How much carbon does cycling to work actually save?
One person, one commute, a full working year — 4,400 km either way.
Compared on: a 10 km each-way commute, 220 working days a year
Petrol car, driving alone
739 kg CO₂e4,400 km at the UK average petrol car factor including well-to-tank.
Source: DEFRA/DESNZ UK conversion factors — average petrol car
Bus
449 kg CO₂eAverage local bus, per passenger-km.
Source: DEFRA/DESNZ UK conversion factors — average local bus
Electric bike
40 kg CO₂eCharging electricity plus a share of manufacturing over the bike's life.
Source: Grid electricity factors + published e-bike LCA ranges
Bicycle
22 kg CO₂eManufacturing and maintenance amortised; the ride itself is zero.
Source: Published bicycle LCA ranges
What this means
- Cycling this commute instead of driving saves around 700 kg CO₂e a year — close to a third of a tonne per 5 km of daily distance.
- An e-bike keeps almost all of the saving while removing the hills.
- Car-sharing halves the car number without changing the vehicle.
Your own number, not an average
Averages answer the question; your own footprint tells you what to change first. The calculator takes about two minutes and needs no account.
Figures are averages drawn from public databases and peer-reviewed LCA work; see our methodology for how each factor is applied.