The rise of the e-bike

Towards an extension of the practice of cycling

Dados Bibliográficos

ID5717129
AutoresP Rérat (0000-0001-6980-3336, University of Lausanne, autor correspondente)
Ano2021
Volume16
Fascículo3
Páginas423-439
Data de publicação2021-05-04
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoMobilities (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1745-0101 • E-ISSN: 1745-011X
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17450101.2021.1897236
OpenAlexW3136041234
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas36
Referências citadas42

E-bikes are bicycles with a battery-powered motor assisting the rider. With sales rising rapidly in many countries, e-bikes are likely to become a key component of a transition towards a low-carbon mobility. However, there is a scarcity of research into either the similarities or the differences between the practice of e-cycling and conventional cycling. The paper proposes a theoretical framework to address (e-)cycling based on the notions of motility (individuals’ cycling potential) and bikeability (spaces’ hosting potential). The framework is applied to a large-scale survey (14,000 bike commuters in Switzerland). The analysis shows that the e-bike makes it possible to overcome some of the barriers faced by conventional cyclists, such as distance, gradient and physical effort. The e-bike empowers more people to cycle, across social groups (women, couples with children, people over 40, people with a lower physical condition) and spatial contexts (suburban and rural areas). By reaching groups and spaces that are more motorised than average, the e-bike expands the practice of cycling as a complement or alternative to automobility. However, both e-cycling and conventional cycling share many characteristics (e.g. motivations) and face similar challenges (in terms of a lack of infrastructures, etc.)

Business · Cycling · Economics · Geography · Scarcity · Transport engineering · Engineering · Human Mobility and Location-Based Analysis · Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management · Urban Transport and Accessibility