A recent study conducted by sociologist Ansgar Hudde from the University of Cologne has found that people with higher education levels in Germany tend to cycle more frequently than the average population. The study, which was published in the Journal of Transport Geography, analyzed data from the German Mobility Panel and the Mobility in Germany 2017 study conducted by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport. The results showed that city dwellers with a high school diploma cycled an average of 70 minutes per week, while those without a diploma cycled only 42 minutes. The gap was less pronounced in rural areas.
Hudde’s study also aimed to determine whether the correlation between cycling and education was genuine or merely coincidental. After controlling for factors such as age, income, and distance traveled, the correlation remained significant. Hudde noted that the gap between the cycling habits of different education levels has widened since 1996, with the higher-educated group doubling their cycling time. This trend is partly due to the bicycle’s status as a symbol of environmental consciousness, which is more appealing to those with higher education levels.
Hudde explained that cycling is seen as a way for higher-educated individuals to demonstrate their environmental awareness without risking being perceived as unsuccessful or poor. In contrast, those with lower education levels may view owning a car as a way to display their financial success. Hudde cited examples such as a professor cycling to work or a minister cycling to their inauguration as ways in which cycling can convey a positive message. Overall, the study highlights the importance of education in shaping transportation habits and the role of the bicycle as a status symbol in modern society.
