Environmental Sustainability and Cycling: How Riding Becomes Climate Action

“It must be environmentally friendly to ride a bicycle.”

This intuition is largely correct, but the reality is more complex. Bicycles as a mode of transport are indeed very eco-friendly, but cycling as a “sport”—particularly the equipment consumption patterns of modern competitive cycling—also has its environmental footprint.

Exploring this complex relationship allows us to make more conscious choices.

Bicycle vs. Other Modes of Transport: A Carbon Footprint Comparison

Carbon Emissions per Kilometer

Mode of Transport	CO2 per km (grams)
Airplane	285
Car (single occupant)	170
Bus	68
Train	41
Electric vehicle (Taiwan grid)	Approx. 50-80
Bicycle	Approx. 5 (including manufacturing and food emissions)
Walking	Approx. 60 (including food emissions)

The carbon footprint of a bicycle:
Even accounting for the carbon emissions from manufacturing a bicycle (approx. 5-10 kg CO2), when spread over years of use, the carbon emissions per kilometer are extremely low.

Riding a bike requires consuming food (energy), and food production also has carbon emissions. But even including this, the bicycle remains the lowest-carbon mode of powered transport.

Taiwan’s Unique Context

In Taiwan’s electricity grid composition, the share of renewable energy is increasing, but thermal power generation (coal and natural gas) still accounts for the majority.

This means that electric vehicles in Taiwan currently have higher carbon emissions than many people imagine. Choosing a bicycle for short-distance commuting in Taiwan offers greater environmental benefits than choosing an electric vehicle.

Bicycle Commuting: Improving the Urban Environment

Air Quality

Taiwan’s air quality issues, particularly PM2.5 pollution, are a significant public health concern. The widespread adoption of bicycle commuting can:

• Directly reduce exhaust emissions from cars and scooters
• Lower urban PM2.5 concentrations
• Improve respiratory health for city residents

Research estimates: If 10% of Taiwan’s short-distance car and scooter commutes (within 5 km) were switched to bicycles, it could reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 2 million tonnes per year.

Urban Noise and Space Utilization

Bicycles not only reduce air pollution but also significantly lower urban noise levels. In urban planning, bicycle-friendly space design also makes cities more livable.

Progress in Taiwan’s bicycle lane construction:

• Taipei City’s riverside bicycle lane system (over 110 km in total length)
• Bicycle network development across various counties and cities
• Kaohsiung City’s bicycle rental system (YouBike)

Environmental Issues in Competitive Cycling Equipment

This is the part many enthusiasts are reluctant to face but need to honestly examine.

The Environmental Problems of Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is an important material in modern bicycles, but both its production and disposal carry environmental costs:

Production carbon emissions:
Carbon fiber production is an energy-intensive process; producing 1 kg of carbon fiber requires approximately 20-30 kWh of electricity. A carbon fiber frame uses about 2-3 kg of carbon fiber.

Disposal difficulties:
Carbon fiber is difficult to recycle and typically ends up in landfills when discarded. Some companies are researching carbon fiber reuse technologies, but these are still not widespread.

The Environmental Impact of Frequent Equipment Upgrades

The “upgrade culture” of high-end cycling—replacing frames, wheelsets, and components every one to two years—creates massive equipment consumption and waste.

More eco-friendly choices:

• Extend the service life of equipment
• Purchase second-hand equipment
• Choose products with high repairability (rather than disposable items)
• Calculate the true “performance gain/carbon emissions” ratio, and only upgrade when truly necessary

Fast Fashion vs. Durable Design

The fast-fashion trend in cycling apparel is also a problem. Some brands release new designs every season, encouraging cyclists to buy frequently.

More eco-friendly choices:

• Choose cycling clothing made from durable materials (usable for years)
• Support brands with environmental commitments
• Reduce spending on purely cosmetic upgrades

Global Brands’ Environmental Commitments

More and more cycling brands are beginning to take environmental issues seriously:

Examples of Brand Environmental Commitments

Giant: Released a climate action plan in 2020, committing to a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030.

Specialized: Has begun promoting carbon neutrality initiatives and uses some recycled materials.

Specialized’s “Forever Home” program: Encourages consumers to bring back old bikes for Specialized to refurbish or repurpose.

Patagonia (sportswear): Although not a cycling brand, its “Repair, Reuse, Resell” model serves as a benchmark for the entire sports equipment industry.

Taiwan’s Sustainable Cycling Culture

The Taiwanese cycling community is also beginning to develop greater sustainability awareness:

The Second-Hand Bicycle Market

Taiwan’s second-hand bicycle market is growing (Facebook communities, Ruten, etc.), allowing equipment to find new owners rather than being discarded.

Suggestion: Before considering an upgrade, first assess the second-hand market value of your existing equipment so it can find a better next owner.

The Revival of Bicycle Repair Culture

The culture of repairing bicycles (rather than replacing them) deserves promotion in Taiwan. Many repair mechanics can restore an old bike to excellent condition at a fraction of the cost of buying new, with far lower carbon emissions than manufacturing a new one.

Bicycle-Sharing Systems

Taiwan’s YouBike system is one of the most successful public bicycle-sharing systems in the world.

YouBike’s environmental benefits:

• Massively increases access to bicycle use in cities without the need for ownership
• Reduces short-distance car and scooter usage
• Raises awareness of bicycle-friendliness in cities

Individual Environmental Actions for Cyclists

As cyclists, what personal choices can reduce our environmental footprint?

Transport Substitution

The highest-impact action: Replacing short-distance commutes (5-15 km) by car or scooter with a bicycle. This choice can save over 1 tonne of CO2 emissions in a single year.

Equipment Decisions

• Prioritize repair: Fix parts that can be repaired first, rather than immediately replacing them
• Extend service life: Maintain equipment well so it lasts longer
• Be cautious about “upgrades”: Assess whether it’s truly necessary, rather than just because the new model looks better

Choosing Riding Activities

• Choose events with environmental awareness (waste reduction, carbon offset programs)
• Prioritize taking public transport to the ride start point (rather than driving with your bike)
• Take your own trash with you on rides, leaving no waste behind

Conclusion

Riding a bicycle is itself an environmental action—every time you choose to ride instead of drive, you make a contribution to the environment.

But the deeper environmental action lies in: developing more conscious equipment consumption habits, supporting brands with environmental commitments, and advocating for better urban cycling infrastructure.

The bicycle is not just your riding tool; it can also be a way for you to express your environmental values. Let them align.

Related Reading

• Cycling and the Environment: Data Analysis on How Riding Reduces Carbon Footprint
• Cycling and Sustainable Living: The Philosophy of Riding with a Reduced Carbon Footprint
• Cycling and Environmental Protection: Calculating Your Carbon Footprint Difference with Every Pedal Stroke
• Cycling Environmental Advocacy: The Eco-Consciousness of Taiwan’s Cycling Community