Bicycle tourism

Bicycle or cycle tourism is a market segment in which cycling plays a significant part of the holiday experience. It includes activities undertaken by those “on vacation for longer than 24 h or one night, and for whom the bicycle is an integral part of this trip” (Ritchie 1998: 569). However, day excursions centered around the bicycle are often included in cycle tourism research (Weston et al. 2012).

The bicycle has been used for recreation since the 1890s, but its popularity declined after the advent of the car. Over the last decades, cycling for various purposes – daily activities, recreation, tourism – has regained popularity (Lamont 2009). It has now become well established as a (niche) market, particularly in Western Europe. Bicycle tourism generally enjoys high participation in countries where bicycles are frequently used for daily transport and with good cycling infrastructure (Weston et al 2012).

Many destinations have set up routes and networks for various types of cycling,...