'People come to shops for 90% of bike repairs' – the industry needs 45,000 cycle mechanics right now, and it's a job that's AI-proof
New report says that 105,000 will be needed within six years
Europe is grappling with a shortage of bike mechanics, according to a new report. The European Cycling Industries (ECI) and NextGen Mechanics initiative estimate that 105,000 new mechanics will be needed by 2032 to meet demand and prevent people from abandoning their bikes. A survey of 25,000 European respondents found that 212 million people face barriers to maintaining their bikes, with 121 million cycling less and 7.6 million stopping altogether.
The Netherlands leads in accessibility to mechanics, while Eastern European countries report the most difficulty. Jonathan Harrison, Director of the Association of Cycle Traders and Cytech, hopes the report will improve the perception of bike mechanics and make it an attractive career. Mechanics working on London's Lime Bikes are in high demand, and the industry is becoming increasingly technical with e-bikes, fleet models, and complex components.
Despite the shortage, the rate of bike shop closures has decreased, and new shops are opening, creating demand for more mechanics.
Written by urgent.news from Cycling Weekly's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
