The consulting firm Deloitte expects the number of regular bike riders to double from 2019 to 2022 worldwide. The number of commuters pedaling on a daily basis is supposed to double as well, globally from one to two percent.

© The Bicycle Snake over the Bryggebroen Bridge in Copenhagen (Denmark) in the late evening.

That doesn’t sound like a lot but, projected to 1.5 billion commuters worldwide, it would amount to an increase from 15 to 30 million people. Plus, the larger the number of people that move to conurbations (expected to account for 68% of the world population by 2050) the larger the number of potential bicycle users. Electrification of the drive unit has given this mobility classic a special boost: Even today, more than 200 million electric bikes, and heavily counting, are supposed to be in use. Thanks to electric motor assistance there’s no reason for any commuter to fear arriving at work in a sweaty business outfit. Plus, at an average speed of 22 km/h (13.7 mph), e-bikers are not only faster than conventional bike riders (15 km/h / 9.3 mph) but even nearly as fast all other urban means of transportation.

Schaeffler is now presenting the next e-bike evolution: a chainless “Bike-by-wire” drive – an all-new riding experience without a mechanical connection between the drive shaft and the rear wheel.

The bicycle capitals of the world

Percentage of distances in major cities covered completely or partly by bicycle.