Europe Faces Shortage of 105,000 Bike Mechanics as 121 Million People Ride Less Due to Maintenance Barriers
A newly released report from the NextGen Mechanics (NGM) initiative warns that Europe’s cycling sector will require an additional 105,000 bicycle mechanics by 2032. This comes on top of an existing shortfall of 45,000 positions today, highlighting a deepening skills crisis in the industry.
Currently, approximately 175,000 mechanics are employed across Europe. However, when accounting for workers expected to leave the profession, the total workforce must expand to roughly 247,000 within the next six years—representing a nearly 40% increase.
The report was unveiled at the European Cycling Industries (ECI) summit held in Brussels on 30 September. It is described as containing “the first estimate of demand for cycle mechanics built from the employment data of cycle retailers themselves,” and also incorporates input from mechanics, employers, and retailers.
**Shifting Travel Patterns**
The NGM initiative was founded by Shimano with contributions from across the cycling ecosystem. Its mission is to elevate standards and career prospects for cycle mechanics.
The new report builds upon Shimano’s State of the Nation 2026 report, released in February, which surveyed 25,000 individuals throughout Europe. That study painted an “urgent picture” of the pressures confronting the maintenance sector.
According to the survey, 212 million people encounter obstacles to cycling due to maintenance issues, and 121 million ride less frequently as a result. Among those 121 million, Shimano reports that 65 million “ride much less” while 7.6 million have abandoned cycling altogether.
Age and location play significant roles in these findings. While 60% of young adults aged 18 to 34 are affected, only 40% of those over 40 report similar challenges. Eastern European nations show a higher proportion of people facing maintenance-related barriers.
Part of this problem stems from increased cycling participation. NGM notes that cycling rates have climbed across much of Europe. Paris, for instance, has seen cycling volumes double within a single year, while London now records more daily bicycle journeys than private motor vehicle trips.
**Mismatch Between Supply and Demand**
NGM contends that the availability of skilled mechanics has not kept pace with cycling’s growth.
“When bikes cannot be repaired, people ride less. NextGen Mechanics respondents link mechanic shortages directly to longer waiting times and increased safety risks from poor maintenance. These effects ripple across the transport system. If a vehicle cannot be relied upon, users shift to other modes, and even short disruptions can break cycling habits for months,” the report states.
Survey participants also cautioned that riders frustrated by costs and delays are increasingly turning to alternative micromobility options, including electric scooters and “out of regulation ebikes.” Safety concerns extend to individuals riding bicycles that are no longer roadworthy.
Paul Walsh, CEO of ECI, emphasized that an unrepairable bike effectively stops being used. “Europe’s capacity to train and retain qualified cycle mechanics is falling behind demand, with an impact felt by both consumers and businesses. This undermines a fast-growing European industry and limits the return regions and cities see on their cycling infrastructure investments,” he said.
**The Rise of Informal Repair Networks**
NGM points out that “accredited” bike shops are scarce across Europe, while “low-cost and poorly regulated ebikes” have proliferated rapidly. This combination has fueled an “informal repair market.”
“In many cities with high ebike uptake, unregulated garages and mobile mechanics now fill gaps left by overstretched or unavailable workshops. While some provide competent service, others lack access to certified parts, technical data, or appropriate safety training,” the report explains.
NGM adds that evidence suggests more riders are being pushed toward these “informal repair channels,” with respondents expressing concerns about fire hazards linked to improper battery handling and insufficient electrical knowledge.
**Root Causes of the Mechanic Shortage**
NGM identifies multiple factors contributing to “churn” throughout the sector.
A substantial 72.5% of respondents cited low pay or the profession’s status as reasons for the mechanic shortage.
“Pay data collected through the NextGen Mechanics survey confirms that cycle mechanics across Europe are underpaid relative to the technical demands of their work. Even in Northern Europe, where job security and benefits tend to be stronger, salaries still sit below the national median for full-time employment,” the report notes.
Meanwhile, 55% pointed to insufficient formal qualifications or training, and half mentioned the growing complexity of modern bicycles, including electric and cargo models.
Respondents also connected workforce attrition to working conditions: “physical strain from handling heavy ebikes, lack of ergonomic equipment, pressure to meet unrealistic turnaround times, and limited benefits such as pensions or sick pay.”
“Several noted that even after decades in the trade, they earned less than entry-level roles in unrelated retail or logistics,” the report adds.
Regional differences exist behind the mechanic shortage. Germany maintains interest in the profession, with demand rising partly due to corporate ebike leasing. However, expectations around safety and reliability have created a “bottleneck” in repair networks.
In the Netherlands, employers struggle to attract younger workers because wages have not kept pace with living costs, making it hard to compete with other technical trades.
In the UK, shortages are linked to high staff turnover in small shops and the challenge of replacing experienced mechanics once they depart.
NGM also highlights an “image problem,” with roughly 15% of respondents identifying a lack of professional recognition as the biggest obstacle holding the sector back.
“Many point to a cultural gap between the image of a ‘bike shop job’ and the skill involved in maintaining modern ebikes, hydraulic systems and digital drivetrains,” the report says.
**Expanding the Workforce**
How can the cycling industry add 105,000 mechanics over the next six years?
NGM suggests recruitment could target older career-changers, unemployed individuals “seeking meaningful and stable work,” and those with transferable skills who could retrain quickly.
However, the report acknowledges that the same challenges facing current mechanics—low pay, limited advancement, and growing technical demands—also confront potential newcomers. These entrants often must take informal routes, such as volunteering, to break into the profession.
To address this, the report recommends establishing a clear entry process and a basic qualification for cycle mechanics that is recognized across Europe. It notes that current education and qualification offerings are inadequate and calls for the cycling industry to build “a sustained, structured relationship” with the vocational education and training sector.
A “collective strategy” is also needed to promote an aspirational vision for the sector, along with research into funding streams aimed at “increasing social mobility, skills shortages or green jobs and could be targeted for cycle mechanics.”
The report further notes that workforce composition “highlights missed opportunities.” “While the survey did not directly collect demographic data, qualitative responses consistently indicate that women and younger people are under-represented,” it states.
“Although visibility is improving through community repair hubs and social enterprises, the core professional workforce remains predominantly male and concentrated in the 30–50 age group.”
The report calls for additional research to determine what a more diverse and inclusive mechanic workforce would look like and to “identify the barriers preventing broader participation.”
**A Prerequisite for Growth**
NGM’s report offers 27 recommendations across five areas, but identifies one central issue behind the mechanic shortage: the economics of cycle maintenance.
Low wages and limited career progression appear consistently throughout the report’s evidence base. Mechanics’ skills are also described as “frequently undervalued by consumers and fail to generate proportionate revenue.”
NGM warns these factors will have repercussions beyond workshops. The adoption of new products—such as complex ebikes—and growth across the cycling sector depend on a “locally available, skilled maintenance workforce.”
Without this, ambitions for cycling growth cannot be achieved: “Maintenance capacity is not a downstream concern; it is a condition of growth.”
NGM concludes: “As this report reveals, there is a critical and growing gap between the needs of the cycling industry (and everyday riders) and the service capacity available today. A shortage of bicycle mechanics affects more than just bicycle repairs; it presents a societal challenge that limits local job opportunities, economic growth, and access to active mobility.”
The ECI is establishing a dedicated Education Skills Expert Group to tackle the issues outlined in the report. This group will lead advocacy efforts “to establish cycling mechanics as essential technical professionals.”
