India’s Cycling Culture Finds A Steady Ally

India is in the middle of a quiet shift. Cycling is slowly moving from the margins to the mainstream, driven by concerns around fitness, sustainability and the need for simpler mobility in crowded cities. Over the past four years, one homegrown company - Avitree, has been steadily contributing to this shift, shaping a more accessible and lifestyle-friendly riding culture across the country.

A Market Poised for Growth

The broader statistics underline why cycling has such traction. The Indian bicycle market, valued at roughly USD 3.23 billion in 2024, is projected to balloon to around USD 7.44 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent from 2025 to 2030. More conservative estimates still foresee growth, from USD 2.9 billion in 2024 to around USD 5 billion by 2033.

At the same time, urban Indians seem ready to ride. A 2022 global survey by the independent agency Ipsos showed that 67 per cent of urban Indians claimed to ride a bicycle at least once a week, the highest rate among the 28 countries surveyed.

Combined, these numbers suggest demand for bicycles is not just latent, it’s growing. People want healthier commutes, cleaner options, fitness that fits into daily life. And more importantly perhaps, they’re making those choices.

Designed for Daily Life, Not Just Weekend Rides

Against this backdrop, Avitree, the Pune-based company founded in 2022, made a simple and pragmatic play: focus on usability, build bicycles that work for daily routines, and extend the value beyond mere weekend thrills. The bikes are built with lightweight alloy frames and carefully chosen components to ensure comfort, durability and low maintenance. The thinking is less about high-end cycle-sport aspirations and more about enabling daily movement for a broad set of users: students, office-goers, urban commuters, weekend riders, fitness-conscious citizens.

“We have always believed that people ride more when the experience feels effortless. Every design choice we make is meant to remove friction, so the cycle becomes something you reach for without thinking twice”, says Abheenandan Bhansali, Founder of Avitree and Managing Partner at Bhansali Bizgrow LLP.

Plans to launch an e-mobility line reflect the same logic; convenience plus sustainability, extending riding possibilities to those who may not consider a pedal bike but value clean, low-impact transport.

Bridging Gaps Through Community and Access

What stands out is not just the product, but the ecosystem around it. Over four years the brand has tried to make cycling more inclusive by collaborating with schools, local wellness initiatives and community groups. The effort is to normalise riding, break preconceptions that cycling is only for a niche few, and make it accessible across age groups and social segments.

This approach matters especially in a country where traditional bicycle adoption has had structural challenges. A 2011 census snapshot showed roughly 45 per cent of households owning a bicycle, a figure that stayed flat across the preceding decade. For many, rising incomes and lack of safe cycling infrastructure drove a shift toward motorisation. A brand that builds on convenience, practical design and community-focused access may help reverse those trends.

Looking ahead, the roadmap is rooted in realism

The inclusion in Forbes India presents DGEMS 2025 – The Select 200 is a meaningful marker for the young brand, signalling to investors and stakeholders that there is credibility behind the company’s product philosophy, distribution network and broader ambition. Yet the real measure of progress lies in what comes next.

“The recognition is encouraging, but it doesn’t change how we operate. For us the priority remains the same. Keep improving the product, keep expanding access and keep serving riders with consistency”, Bhansali adds.

The brand is now focused on expanding its e-mobility offerings for urban commuters, deepening its footprint across India with stronger logistics and after-sales service, enhancing product durability and rider experience, growing community partnerships in schools, offices and neighbourhoods and strengthening its presence in international markets where early demand has come from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, South Africa and parts of Europe.

In a sector where the market is projected to grow steadily over the coming years, the real opportunity lies in shifting everyday mobility habits rather than simply increasing ownership.

Why This Matters Beyond Business

Cycling offers more than mobility. Studies highlight its positive impact on health, environment, and social equity. As cities struggle with congestion, pollution, and public-health risks tied to sedentary lifestyles, promoting non-motorised transport becomes a collective benefit.

A growing bicycle market, rising public interest, and better-designed products together suggest that India’s cycling wave might finally be bigger than nostalgia. It may well become a sustainable mobility transformation.