Bike Production Declines in Europe: Temporary Dip or Troubling Trend?
Spin Exits Dayton Market Citing Low Ridership, Forest E-Bikes Expand to Hounslow, E-Scooter Accidents Surge in Germany, Glasgow Expands Bike Storage and much more…
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What You Need to Know Today
Status Quo of the Micromobility Market - Keynote from McKinsey
In this insightful keynote, Darius Scurtu and Kathrin Kiefer, experts from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, present the latest research and trends shaping the global micromobility landscape.
Spin Exits Dayton
Spin has withdrawn its e-scooter service in Dayton, Ohio, less than eight months after LINK Dayton bike share shut down. The exit was driven by steadily declining ridership, making it difficult for Spin to remain financially viable, according to company officials. The consistent drop in usage made it difficult for Spin to maintain financial stability, as noted by company officials in communication with the city. LINK had also cited rising costs and insurance challenges as reasons for ending its service.
Europe's Bike Production Declines
European bicycle and e-bike production has continued to decline through 2024, returning to pre-pandemic levels after the 2020–2021 demand surge. E-bike output in the EU/UK fell 19.4% to 3.7m units (down from 4.59m in 2023), while conventional bike production dropped 9.8% to 10.8m units. This marks a steep industry-wide correction; e-bike production has fallen by one-third since its 2022 peak (5.4m units), and bicycle production is down 30% from 2022.
International trade suffered severely, with 2024 bicycle imports plunging 36% YoY (58.7% drop from 2022) and e-bike exports down 14.6%.
Forest E-Bikes Expand to Hounslow
Forest will launch ~1.1k dockless e-bikes in Hounslow on August 11, 2025, after winning a competitive tender as the borough’s highest-scoring operator. The service, now active in 18 London boroughs, will use 248 dedicated parking bays (with plans to expand), offering residents sustainable transport to reduce congestion. Forest, London’s only zero-emission operator (using renewable energy for bikes and service vehicles) provides users 10 free daily ride minutes and recorded 1.5m trips in July 2025 (60% YoY increase).
Edinburgh's New Bike Hire Scheme Nears Launch
Edinburgh will reintroduce public bike hire with a dockless e-bike pilot starting the week of August 18, 2025, though no operator has been finalized. Dott and Lime are under consideration, with a contract decision expected by 1st week of August. This marks the city’s first public bike service since 2021, when a previous docked system (operated by Serco) ended due to vandalism and theft issues. The new model charges operators fees for improperly parked bikes and aims to improve accessibility citywide. Officials confirm the August launch despite pending contract awards.
Germany E-Scooter Accidents Surge
Germany saw a sharp rise in e-scooter accidents in 2024, with police reporting 11.9k incidents involving injuries or fatalities, a 26.7% increase from 2023. 27 people died, all of them riders, and nearly half of those involved were under 25. Alcohol was a significant factor, with 12.4% of e-scooter riders in accidents found to be under the influence, a higher rate than among cyclists or moped users.
Glasgow Expands Bike Storage
Glasgow is expanding its residential cycle storage scheme with 720 new spaces planned for 2025 through 120 Cyclehoop units. The trial was launched in 2021, and the scheme now offers over 1.4k spaces across 235 units. Demand remains high, with 97% occupancy and nearly 3k residents registered for the new scheme. In 2023, Cyclehoop won a five-year, £2.5m contract to deliver up to 3k new spaces. The rollout will add 120 units annually for three years, with the rest installed in the final two.
Throwback Episode of Ride Review of Top Fat Tire E-Bikes of 2024
Oshawa Relaunches E-Scooter & E-Bike Pilot
Shared e-scooters and e-bikes will return to the City of Oshawa on August 5 under an updated pilot program managed solely by Bird Canada at no cost to the city or taxpayers. Bird was selected as the sole vendor following a competitive bidding process. The relaunch features a reduced fleet size and a smaller operational zone focused on high-demand areas, alongside new safety measures: designated parking spots, sidewalk-riding bans, stricter vendor response times, and enhanced user education. The pilot, extended to 2027, contributes to Ontario’s evaluation of permanent micromobility legalization.
