The Bicycle Renaissance and Urban Culture Wars

Once seen as a niche or nostalgic mode of travel, the bicycle—supercharged by the rise of the e-bike—is rapidly reshaping cities around the world. From Paris to New York, protected lanes and better batteries have turned cycling into a practical alternative to the car, cutting congestion and pollution while reclaiming urban space. In this episode, we explore why the pandemic, new technology, and safer infrastructure have fueled this boom—and why it has sparked a fierce backlash, as motorists, populist politicians, and regulators push back against bike-friendly streets. As powerful and sometimes illegal e-bikes blur the line between bicycle and motor vehicle, the story reveals how a simple machine has become one of the most disruptive—and divisive—transport technologies of the modern city.https://www.economist.com/international/2025/10/09/forget-evs-cycling-is-revolutionising-transport