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The ADFC, Berlin’s cycling association, has praised the growing number of cycle commuters in Germany and expects cyclist numbers to reach 11 million over the course of the next decade, as reported by Reuters.
According to Germany’s Transport Ministry, there are currently four million bike commuters, doubling the total ten years ago and representing nine per cent of all journeys.
While that nine per cent means that Germany is behind the Netherlands – where bikes make up 27 per cent of journeys – and Denmark – where cycle journeys represent 18 per cent of all those made – the figures are still notable and cause for celebration, according to the ADFC:
"There’s been a real increase in the last year or two. Biking to work has definitely become trendy,” said Sarah Stark, ADFC head.
"The numbers are growing by the month. What we’ve noticed is that a lot of people switch to bike commuting each time fuel prices rise or the trains get hit by strikes. There’s a giant explosion of interest. People sitting in a traffic jam see the bikes filing past and it makes them think twice about sitting in their cars."
According to the report, the cycle industry is worth 1.7 billion euros in Germany, with 68 million bikes serving a country of 82 million.
For more on the report, click here.
