The image of the urban cyclist is often tied to younger commuters, but Strava’s latest Metro data points in a different direction. The strongest group in global bike commuting is not Gen Z, but Baby Boomers.
That finding comes from Strava Metro’s first Commute Report, which tracked commuting bike behavior around the world from January through December 2025. The report suggests that age alone does not determine who is most likely to ride to work or use a bike for daily travel.
Baby Boomers lead the way
Strava says Baby Boomers were the most active group in bike commuting. Gen Z, by contrast, was 21% less likely to commute by bike than Boomers.
The result challenges the common assumption that active public mobility is mainly driven by younger people. It also points to other forces at play, including habit, comfort, and technology support.
E-bikes are widening access
One of the clearest shifts in the report is the growing role of e-bikes, especially among Baby Boomers. Electric bikes make it easier for riders to stay active without relying entirely on physical effort for every trip.
Iceland recorded the highest number of e-bike commuters, followed by Belgium and Norway. For many people, e-bikes appear to offer a practical bridge between exercise and everyday transport.
The scale is enormous
Across the reporting period, commuter cyclists covered a total of 550 million miles, or about 885.1 million kilometers. Strava says that is roughly equal to circling the Earth about 22,000 times.
The company also compares that distance with the Artemis II mission around the moon, saying the commuter total is more than 2,170 times that journey. The numbers show how large daily active travel has become in real terms.
Data that shapes cities
Strava Metro provides anonymous, free data to more than 4,000 city planners and government agencies around the world. That information comes from the real movement of walkers and cyclists, and it is used to help improve road infrastructure.
Strava says nearly 1 billion people have benefited from infrastructure improvements informed by that data. That places the platform in a broader role beyond fitness tracking, extending into urban planning and safer streets.
Commuting through harsh conditions
The report also highlights how consistent bike commuters remain across very different climates. Riders kept pedaling in places ranging from Finland’s bitter cold to Japan’s warm and humid weather.
For policymakers, that persistence sends a clear message. Better and safer cycling infrastructure should not depend on local weather or geography.
Brian Bell, Vice President of Communications and Social Impact at Strava, said Strava Metro sits at the heart of the company’s social impact work. He added that every active trip recorded can help create safer and easier commuting experiences for everyone in the future.
Source: id.mashable.com
