Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University’s Post

E-bike incentives are a costly way to cut carbon emissions, but they also promote health, equity and cleaner air . E-bikes have captured widespread attention across the U.S., and for good reason. They are the most energy-efficient way to move from place to place, providing exercise in the process, and offer enough assistance while pedaling uphill or into headwinds to make them usable for many types of riders. #TechTrends #TechInnovationsDaily #DigitalFrontiers #FutureTechInsights

The importance of e-bike incentives is that e-bikes are good at replacing car trips and make daily trips easier for people who rely on other options. These advantages provide two main classes of benefits from increasing ownership of e-bikes. The first set of benefits comes from substituting car-based trips with e-bike trips. Transportation researchers think about a swap like this in terms of vehicle miles traveled. If I used to drive to work but now ride an e-bike, many benefits will be proportional to the number of miles that I now cover by bike rather than by car. They include reduced traffic congestion, lower fuel and parking costs, increased physical activity and improved health, cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. In North America, about 60% of e-bike trips replace car trips. A second class of benefits comes from improvements in mobility. These effects are more complex to measure. For many people in U.S. cities who don’t own cars, the basic options for getting around are walking, public transit, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, or riding a conventional bicycle. In almost all cases, e-bikes would get them to their destinations faster. Route Fifty The Conversation US Chris Cherry University of Tennessee, Knoxville John MacArthur Portland State University Luke Jones very informative and educational article (content) on the near/long term value(s) of #ebikes and how to calculate their value for riders/buyers, their communities (#smartcities #15minutecity) and #lifestyles. Thank you for your leadership! 🌍 🌎 🌏 #ebikelife #sustainability #transportation #climateeducation #climatesolutions #safestreets #evecosystem #ecofriendly #healthandwellness #citiesforpeople #watermanagement #schooldistricts #cargobikes #lastmiledelivery #lastmilelogistics #denvercolorado #airpollution #education eBliss Global, Inc.SpokeCity and County of DenverCherry Creek North

Denver's e-bike rebate program is proving that the future of urban transportation is not just electric—it's also two-wheeled! With residents eagerly snapping up vouchers in mere seconds, it’s clear that there’s a growing appetite for eco-friendly travel options. I find this shift towards e-bikes incredibly inspiring. Imagine a city where the morning commute isn’t a stressful gridlock of cars but a peaceful ride through bike-friendly streets. And it’s not just about cutting emissions or reducing traffic—though those are huge wins. It’s also about making everyday life a little more enjoyable. But with this growing love for e-bikes, there’s a real need for our cities to catch up. More bike lanes, safer roads, and better infrastructure are essential. Denver’s surge in e-bike riders is a wake-up call: if we want to keep this momentum going, we need to invest in making our cities as bike-friendly as they are car-friendly. After all, a sustainable future isn't just about technology; it’s about creating environments where people feel safe, connected, and empowered to make greener choices. What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts! #EBikes #SustainableTransportation #UrbanPlanning #Mobility #MaaS #Micromobility

Another great piece on how anyone can affordably, safely convert any bike to an E-bike with a UL certified system: "E-bikes are having a moment. Last year, 18 percent of all bike sales in the United States were electric, roughly 1 million bikes. E-bikes’ ease, range and power make them an ideal replacement for car trips: A 2023 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado found e-bike trips substituted for cars 34 percent of the time, and at a fraction of the cost, for low-income residents who received one. A 20-mile daily workday commute on an e-bike costs about $20 annually in electricity." But the price of e-bikes remains out of reach for many. They start at around $1,000 and cargo bikes easily exceed $6,000." #equity #health #electrifyeverything https://lnkd.in/epQE8Ruy

A unique study called the “#OneLessCar” #mobility trial was completed in #Australia with Uber Australia in partnership with a behavioural scientists group called #TheBehaviouralArchitects and other sponsors. “The trial sought to explore the challenges and opportunities of car-light lifestyles, and it saw 58 everyday Australians give up one of their cars (going from one to zero, or two+ cars to one) and use other modes of transport as they went about their lives for four weeks.” The end result of the trial showed that the number of transportation modes used averaged around four modes, making “four the norm.” This ranged from using ride-share programs, to walking, to cycling, and the new surge of using #eBikes or smaller electrically powered vehicles. The research resulted with three main barriers for commuters to go “#carlight” in Australia: - Inequitable access to transport alternatives. - Inconsistent quality, convenience and reliability of alternative transport. - The high perceived value and affordability of car usage. The study hopes to reduce car dependency in Australia and promote the use of #greenmobility by making #FourTheNorm with sustainable transport options.

