A survey for German insurer Alteos found that 39% of cyclists planning to buy a used bike would buy it from a bicycle dealer, against 14.3% for private online marketplaces. Supply is growing: lease returns in Germany have risen by an average of 68% a year since 2023, according to Zukunft Fahrrad.
French sports retailer Decathlon has joined the Dutch network of Lease a Bike. 50 of its bicycle models are now available through the business leasing platform owned by Pon. The two companies are targeting employees in the Netherlands who can lease a bike through their employer.
Traxio reporst that the Belgian speed pedelec market is heading towards a record year in 2026, supported by strong growth in corporate leasing and a booming second-hand segment.
Europe's cycling sector will need to recruit 105,000 more bicycle mechanics by 2032, equivalent to 60% of today's workforce of around 175,000. That is the central finding of the NextGen Mechanics report, which links the shortage to low pay, fragmented training and the rise of e-bikes and leasing fleets.
Leading bike subscription company Swapfiets has further strengthened its position in the European market by acquiring Berlin-based e-bike subscription provider Dance.
Bike Leasing company JobRad is accelerating its international expansion strategy with the launch of dedicated refurbished bike webshops in Austria and the Netherlands, marking the company's first direct entry into the Dutch market through its JobRad Loop platform.
