Zero Emission with Two Wheels

The bicycle industry continues to grow on a global scale, with sustainable transportation and low-carbon urbanism becoming widespread. The growing demand for conventional bicycles as well as electric bicycles makes the industry an important economic space.

Italy's Como City Mayor Alessandro Rapinese has decided to ban bicycle use in the city centre after a bicycle accident. In this blog post, based on the news in Diken, we examine the bicycling's two centuries of history, its economic dimension in the global market, and the dynamics of its use in Turkey in the shadow of forbidden discussions.

The Pedal's Journey of Two Centuries

The bicycle, both environmentally friendly and one of the most practical means of transportation for humanity, has undergone a wonderful transformation from a simple means of entertainment to the center of the global transportation revolution. Thanks to the flexibility it provides in urban transportation, its carbon footprint reset, and its contribution to individual health, bicycle use is becoming more and more widespread.

The History of Bicycle

The first foundations of the bicycle were laid in the early 19th century. In 1817, German inventor Karl von Drais invented a wooden two-wheeler called the "Laufmaschine" (running machine) or "Draisienne". In this vehicle with no pedals, the drivers were moving forward with support from the ground with their feet.

In the 1860s, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and Pierre Lallement began a new era in bicycle design by adding the pedal system to the front wheel. However, the "Penny Farthing" model, known for its massive front wheels and small rear wheels, was quite dangerous due to its high driving position.

The modern design concept of the day was shaped in 1885 when John Kemp Starley developed what he called the "Safety Bicycle". Equal-sized wheels and chain transfer mechanism have made cycling a safe and accessible means of transportation for all segments of society.

The Most Common Types of Bicycles Today

Today, the bicycle industry incorporates a wide variety of product groups for different use needs. The main types of bikes that stand out today, depending on the purpose of use and the ground conditions, are:

City and City Transportation Bikes (City / Commuter Bikes): They are comfortable models suitable for day-to-day work and school transportation with fender and luggage apparatus, offering a upright seating position.
Road and Race Bikes (Road Bikes): It is preferred by users who aim for high speed on asphalt floors with their lightweight staff and thin tires.
Mountain Bikes (MTB – Mountain Bikes): The rugged terrain has thick gear tires and damper systems that provide high road handling on dirt roads and trails.
Hybrid and Tour Bikes (Hybrid / Touring Bikes): It combines the characteristics of city and mountain bikes to adapt to long-distance tours and different ground conditions.
Foldable Bikes (Folding Bikes): They are practical city solutions that provide integration with public transport, easily stored in the home and office environment.
Electric Assisted Bikes (E-Bikes): Thanks to internal engine and battery support, its popularity is the fastest growing category, making it possible to travel steep slopes and long distances without exertion.

Countries In The World With The Most Bikes Per Person By Rate

European countries hold the lead in cycling ownership and daily use rates on a global scale:

Netherlands: Although its population is about 17-18 million, there are over 23 million bicycles in the country. It is the world leader with an average cycling rate of 1.3 per person. The vast majority of the population conducts day-to-day work, school, and shopping transportation through an advanced network of bike paths.
Denmark: In the country, which has 0.8 bicycles per capita, especially in the capital city of Copenhagen, nearly half of the population provides daily transportation by bicycle.
Germany: The per capita cycling rate in Germany, which stands out with bike ownership exceeding 80% on a household basis, is about 0.7.
Japan: Leading the Asian continent, Japan has 0.6 bicycles per person; bike use is extremely common in transportation to train stations and parking areas within the city.
Belgium: Thanks to its flat geography and bicycle infrastructure with a rate of 0.5 bicycles per person, it is one of the countries with a high daily usage rate.

Bike GTIP Numbers

The GTIP numbers for bicycles and varieties are listed below. The blog examined the trade map foreign trade data on cycling in the classical sense (8712.00).
8712.00.30.00.00 Bicycles with ball bearings

8712.00.30.00.11 Bicycles without ball bearings

8712.00.30.00.19 Other bikes without engines

8711.60.10.00.00 Pedal-assisted electric bicycles with a power output not exceeding 250 Watts

8711.60.90.00.12 Other two-wheeled vehicles (electric bicycles) with a power output not exceeding 20 kW

The Most Bicycling Imported and Exported Countries in the World

The global cycling sector has achieved significant economic volume in terms of production and foreign trade. In the global cycling trade, China's open export leadership is noted. On the import side, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands are followed in the first place.

The Most Exporting Countries:

The Most Imported Countries:

Turkey's Bicycle Import and Export Numbers

Thanks to its strong manufacturing infrastructure and geographical proximity to the European market, the Turkish bicycle sector has become an important bicycle production and export base.

In the export channel, Turkey's annual traditional and electrically-assisted bicycle exports are about $40 million. Most of the exports are made to European Union countries, with the Netherlands and Germany attracting attention among the markets with the most shipments.

On the import side, China, Italy and Romania are ranked as the top three countries.

Turkey's Most Exported Countries:

The Countries in which Turkey Imports the Most:

The Provinces That Use Most Bicycles Per Person in Turkey

Geographical structure, climate conditions and local infrastructure investments throughout Turkey directly affect cycling usage rates. The cities that stand out in terms of bicycle per capita and density of use include:

Konya: Its flat geographical structure is clearly the first-placed bicycle city of Turkey, with a network of over 550 kilometers of bicycle routes, a bicycle tram and integrated infrastructure services. In the city where bicycle ownership is highest compared to the population, citizens of all ages provide daily transportation by bicycle.
Edirne: Thanks to the flat terrain structure of the Thrace region and the proximity of inner-city distances, it ranks high in the rate of cycling per capita.
Muğla: Especially in coastal districts (Köyceğiz, Fethiye, Marmaris), cycling is heavily preferred for both transportation and sports and tourism purposes.
Antalya: Thanks to the availability of climate conditions and bicycle paths along the coastline, it has a high rate of use in urban transportation.
Sakarya and Balıkesir: Its investments in bike-friendly city title and plane land structures are among the other provinces where bicycle culture is most developed.

Utilizing Website Resources

İnovakademi Blog

Bike Sector Zero Emission with Two Wheels