Austria Plans Helmet Mandate
Austria is set to introduce legislation requiring helmets for e‑bike, e‑scooter, and e‑moped riders as part of broader road safety reforms planned for autumn 2025. The Transport Ministry, in collaboration with safety experts and the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV), is responding to rising injury rates, particularly head injuries, which now account for around half of all e‑scooter accidents in Vienna.
Kuala Lumpur Launches E-Bike Pilot
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has launched a two-year micromobility sandbox project, introducing 225 electric bicycles across three key zones in the city. The project will run until January 2027. Hellobike Sdn Bhd, the sole operator, will deploy the entire fleet within two weeks. The vehicles will use dedicated lanes, including a new 11km corridor in the city centre and a 3.5km shared-use path in Batu. The project will be reviewed every three to six months to assess demand and fine-tune operations.
Luup Launches in Sapporo; 16th City in Japan
Luup has launched shared e-scooter and e-bike service across 50 locations in central Sapporo, Japan. This marks the 16th city in Japan to offer Luup’s shared micromobility service. The fleet includes 40 e-scooters and 160 e-bikes. The scheme will run until November 16th.
Montana Legalizes E-Scooters with Safety Rules
Montana's new law, effective October 1, 2025, legalizes e-scooters, unicycles, and similar seatless devices on public roads, closing a prior regulatory gap. Some of the key requirements include: white headlights/red taillights (mounted on device or rider) and a ban on sidewalk riding unless powered off and pushed. The law provides alternative transport options.
Court Blocks Provincial Plan to Remove Toronto Bike Lanes
An Ontario court struck down a provincial plan to remove 19km of protected bike lanes on major Toronto streets (Yonge, Bloor, University), ruling the removal unconstitutional. The judge found eliminating the lanes would violate the right to life and security by increasing risks to cyclists, citing evidence that protected lanes enhance safety for all road users and reduce traffic congestion (contrary to the province’s claim they worsen it). The provincial government, which campaigned on removing the lanes to address congestion, announced an appeal.
Voi to Launch Bike Scheme in Totton and Gosport
A new e-bike share scheme in Totton and Gosport has been approved by Hampshire County Council and is set to launch by autumn. The program will be operated by Voi, which will deploy around 100 e-bikes. The scheme is funded by the Solent Future Transport Zone, following a successful bid coordinated by Solent Transport. Both towns were chosen for their flat terrain and existing cycling culture. A 28-day consultation period, which began on July 28 in Totton and July 30 in Gosport, invites residents to provide input on dock locations.
Nottinghamshire Targets Illegal E-Scooters
A major enforcement campaign targeting illegal private e-scooters will launch in Nottinghamshire around Christmas 2025, responding to rising public safety concerns. The initiative includes public education about e-scooter illegality (private models remain prohibited on UK public roads/paths) and SmartWater technology to tag and trace repeatedly disruptive scooters for confiscation. This addresses an estimated 1.2+m illegally operated e-scooters nationwide and challenges in apprehending riders. Police are also exploring tech-based deterrents with local institutions, though national data shows a recent decline in e-scooter-related casualties.
New York Invests $21M in Clean Mobility
New York State will allocate $21.6m to fund zero-emission transportation initiatives through a new Clean Mobility Program. The program prioritizes community-led projects, including micromobility, ride-sharing, and on-demand transit, in underserved communities across the state. Funding includes up to $3m per project statewide, with $8m reserved for specific regions: $5m for micromobility projects in designated upstate utility service areas and $3m for projects in the Bronx. Proposals must include community engagement plans, technical feasibility assessments, and compliance with safety standards for e-bikes/scooters. Applications are due by September 25, 2025.
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