Close to half (44%) of all Australian commuter trips are by car – and under 10km. Of Perth’s 4.2 million daily car trips, 2.8 million are for distances of less than 2km. e - Bikes can be an excellent option for shorter trips , thinking of buying an e -bike, our article in The Conversation may help you in making a choice. We analysed Purpose and Usage: Are you looking to commute, exercise, or explore leisurely rides? Different e-bike models cater to varied needs. Battery Life and Range: Understand how far you can travel on a single charge and the time it takes to recharge. Cost vs. Savings: While the initial investment might be high, e-bikes can save money in the long run by reducing fuel and maintenance costs. Environmental Impact: E-bikes offer a greener alternative to cars, contributing to lower CO2 emissions and a healthier planet. What are your thpughts? #Sustainability #EBikes #GreenTransport #UrbanMobility #EnvironmentalImpact  #emissions #Netzero

How effective are e-bike rebate programs? Who benefits the most? And are these incentives really worth the cost? Discover the promising findings from UBC research in Saanich. #GreenIncentives #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction

Understanding the Impact of E-Bike Incentives To be clear, I'm not advocating for climate change, but I found the University of British Columbia's study intriguing in terms of encouraging physical activity and reducing traffic congestion through e-bike incentive programs. For those concerned about global warming, it presents a compelling case. The study aimed to explore the positive effects of e-bikes, spurred by the increasing popularity of e-bike rebates in North America. Researchers at UBC's Research on Active Transportation (REACT) Lab conducted surveys in the District of Saanich, British Columbia, among participants of an e-bike incentive program. Results showed sustained e-bike usage even a year post-purchase, leading to decreased car trips, particularly among low-income households, and subsequently reduced emissions. The rebate program, tiered by income, showed promising adoption rates, with a significant portion of users being new to e-bikes and cycling. Participants reported 48 kilometers (29.8 miles) less car travel per week, resulting in an average reduction of 16 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions weekly. Principal investigator Alex Bigazzi emphasized the cost-effectiveness of e-bike incentives compared to electric car incentives, highlighting additional benefits such as increased physical activity and reduced air pollutants. Beyond environmental benefits, e-bikes can positively impact health, as demonstrated by scientific studies. One study compared cardiometabolic responses between regular and e-bike rides, showing e-bike riding required lower effort levels consistent with recommended physical activity standards. Another study compared physical activity levels of e-bike users to cyclists, indicating increased activity among e-bikers, especially those transitioning from private motorized vehicles to public transport. These findings underscore the potential of e-bikes as a sustainable transport option with health benefits, advocating for infrastructure improvements and subsidies to encourage adoption. #transportation #ebike #mobility

Very interesting and useful piece for people interested in #urbanmobility and cities. "Policymakers’ enthusiasm for #ebikes is understandable. Every trip taken by an e-bike is greener, healthier and more space-efficient than it would have been in a car (not to mention less dangerous for other road users). But in the rush to encourage e-bike sales, a few questions have gone unanswered: What is the optimal #rebate amount? Do the #incentives merely subside buyers who could afford an e-bike without any help? And just how #climatefriendly are e-bike rebates, anyway? A new academic study provides some intriguing answers. The researchers’ conclusions: To maximize e-bike adoption, policymakers should make the rebates easy to redeem but not overly generous, and they should target them toward residents with low (but not the lowest) incomes. And one other thing: Don’t overstate e-bikes’ environmental upside. Reducing emissions is just one of myriad ways that e-bikes benefit communities — and it’s probably not the most important one."

e-bike incentives have recently exploded in popularity. More than 100 cities, counties and states have proposed or created programs to encourage residents to purchase battery-powered bikes, and Congress has considered enacting one at the federal level. Policymakers’ enthusiasm is understandable. Every trip taken by an e-bike is greener, healthier and more space-efficient than it would have been in a car (not to mention less dangerous for other road users). But in the rush to encourage e-bike sales, a few questions have gone unanswered: What is the optimal rebate amount? Do the incentives merely subside buyers who could afford an e-bike without any help? And just how climate-friendly are e-bike rebates, anyway? https://lnkd.in/epasS_qF