Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

The bicycle is the future of urban mobility, predicts Deloitte report

Consultancy firm sees growth driven by e-bikes and technological innovations

The bicycle is the future of urban mobility, according to a new report from the global consultancy firm Deloitte, with technological innovations helping drive growth in the number of people using bicycles to get around cities around the world in the coming years.

Its report Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Predictions 2020 contains a chapter, Cycling’s technological transformation: Making bicycling faster, easier, and safer, in which the firm sets out its view of how cycling in cities will develop.

The firm predicts that a 1 per centage point rise in the proportion of people committing by bike between 2019-22 “will double the number of regular bicycle users in many major cities around the world where cycling to work is still uncommon.”

According to the report, that growth will be underpinned by “an array of diverse technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D-printed parts, and electrification.

“These innovations—which, for the most part, are being developed separately by a disparate range of companies—are making cycling safer, faster, more convenient, and easier to track and measure.

“This, in turn, makes it a more attractive option for first-mile, last-mile, and overall travel, furthering its rising popularity.”

Deloitte points out that in a world that is becoming increasingly urbanised, increasing use of bicycles in city can reduce congestion, ease the strain on public transport and improve air quality and public health, highlighting its suitability for replacing short journeys often made by car.

The report notes that there are only six major cities worldwide where more than 10 per cent of journeys are made by bicycle – Copenhagen (41 per cent), Amsterdam (32 per cent), Rotterdam(23 per cent),  Shanghai (16 per cent), Tokyo (16 per cent) and Berlin (13 per cent)– but behind them a number of others are growing quickly, including major population centres such as Beijing, Bangalore, Shenzhen, Buenos Aires, and Delhi.

Deloitte says that in particular, “the development and spread of e-bikes … stands out for its potential to boost cycling’s growth,” and that “thanks largely to recent improvements in lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology, pricing, and power, the e-bike market is seeing a surge in interest, particularly for high-end models.”

Illustrating the potential of e-bikes, it says that in 2034 some 40 million are expected to be sold worldwide, compared to 12 million electric cars and trucks, with the market driven by LIB technology.

Integrated lights that are thief proof, smartphone apps that can lock e-bikes and the fact the batteries are easier to charge than those of electric vehicles, plus pedal assistance also opening up cargo bikes to potential customers who may not have considered them in the past, are also seen as attractive features, and Deloitte notes that car manufacturers such as GM and Volkswagen are moving into a market where Uber is also present with its Jump e-bike hire scheme.

Among other examples Deloitte cites as demonstrating the role technology can play in boosting urban cycling are a number of initiatives from the UK.

Those include the Brompton Dock bike share scheme, the segregated cycleways gradually being introduced in London, and Transport for London’s use of data to inform it where more infrastructure is needed. Also singled out is smart bike manufacturer See.Sense’s collaboration with Greater Manchester (and more recently, Oxford), also aimed at determining where safer routes are required.

More globally, mapping and fitness apps are also seen as having an important role to play, with Strava Metro, which uses anonymised user data to help inform urban planners determine where cycling infrastructure is most needed, given as an example.

The report also says that cameras can have a role to play in improving safety because they may “deter or dampen” antisocial behaviour, something Deloitte believes discourages women in particular from cycling in countries such as the UK and US, contrasting those with places like the Netherlands and Denmark where the gender balance is roughly equal.

It also notes that while “cars are likely to remain prevalent for decades to come, a growing number of cities are beginning to reallocate available space to accommodate other forms of transport, including bicycles” – something proposed by Birmingham just this month.

“Giving bikes more space is very likely a critical step toward making cities more hospitable to bicycle use: Many people who might otherwise embrace cycling are frightened off by the prospect of sharing a crowded road with big metal vehicles with only a helmet for protection,” the report says.

“The good news is that there is plenty of space to reallocate. The United States has more than a billion parking spaces, for instance, and more than half of all of the country’s downtown space is given over to roads or parking.”

In conclusion, Deloitte says: “The technology industry has a large role to play in encouraging greater bicycle use—a goal that can help society address many challenges arising from continuing global urbanization. Improving the technology itself—better data analytics to support urban planning, or faster battery recharge times, or apps that help people integrate bicycling into their commutes—is only part of the picture. The other, equally important part is to support policies and programs that promote bicycling.

