Shimano, one of the biggest bicycle component manufacturers in the world, first introduced its State of the Nation report in 2020 to assess attitudes toward e-bike usage. Since then, it has become an important resource for policymakers, advocacy groups, industry stakeholders and cyclists alike. After a pause in 2023, to review its design methodology, this fourth edition will cover more than 25 countries in the EU and promises to provide an even richer perspective.

“We see the State of the Nation as a baseline for the many things we do in advocacy,” explains Ties van Dijk, advocacy specialist at Shimano Europe. “If we don’t know what the barriers are, whether they be infrastructure, kids not cycling, or a shortage of mechanics, then we don’t know what to advocate for. So this research really gives us the evidence we need to push for real change.”

Making travel more accessible

At the heart of Europe’s transition into a healthier, greener way of life, Shimano hopes to encourage people to get back on their bikes, whether they be traditional city bicycles, MTBs, e-bikes or cargo, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 81% of adolescents between the age of 11 and 17, are not physically active enough. Even cycle-friendly countries like Denmark and the Netherlands are starting to see a decline in the number of children riding their bikes.

Given the critical situation these statistics shed light on, Shimano is working closely with its global partners like the World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), WHO, and UNICEF to reverse the trend.

For example, Shimano partnered with local organisations in Turkey to offer women and children bicycle courses by providing the necessary cycling gear, equipment and maintenance tools, as well as launching social media campaigns and events to get those groups curious about riding. As a result, thousands of women and children learned the skills necessary to adopt cycling as a mode of transport across various regions of Turkey.

Influencing policy

Another aspect of Shimano’s cycling mobility work lies in influencing policy. Working closely with Cycling Industries Europe (CIE), Shimano is taking steps to advocate for more bike leasing schemes through the EU’s Greening Corporate Fleets initiative and other social leasing platforms.

“Bike leasing is one of the biggest levers we have,” says Van Dijk. “In countries like Germany and Belgium, it has transformed cycling uptake. If done well, it can be one of the most impactful tools for getting people to switch from cars to bikes.”

Thanks to favourable tax cuts, thousands of employees in Belgium, for example, have swapped car commutes for bikes or e-bikes leased through their employer. This not only reduces emissions but also supports a healthier lifestyle and cuts congestion in big cities like Brussels and Ghent.

“We want to give back to the thousands of volunteers who build and maintain our MTB trails”

Maintaining MTB trails

While city cycling often grabs the headlines, mountain biking also plays a crucial role in inspiring people to ride, build community, and spend more time in nature. Shimano’s Trail Born Fund pledges 10 million USD over the next decade to support the development and preservation of sustainable MTB trails worldwide.

“We want to give back to the thousands of volunteers who build and maintain our MTB trails,” explains Van Dijk. “But we also believe that time spent outdoors on a bike, can have a lasting positive impact on people’s mental health, and society as a whole.”

In 2024, the Trail Born Fund supported over 10 projects in Europe, including a community-led project in Spain that restored over 30km of eroded trails in the Pyrenees. By working with local clubs and landowners, the project not only improved access for riders but it also introduced new measures to protect sensitive ecosystems.

In a separate collaboration with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Europe, volunteers in the UK also received training in sustainable trail construction during the DIRTT project, so that trails could remain open and maintained sustainably.

Supporting bicycle mechanics

Behind every thriving cycling culture is a strong network of mechanics, yet Europe is currently facing a growing shortage of skilled bike professionals. As revealed by a Shimano survey of its own service centres, among the larger retail locations, with five mechanics or more, 39% reported delays due to a lack of mechanics; 48% had challenges retaining mechanics; and 64% struggled to recruit new staff.

In response to these findings, Shimano and CIE joined forces to launch a Call for Evidence aimed at better understanding the challenges and opportunities in cycle mechanic training and careers. The insights gathered will inform an industry report to guide future policy, investment, and collaboration.

“Mechanics are the cornerstone of the cycling ecosystem, but they’re often overlooked,” explains Van Dijk. “Without enough skilled staff, people will face long wait times, unsafe bikes, or they give up on cycling altogether. So, there’s definitely an urgency to jointly work on solving this shortage.”

To address the issue, Shimano has launched several initiatives, two of which include:

1. European Bike Mechanics Championship, a competition to shed light on the expertise of mechanics across Europe.
2. NextGenMechanics, a cross-industry effort to solve the shortage of skilled bicycle mechanics.

Shimano and its partners aim to find various solutions to overcome the shortage, for example, by making the occupation more attractive, and standardizing the curriculum, including certification, so that a new generation of professionals can sustain the growth in cycling happening across Europe.

A call to action

The relaunch of the State of the Nation report is more than a research project, it’s a tool to empower local advocacy. Shimano has picked up the baton to provide practical toolkits to help municipalities, NGOs, and industry groups use the data in their campaigns.

“We wanted to be more hands-on this year,” says Van Dijk. “We don’t want to just publish data: we want local groups to use it, whether it’s within their city, their country, or region. If we work together, we really believe we can make cycling more accessible to all.”

The report’s findings, to be published in November 2025, will be based on representative surveys of 25,000 consumers across more than 25 European countries. It will include new questions on how regions support cycling opportunities for children, what the barriers to bicycle maintenance and service are, and the consequences of this, alongside updated data on infrastructure.

Providing these tools and insights, with relevant data points that can be applied across Europe, Shimano aims to drive meaningful and lasting change across Europe’s growing cycling network.

This article is sponsored by Shimano.