Record for ’Bike to Work": Over 111,000 participants in the 2026 Challenge

Pro Velo Switzerland’s national bike-to-work campaign, the ’bike to work Challenge,’ set new records in 2026. With 111,160 participants from 4,072 companies and 30,460 teams, all previous records were broken. Together, the participants covered 30,625,375 kilometers—roughly 764 trips around the Earth—and saved 4,410 metric tons of CO₂ in the process.

A lasting impact beyond the challenge

The program’s impact is not limited to the duration of the campaign. An annual survey conducted after the program ends shows that between 16 and 18 percent of participants—who primarily commuted to work by car or public transportation before the challenge—plan to continue biking to work in the future. In addition, nearly 70 percent of respondents say they have participated in the program multiple times.

Project Manager Barbara Willen emphasizes the social significance: «The »bike to work’ challenge brings cycling to the forefront of everyday life. This is good for people’s health and helps reduce traffic congestion in cities and metropolitan areas.”

Political Engagement at the National Level

Federal politicians once again participated in the event this year. Members of the National Council from the SP, the FDP, and the Greens took to their bikes—as did Federal Councilor Beat Jans. This involvement shows that cycling is becoming increasingly important as a means of everyday transportation at the national level.

Personal Story: Back in the Saddle

Tina Krüger, an employee at the Kohlfirst Center in Feuerthalen, offers a particularly moving example. After a serious accident and a diagnosis of incomplete tetraplegia, it was unclear for a long time whether she would ever be able to ride a bike again. But the goal of participating in “bike to work” again gave her strength and direction during her long rehabilitation. On May 1, 2026, she was back in the saddle—and once again achieved 100 percent participation in this year’s Challenge.

«For me, »Bike to Work’ stands today more than ever for motivation, community, and the belief that more is possible than one would ever think,” Tina Krüger sums up.

Challenge 2026 by the Numbers: An Overview

A total of 4,072 companies (previous year: 3,931) and 30,460 teams (previous year: 29,815) participated in the 2026 Bike to Work Challenge. The number of participants rose from 108,945 to 111,160. The total distance covered increased from 29,180,331 to 30,625,375 kilometers, corresponding to a CO₂ reduction of 4,410 metric tons (previous year: 4,202 metric tons). The top five organizations by number of teams include the Migros Group with 484 teams, F. Hoffmann-La Roche with 327 teams, the Canton of Vaud with 323 teams, the City of Zurich with 304 teams, and CERN with 282 teams.

Source: www.pro-velo.ch