Bicycle tourism
Bicycle tourism is a form of leisure travel where individuals explore destinations by bicycle, encompassing a variety of experiences ranging from short, self-guided trips to organized multi-day group tours. It has gained significant popularity in recent years, driven by a growing preference for eco-friendly travel and substantial investments in cycling infrastructure by many nations. This trend positions bicycle tourism as a sustainable alternative to traditional sightseeing, appealing to those looking to minimize their environmental footprint.
Historically, bicycle tourism traces its roots back to the 19th century, with early enthusiasts in England and France promoting cycling as a leisurely and social activity. Today, it includes four main subtypes defined by organizations like the Adventure Cycling Association: independent bicycle travel, event-based tourism, destination riding, and local day rides. The economic impact of bicycle tourism is noteworthy, contributing billions to the economies of countries like the United States and those in Europe, while supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. As interest continues to rise, particularly in regions with established cycling cultures, bicycle tourism is set for sustained growth, promising diverse opportunities for exploration and engagement.
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Bicycle tourism
Cycling associations typically describe bicycle tourism as a multi-faceted leisure travel activity in which participants travel by bicycle. This broad definition extends to many specific subtypes of bicycle tourism, which include everything from brief, self-directed bicycle excursions to organized multi-day group bike rides through urban or rural areas.
Observers note that bicycle tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years, with two main factors driving the activity’s increasingly high profile. First, bicycle tourism has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional sightseeing, favored by people seeking to diminish the environmental impact of their vacationing and leisure activities. In addition, many countries have invested in major improvements to their cycling infrastructure, building extensive networks of both paved and off-road paths for cyclists to use. These factors combine to position bicycle tourism for strong long-term growth. Multiple jurisdictions and organizations have carried out recent studies that document bicycle tourism’s rising and positive economic impacts.
Brief History
Historical sources vary on exactly when bicycle tourism first became a distinct leisure activity. Some trace early forms of bicycle tourism to France in the 1820s, while others place its origins in England during the Victorian Era (1837–1901). In nineteenth-century England, early bicycles were a status symbol favored by the well-to-do. Wealthy cyclists took to the English countryside in both solo and group excursions, exploring the bucolic scenery at their leisure. Some of the earliest known accounts of organized multi-day rides date to Victorian England, with a well-documented 1869 event meriting consistent mention as one of the first known examples of planned intercity bicycle tourism. That year, a group of friends met in London’s Trafalgar Square and undertook a fifteen-hour ride to the seaside city of Brighton. The event sparked public interest in bicycle tourism, prompting journalists to begin covering similar outings, including a three-day London-to-Liverpool ride later performed by the same group.
In 1878, the Bicycle Touring Club was established in England. The organization became known as the Cyclists’ Touring Club in 1883, reflecting the fact that many of its members rode three-wheeled tricycles rather than two-wheeled bicycles. At the time of the name change, the club had already attracted more than ten thousand members. The group helped establish England’s first National Bicycle Week, which was held in 1923. As part of those festivities, cyclists took part in an 888-mile relay around England in which participants carried a message from London’s mayor to be signed by thirty local dignitaries over the course of the relay. The highly popular event underscored a strong and growing general interest in cycling, which by then had become financially accessible to all classes of people. The Cyclists’ Touring Club continues to operate today under the name Cycling UK.
Following World War II (1939–1945), bicycle tourism advanced with the introduction of mountain bikes. These durable, rugged vehicles are capable of navigating many different types of terrain, opening up new possibilities for leisure cyclists. Cycling organizations around the world began hosting a rapidly expanding lineup of group events, which regularly included extended excursions combining bicycle tourism with camping and other outdoor activities.
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The Missoula, Montana-based Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) identifies four main subtypes of bicycle tourism: bicycle travel, event-based tourism, destination riding, and day rides. These activities combine to encompass the most popular forms of bicycle tourism enjoyed in the world today.
