Who uses e-bikes in the UK and why?

Melia, Steven; Bartle, Caroline

Abstract

This article reports on the findings of a survey of 2,092 users and potential users of e-bikes in the UK. It analysed their characteristics, their motivations, journey purposes and the barriers they perceive to the wider use of e-bikes. It compared the profiles of male and female users, and the differences in their use. It also compared respondents’ experience of e-biking and conventional cycling. It found that most e-bike users also rode conventional cycles. Physical and health constraints were common reasons for switching to e-bikes, particularly for hilly routes. Those who always commute by e-bike were most likely to have used a conventional cycle as their main commute mode in the past, whereas those who mostly or occasionally commute by e-bike were more likely to have used a car as their previous main commute mode. The minority of female respondents were younger than the men but gender differences in e-bike use were fewer than expected. The quality and availability of separate cycling infrastructure was frequently cited as an enabler or a barrier, suggesting that policies to promote cycling in general will also apply to e-bikes.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 29, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Deposit Date: Jul 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 21, 2022
• Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
• Print ISSN: 1556-8318
• Electronic ISSN: 1556-8334
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 965-977
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15568318.2021.1956027
• Keywords: e-bikes, pedelecs, cycling and gender, e-bike commuting, work use of e-bikes
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7522858