Two wheels. Endless reasons.

The United Nations has recognized June 3 as World Bicycle Day since 2018. It is a simple celebration of something most of us learned as children: riding a bike is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for the people around you.

The World’s Favorite Vehicle

The bicycle may be one of the most remarkable inventions ever created. About 130 million new bikes are manufactured each year. That’s more than four bicycles produced every second, around the clock.

In fact, bicycles are made at roughly twice the rate of cars. Today, an estimated two billion bikes are in use worldwide.

Those numbers are a reminder that cycling is far from a niche activity. The bicycle remains the most widely used vehicle on the planet, and its popularity continues to grow. The global cycling industry was valued at more than $75 billion in 2026 and is expected to keep expanding in the years ahead.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the bicycle is its versatility. It serves commuters heading to work, athletes chasing new goals, children learning to ride, and retirees exploring new places. Few inventions have such a wide reach. The bicycle means something different to every rider, which may be one reason it has remained popular for generations.

More Than One Kind of Ride

When most people think of cycling, they picture road bikes: the lightweight, fast machines seen in the Tour de France or on weekend rides. Road cycling is the largest segment of the market, but it is far from the whole story.

Today, cycling encompasses a wide range of disciplines, each with its own culture, community, and riding style. The bicycle has evolved into many forms, designed for different riders, different terrain, and different ways of enjoying the ride.

These forms of cycling share two wheels and pedals, though pump tracks sometimes require little pedaling. Yet they represent very different ways of experiencing the world on a bike. A child who learns to ride on a pump track may grow into a trail rider or BMX racer. A commuter who starts cycling to work may discover gravel riding on the weekends. The entry points are everywhere. The common thread is the habit of riding.

Good for the Body. Good for the Mind.

Across all of these forms of cycling, the health benefits are consistent and well established. Cycling improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens muscles, and enhances balance and coordination without putting undue strain on the joints. It appeals to young children, teenagers, and adults alike, making it one of the few activities people can enjoy throughout their lives.

Cycling also offers something that gym workouts and structured exercise often struggle to match: people genuinely enjoy it. The combination of movement, fresh air, skill progression, and fun keeps riders coming back. Over time, that consistency can lead to meaningful improvements in long-term health.

Safer Riders Start Somewhere

Riders who develop their skills on pump tracks, bike trails, and skills parks often become more confident wherever they ride. Balance, spatial awareness, and bike handling skills develop through repetition in a controlled environment, long before riders encounter traffic or technical terrain. Communities that invest in quality places to ride often see more people cycling and more confident riders.

Places that make it easy

People are far more likely to ride when they have great places to ride. A well-placed pump track, a flowing trail through a park, or a skills area that welcomes beginners can make the difference between good intentions and a lasting habit.

This is what we have seen across more than 350 projects in 18 countries. Build the right space in the right place, and people will come. Children arrive on balance bikes. Parents stay and ride. Teenagers find a reason to be outside. Older riders discover they have not lost the habit, only the opportunity.

Who are we?

Since building the first asphalt pump track in Central Europe, a 900 m² facility in Ljubljana that remains in daily use more than a decade later, Alliance ASE has designed and built pump tracks, bike trails, urban skills parks, and skateparks for communities across Europe and beyond. The idea is simple: build the right space in the right place, and people will use it.

Thinking About a Project?

Get in touch — We would be happy to discuss what is possible.