“The tech industry can’t do it alone, however. Many vertical sectors should be involved for cycling to make a dent in certain entrenched challenges,” it adds, citing the example of healthcare where it highlights UK initiatives under which doctors have referred patients to cycle training schemes.

It says that employers also have a role to play by encouraging more commuting by bike, for example by providing bike parking and other facilities for workers who cycle.

“In terms of usage, bicycling still makes up only a small fraction of urban transportation modes. In terms of impact, however, bicycling can be immensely important—and the more people who bicycle, the greater the likely societal benefits,” says Deloitte.

“As technologies continue to improve, bicycling will most likely continue to become easier, faster, and safer. That’s good news for cities worldwide as they search for more economical and more sustainable ways to move people and things around,” it adds.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
brooksby | 4 years ago
4 likes

Quote:

According to the report, that growth will be underpinned by “an array of diverse technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D-printed parts, and electrification.

“These innovations—which, for the most part, are being developed separately by a disparate range of companies—are making cycling safer, faster, more convenient, and easier to track and measure.

All your data are belong to us.  That is all.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Quote:

According to the report, that growth will be underpinned by “an array of diverse technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D-printed parts, and electrification.

“These innovations—which, for the most part, are being developed separately by a disparate range of companies—are making cycling safer, faster, more convenient, and easier to track and measure.

All your data are belong to us.  That is all.

How about this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51123760

Quote:

Prof Hayes, from the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, says the technology being used is simple, but will enable people to take control of data where they live.

The sensors will be placed in homes with a clear view of the road outside.

Software inside them will analyse the speed and size of whatever passes it and determine whether it is a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist.

"The sensor components are made by Raspberry Pi, standard hardware that's available off the shelf. They are powered by a micro USB port," he said.

"It will connect to the wi-fi in the person's home, just like any smartphone or computer.

"Data is published hourly but the exact location of the sensor is not given, just the road it is on."

Avatar
hawkinspeter | 4 years ago
6 likes

More cycling certainly would be deloitteful.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 4 years ago
7 likes

"According to the report, that growth will be underpinned by “an array of diverse technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D-printed parts, and electrification."

And maybe a few cycle facilities as well?  Like protected cycle lanes and secure parking perhaps.

But to be fair, they are right, but like all the other reports which show that cycling is the answer to so many of today's problems, it will be instantly filed in the bin, while the government shovels our money into HS2.

Avatar
Simon E replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
3 likes

eburtthebike wrote:

"According to the report, that growth will be underpinned by “an array of diverse technological innovations, including predictive analytics, product and application design, wireless connectivity, digital urban planning tools, 3D-printed parts, and electrification."

And maybe a few cycle facilities as well?  Like protected cycle lanes and secure parking perhaps.

My thoughts too.

No, we have seen already that many people are willing to cycle without technology, that's just fluff or maybe a sop to industry ("don't worry lads, we'll make sure you get a slice of the pie"). We're talking about going to work or the shops, not nailing KOMs on strava or custom builds with 3D handlebars. Wankers.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

That Shanghai placed so well suprised me, good mind.  China did seem to have lost it's love of the bicycle.  Cars demonstrate wealth far more easily.

I had read about a city in the east, could have been Singapore, but it was an e-scooter (motorbike scooter rather then the other) which the user would buy (or rent?) and they would rent the batteries from charging docks.  Empty battery in, fully chaged one out.

It's the micro/small e transport that is the real future.  It (and the human powered versions, of course) that are the future.  Massively cuts down on congestion.  No huge charging point infrastructure investment needed.

But hey, getting people out of cars...

Let alone building safe and protected infrastructure...

2+ tonne personel transport is unsustainable.

Avatar
Hirsute | 4 years ago
2 likes

I'm sure we had this article before.

Meanwhile on the 6pm news it was stated that a survey by the government on car journeys which showed people wanted fewer of them was not publicised.
Hopefully there will be a link on the BBC website later.

Latest Comments