Calculations

CO₂

The figure for the amount of CO₂ saved by cycling on this website relates to cycle trips that have been logged for transport purposes only. The statistic relates to the total amount of CO₂ released by an average car, of unknown fuel type, which roughly estimates of the amount of CO₂ saved by cycling instead of driving. It is calculated as follows

Total units travelled x kg CO₂ per unit = total kg CO₂

This calculation is the total distance of trips logged for transport purposes times the amount of CO₂ released by an average car, which equals the total kilograms of CO₂ per mile.

DEFRA's carbon conversion factor for an average car fuel unknown was used. This is 0.29143kg CO₂ per mile (0.18109kg of CO₂ per kilometre) is provided in 'Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2017’.

Please note:

1. The carbon calculations on Love to Ride are rough estimates only - there are a whole host of factors that would go into calculating a more accurate figure of CO₂ saved from a particular bike trip, e.g. size of car, fuel type, age of car, where the fuel is sourced from, hilly vs flat terrain, the amount of starting and stopping the vehicle would do at traffic lights, etc, etc.
2. Producing fossil fuels and cars also uses energy and produces CO₂ which is not factored into these calculations. For example, it takes energy to extract crude oil, transport it, refine it, transport it to petrol stations, etc. These additional CO₂ emissions have not been included into the calculation, and the amount of CO₂ will likely be underreported for most people.
3. Other pollutants from cars which pollute the air and are damaging to both the environment and our health are not factored into these calculations (e.g. nitrogen oxides).
4. Some people who ride bikes might eat more food as fuel for their riding. Production of food also uses energy and can result in CO₂ emissions which vary based on the food (for example, most meat uses a lot more energy and results in more CO₂ and methane gas emissions in its production than growing beans does). We have not factored this into the calculation. For human health, we need to exercise. If people didn’t burn calories on their ride to work then they’d work out some other way and burn the calories in any case. We recommend where you can ride your bike, it makes a lot of sense as you can get your recommended level of physical activity, while you get places, enjoy the journey and being outside, save money, save time, and help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases which are warming our planet, changing weather patterns and rising sea levels.

In a nutshell - Riding a bike for transportation does use less energy and emits less CO₂ than driving an average car would for the same trip. The figures on Love to Ride give an approximate CO₂ figure to represent this saving.