According to the ACA’s definitions, bicycle travel consists of multi-day bicycle tours organized on an independent basis. Examples include overnight biking trips, planned outings along established on-road or off-road routes, and long-distance trail riding. Event-based tourism covers arranged group rides and tours, and bicycle races. The ACA cites the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) as a popular example of event-based bicycle tourism. Destination riding describes cycling trips built around reaching a particular destination or point of interest. For instance, destination riding excursions can explore specific areas, such as Northern California’s wine region or trail-based jaunts through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Day rides are short leisure rides that explore local attractions. They include urban cycling events and “slow roll” rides, which began as localized, casual weekly group outings but have since grown into a nationwide phenomenon in the United States.
According to a 2017 study performed by the Outdoor Industry Association and reported by the ACA, bicycle tourism contributes $83 billion to the US economy each year through trip-related consumer spending, and $97 billion per year in retail spending. The study also found that bicycle tourism directly supports approximately 848,000 jobs in the United States. In 2018, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis began calculating the total economic impact of outdoor recreation on the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), valuing it at $734 billion—a figure that surpassed established major industries including agriculture, computer and electronic product production, and coal production.
Internationally, bicycle tourism continues its rapid growth in popularity. In 2020, European tourism agencies reported a record year for bicycle tourism in the continent despite the travel slowdowns associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic. During an address to the Cycle Summit 2020 industry event, representatives of the European Cyclists Federation noted major progress on multiple fronts, with leisure cyclists participating in bicycle tours at record rates in multiple countries. According to official estimates, bicycle tourism rose 29 percent on a select network of major European routes in 2020 when compared to 2019 rates. The annual impact of cycling tourism on the European economy was estimated at €44 billion (approximately $50 billion). It is also estimated to support more than 500,000 jobs in Europe. According to a report by Globe Newswire, the global cycle tourism market was valued at $118.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to see robust growth through 2029.
According to the World Economic Forum, the Netherlands leads all countries in the world in bicycles per capita. Other leading European countries including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. China has also witnessed strong cycling growth during the 2010s, spurred in large part by bikeshare programs that were launched beginning in 2012. At the time of the World Economic Forum’s analysis, mainland China had more than 400,000 bikeshare vehicles, which approximately equaled the number in use in all other countries combined.
Bibliography
“Bicycle Tourism 101.” Adventure Cycling Association, 2021, www.adventurecycling.org/about/advocacy/building-bike-tourism/bicycle-tourism-101/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
"Cycle Tourism Market Analysis Report 2024." GlobeNewswire, 18 Oct. 2024, www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/10/18/2965475/28124/en/Cycle-Tourism-Market-Analysis-Report-2024.html. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
De Concilio, Gennaro. “The History of Bicycle Touring.” LinkedIn, 9 Mar. 2020, www.linkedin.com/pulse/history-bicycle-touring-gennaro-de-concilio. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
“Economic Impact.” Adventure Cycling Association, 2018, www.adventurecycling.org/about/advocacy/building-bike-tourism/economic-impact/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Hazael, Victoria. “Since 1878—Our Journey From the Bicycle Touring Club to Cycling UK.” Cycling UK, 22 Mar. 2016, www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/journey-bicycle-touring-club-cycling-uk. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
McCoy, Jenny. “Cycling Tours to Add to Your Bucket List.” Bicycling, 30 Oct. 2020, www.bicycling.com/culture/a26559273/best-cycling-tours/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
“Rising Popularity of Electric Bikes and Bicycle Tourism to Benefit the Global Bicycle Market.” Persistence Market Research, 2018, www.persistencemarketresearch.com/news/2018/may/global-bicycle-market. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Sibilski, Leszek J. “Why We Need to Encourage Cycling Everywhere.” World Economic Forum, 5 Feb. 2015, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/02/why-we-need-to-encourage-cycling-everywhere/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Sutton, Mark. “Economies Benefit as Cycle Tourism Sets Records in European Countries.” Cycling Industry News, 13 Nov. 2020, cyclingindustry.news/economies-benefit-as-cycle-tourism-sets-records-in-european-countries/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.