Researchers at the University of Bayreuth in Germany crunched the numbers and have provided the world’s first concrete data on how much microplastic is generated during mountain biking from tire abrasion. The team published their environmental impact findings in Science of The Total Environment.
Doctoral researcher Fabian Sommer led the study which equipped nine mountain bikers with brand-new tires and tracked their routes via GPS. The tires were periodically measured for material loss and revealed that abrasion averages 3.62 grams per 100 kilometers. The rate was higher for the rear tire and significantly higher during the first 500 kilometers of use due to the rapid wear of manufacturing residues like the “tiny hair-like structures” on new tires.
While cycling remains more environmentally friendly than motor vehicles when it comes to microplastics generated from tire wear (11 grams per 100 kilometers for cars) it does contribute to overall pollution. The researcher team is planning to expand their research to include studies on microplastic pollution associated with road bikes and e-mountain bikes.
