Season 3, Episode 4 – Paul Walsh

Season 3, Episode 4

New European Cycling Industries CEO Gets Proactive on Advocacy

Our guest this month is Paul Walsh.

Paul is originally from Ireland, has lived in Brussels for over 20 years and brings more than 12 years of experience working in Brussels-based industry associations.

He holds a master’s degree in Association Management and has worked across a wide range of sectors, including aviation, research and innovation, tourism, and medical devices.

Exactly one year prior to our conversation, Paul took on the CEO role of Cycling Industries Europe, which since then has merged with Europe’s oldest industry group, CONEBI, to form European Cycling Industries (ECI).

Paul was appointed CEO of the new group and has bold ambitions for this new, larger, united organisation.

Multiple times throughout our conversation, Paul mentions the European Cyclist Federation (ECF) which is an advocacy group that Paul’s industry association not only works closely with, but also donates significant funds towards.

We previously interviewed Jill Warren the former CEO of the ECF and if you’re interested in in learning more about that organisation you can find that interview here.

Cycling faces an opportunity for increased government support and growth thanks to the current “oil crisis” In our conversation Paul refers to the 10 point plan to help reduce oil dependency, recently released by the ECF which Paul’s organisation and others have endorsed. Here is the ECF Manifesto

He also outlined ECI’s Strategic Priorities:

1. To create regulatory certainty for e-bikes.
2. To do a better job on data, including bicycle sales.
3. Infrastructure for cycling.
4. Leasing – favourable for bicycle purchases. Reproducing existing successful German and Belgium schemes Europe-wide.
5. Developing a Bicycle Industry Strategy that is adopted by the European Commission.

We asked Paul about any recent increases in bike sales in Europe do to the current “oil crisis”. He said it was too early to have data about this. But here is a chart of what happened to bicycle sales in the USA as a result of the “Arab Oil Embargo” of the early 1970’s. It will be interesting to see what happens to bicycle demand over the coming months.

Paul described a new “I cycle to work” campaign that the ECI will be launching soon. You’ll be able to see it via their website here: European Cycling Industries

What’s Up?

Sara mentions the new Oxford St protected cycleway, which is newly opened on a six lane arterial road into the heart of Syndey’s city centre, that’s getting thousands of rides per day. Here’s a photo, courtesy of Nick Langley, City of Sydney:

Sara also mentions the huge growth in share bike ridership.

Here is a chart, first published in The Guardian, that illustrates her claim:

Phil mentions Lime and thought that they have exceeded US$1 billion in annual revenue. This may be true now due to their massive recent growth, but the latest published data shows US$646 revenue for calendar year 2024. In October 2025 Lime announced that they had seen 1 billion total rides since their launch in 2017.

Clarification

Towards the start of our conversation with Paul, Sara says that there are more bicycle sales than car sales in Australia. That’s only partly correct… although it was true in the decade prior to covid and during the two covid years, since then car sales have slightly exceeded bicycle sales, even when combining analogue and e-bike sales.

Until next month, keep squeaking!