Bicycle Network: Better Transport

Quantifying Co2 Savings and Cycling

13 December 2011. When evaluating different transport modes, it is the bicycle that allows for important greenhouse gas emissions savings, according to the latest European Cyclists' Federation report. The report cites research that although not a carbon free mode of transport, the bicycle’s greenhouse gas emissions are over 10 times lower than those stemming from individual motorized transport.

How much Co2 is cycling saving?

What if Europeans cycled on average as much as the Danish?

According to the report "By 2020, if the EU cycling modal share was to reach in the same levels seen in Denmark in 2000, this would mean 481 billion of km cycled per year, and between 55 and 120 million tonnes of CO2e saved annually".

This would represent 5 to 11% of the overall target for EU GHG emissions (20% by 2020, compared to 1990 levels), and it would account for 57 to 125% of the transport target (10% by 2020 compared to 2005 levels)".

If EU cycling modal share was to reach the cycling modal share in Denmark by 2050, this would represent 490 billion kilometres per year, or savings between 63 and 142 million tonnes of CO2e per year, representing 12 to 26% of the target reduction set for the transport sector".

What about the Australian instance?

Transport generates 13% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, and is one of the largest sources of increasing emissions in Australia. Passenger cars make up about half of transport emissions. It is apparent that modal shift toward cycling in the Australian instance could help to achieve important greenhouse gas emissions savings, as has been demonstrated in the above mentioned European case.

 See full report available here.