Cycling is very popular
The clubs have many members, the network of paths is growing and more and more people are switching to two wheels for their daily commute.
Last year, 136,800 people in Luxembourg were members of a sports club, which corresponds to 20 per cent of the population. Although football, tennis and basketball are the top three sports with the most licence holders, cycling is also very popular with just over a thousand registered athletes. According to the Luxembourg Cycling Federation (FSCL), they belong to 35 affiliated clubs.
Statistically, there are 1.5 licensed cyclists per 1,000 inhabitants. This puts the country on a similar level to France, where the ratio is 1.6, and Germany, which has 1.8 licensed cyclists per 1,000 inhabitants. However, our Belgian neighbour is more advanced with 4.2 licensed cyclists per 1,000 inhabitants.
In Luxembourg, 219 young people under the age of 17 are licensed in affiliated clubs – that’s just over 20 per cent of all licensees. The federation attaches particular importance to young people training under the best possible safety conditions, as cycling in traffic can be risky. For this reason, the FSCL recently entered into a partnership with the ACL to enable young people to train on the karting track in Monnerich.
The network of cycle paths in Luxembourg is still being expanded. It currently covers around 770 kilometres. The state has set itself an ambitious goal: in the coming years, it should cover 950 kilometres. This significant expansion is a testament to a change in mentality. There are currently 23 cycle paths in the country, some of which connect directly to those in neighbouring countries, forming cross-border sections, such as ‘Vélo sans frontières’ along the Moselle, Saar and Sûre. This network includes twelve routes in three countries. The Vennbahn is one of the longest cycle routes at 125 kilometres and runs through Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg – from Aachen via East Belgium to Troisvierges.
New regional signposting
To improve the cycling experience, the government has announced a unified signposting of the regional cycle route network. A pilot project is currently underway in the Mullerthal region, where 750 signs are being erected and 200 kilometres of additional cycle paths are being signposted. The aim is to complete this new signage on the entire regional cycle path network by 2028, thus creating a tourist offering that is suitable for all cyclists, from families to sports enthusiasts.
Lighthouse event ‘Vëlosummer’
One of the most popular initiatives is the ‘Vëlosummer’, an annual event in which selected roads in the country are temporarily reserved for cyclists. The 2025 edition, which takes place from 19 July to 17 August, offers bike tours through more than 60 municipalities. Cyclists not only discover the most beautiful corners of Luxembourg, The event also aims to promote cycling as a leisure activity and as a means of transport in everyday life. Last year, 31,000 cycling enthusiasts took part – a resounding success and a 30 per cent increase in participation compared to 2023.
A change in thinking is underway
Despite this progress, in 2021, only two per cent of all daily journeys were made by bike. However, the latest figures show a positive development. In 2023, the city of Luxembourg recorded more than one million trips made by bicycle, an increase of 36 per cent over the previous year. This upward trend is particularly evident in trips between home and work, shopping and family outings.
Article created with the FSCL
