The Pays de la Loire region is the one with the most regular cyclists (31%), even if the share of cyclists varies little between the regions.
Between the construction of cycle paths, purchase subsidies and lessons for children, the government and communities have multiplied programs to make this practice a credible and secure replacement for the car. And the slope is steep: the bicycle represented only 3% of French journeys on average in 2019. After an explosion in the practice during Covid, the use of the bicycle in France increased by another 5% in 2023 thanks to the “utilitarian” practice of cycling, according to the Vélo association barometer
During the week and in urban areas, the number of recorded bicycle crossings has increased over a year. On weekends and in peri-urban and rural areas, on the other hand, attendance has reached a plateau. More broadly, according to the survey published Tuesday, 37% of French people say they cycle at least once a month, compared to 59% of Germans. 47% of households have at least one bicycle, and 8% an electrically assisted bicycle.
According to this survey, the French own 0.5 bicycles per person (compared to 1.3 in the Netherlands, where the culture of daily cycling is much more widespread). Home-work or home-study journeys represent the majority of journeys, while leisure cycling represents more than a third of journeys and more than half of the distances traveled. 93% of French people say they know how to ride a bike, but 28% admit to low mastery. Furthermore, 37% of cyclists never wear a helmet.
