The demand for e-bikes has spiked since UK employees have been gradually phased back into normal working life with the easing of lockdown. Advantages are clear in that they enable people to avoid the use of cars and close contact of others on public transport, but looking to ascertain just how safe, affordable, and healthy e-bikes are, 50 Cycles’ Peter Walker conducted his own research into the matter, weighing up the pros and cons and revealing his findings in a blog on the company website.
Walker notes that the gradual return of commuters to work combined with the reduced capacity of public transport means that the prospect of using bikes as a form of everyday transport is gaining traction.
It has prompted many in cycling circles to ponder whether e-bikes, which are already popular in some European countries such as the Netherlands where they account for 40 per cent of bike sales, could also see an increase in demand in the UK.
Indeed, manufacturers and shops are already saying that demand has increased. Walker points out that Halfords, the largest bike retailer in the UK, claims that e-bikes account for 11 per cent of sales.
The e-bike has its advantages in that riders can use them without licence, mandatory insurance or a helmet, and they can be used on bike paths. It is bound by very specific criteria, however, to avoid being classed as a moped. Riders of e-bikes must be over the age of 14. The electric e-bike motor, limited to 250w, can assist propulsion only when the rider pedals, and the maximum powered speed must be 15.5mph.
E-bikes also offer much needed flexibility which offers an alternative to using cars. It does have reasonable carrying capacity for when riders need to transport objects and shopping, and the motor boost offered when travelling uphill allows riders to wear full work clothes and still make it to work without an overly strenuous effort and working up a sweat. Its battery technology has also improved over the years, meaning several dozens of miles can be travelled between needing to recharge.
Walker adds that they are particularly beneficial to a broad range of riders including older people, individuals with impairments or disabilities, and people who are working toward fitness.
Fortunately, although e-bikes do a lot of the strenuous work required from riding a traditional bike, studies have indicated that there are still health benefits that come from using an e-bike.
Walker points out that a 2019 research paper, which tracked 10,000 people across seven European cities, found those who rode traditional bikes and e-bikes amassed roughly the same amount of physical activity. The electric assistance allowed e-bike riders to travel over longer distances which cancelled out the effect of less physically demanding travel over a shorter distance.
However, with every pro comes a con, and Walker warns that anyone looking to purchase an e-bike has to weigh up the cost, which can be anything between £400 and £1,000 for more advanced models. It must also be noted that although e-bikes are eligible for the tax-saving cycle-to-work scheme, they are not included in the system of government grants of up to £3,000 towards the costs of an electric car or moped.
Storage remains an issue for the e-bike, particularly for people living in flats. The added weight of an e-bike makes them harder to carry upstairs, and their value means that locking them onto public rails out on the street can be a risky move. Foldable e-bikes are in circulation, with heavy demand being reported by manufacturers according to Walker.
However, the factor that Walker highlights as the single biggest barrier to e-bikes becoming a major player in the UK is the level of safety for cyclists on Britain’s roads. In European countries where the e-bike enjoys significant popularity, much work has been done to make roads safe for cyclists which has not been replicated in the UK. The European Cycling Federation predicts that on the continent, the popularity of the e-bike will only increase, with sales growing 22 per cent year-on-year in 2019 and predicted to rise much more rapidly in 2020.
Infrastructure upgrades to accommodate for more widespread safe cycling may, therefore, be key if the popularity of the e-bike is to boom in the UK.
Walker's full blog may be read on the 50 Cycles website here.
