According to research from shared e-bike provider Lime, a new generation of cyclists is reshaping London’s streets, housing market and even dating scene,
Dubbed ‘Gen C’ (Generation Cycle), the cohort of 18- to 34-year-olds is at the heart of a cycling boom that has seen daily trips in the capital rise by 43% since 2019, reaching 1.5 million journeys in 2025.
The survey of Londoners reveals that access to bikes is now influencing where young people choose to live. Over half (59%) of 18-34 year-olds said they would be more likely to rent or buy a home in a borough with shared e-bikes available -compared to just 18% of over-55s.
Data from flatshare site SpareRoom supports the trend, with 8% of Londoners now listing cycling as an interest on their profiles and 34% of prospective buyers cutting travel costs by opting for bikes or walking.
Transport policy is also gaining political weight among younger voters. Nearly 60% of 18-34 year-olds say cycling and transport policies are important to them, against just 39% of over-55s. Support for better infrastructure is strong, with 44% of young Londoners saying improved cycle lanes would encourage them to ride more, and only 23% opposing converting car parking spaces into bike bays.
Beyond practicalities, cycling is becoming woven into London’s cultural fabric. Three-quarters of under-35s say cycling is now part of the capital’s identity, and 67% believe it makes the city more liveable.
The social shift extends to dating. Nearly half (43%) of 18-34 year-olds said arriving on a bike would be a ‘green flag’ in a prospective partner, compared to just 19% of over-55s. Three-quarters also agreed cycling has become more stylish over the past five years.
The trend appears self-reinforcing: two-thirds of young Londoners have noticed cycling becoming more popular locally, and the same proportion say seeing more people cycle encourages them to do so.
With TfL data showing car-free households among under-35s at record levels, the findings suggest a lasting cultural shift – one with implications for housing, transport planning, and the capital’s identity for decades to come.
Hal Stevenson, Director of Policy for Lime UK, said: ‘Cycling’s changing how Gen C gets around London and connects with the city. Car ownership among young people in London is declining, and this age group has busy lives, increasingly less time, and less disposable income. What they value is flexibility, and affordability, and they’re not afraid to shout about cycling barriers that need to change.
‘We’re proud to champion cycling and be on this journey with Gen C. But we want to work with boroughs across London to encourage all generations to cycle more and get to the places they need to be, reliably and sustainably. With every ride, we are helping reduce congestion, clean our air and push London closer to becoming a truly cycling city’.
Matt Hutchinson, director of flatshare site SpareRoom, says: ‘Under 35s in the capital are likely to be renting in flatshares where they’re competing with their flatmates for space and will have nowhere to store their bikes. They also tend to be on tight budgets and they’re used to renting everything from their music, clothes and cars to their homes. So, it makes perfect sense they’d want to live near rental bikes to reduce travel costs, and save on space. They solve a lot of problems for the youngest renting generation.’
Photo: Ayad Hendy / Unsplash
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