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“Cycling was never so easy!” An analysis of e-bike commuters' motives, travel behaviour and experiences using GPS-tracking and interviews

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  • Plazier, Paul A.
  • Weitkamp, Gerd
  • van den Berg, Agnes E.

Abstract

The market for electrically-assisted cycling is growing fast. When substituting motorized travel, it could play an important role in the development of sustainable transport systems. This study aimed to assess the potential of e-bikes for low-carbon commuting by analysing e-bike commuters' motives, travel behaviour and experiences. We GPS-tracked outdoor movements of 24 e-bike users in the Netherlands for two weeks and used their mapped travel behaviour as input for follow-up in-depth interviews. Most participants commuted by e-bike, alternated with car use. E-bike use was highest in work-related, single-destination journeys. It gave participants the benefits of conventional cycling over motorized transport (physical, outdoor activity) while mitigating relative disadvantages (longer travel time, increased effort). The positive experience of e-bike use explained the tolerance for longer trip durations compared to other modes of transportation. Participants were inclined to make detours in order to access more enjoyable routes. Results demonstrate that e-bikes can substitute motorized commuting modes on distances perceived to be too long to cover by regular bike, and stress the importance of positive experience in e-bike commuting. This provides impetus for future actions to encourage commuting by e-bike.

Suggested Citation

  • Plazier, Paul A. & Weitkamp, Gerd & van den Berg, Agnes E., 2017. "“Cycling was never so easy!” An analysis of e-bike commuters' motives, travel behaviour and experiences using GPS-tracking and interviews," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 25-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:65:y:2017:i:c:p:25-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2017.09.017
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    2. George Liu & Samuel Nello‐Deakin & Marco te Brömmelstroet & Yuki Yamamoto, 2020. "What Makes a Good Cargo Bike Route? Perspectives from Users and Planners," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 79(3), pages 941-965, May.
    3. Synek, Stefan & Koenigstorfer, Joerg, 2018. "Exploring adoption determinants of tax-subsidized company-leasing bicycles from the perspective of German employers and employees," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 238-260.
    4. Ton, Danique & Duives, Dorine, 2021. "Understanding long-term changes in commuter mode use of a pilot featuring free e-bike trials," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 134-144.
    5. Tomasz Bieliński & Łukasz Dopierała & Maciej Tarkowski & Agnieszka Ważna, 2020. "Lessons from Implementing a Metropolitan Electric Bike Sharing System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-21, November.
    6. Jenkins, Michael & Lustosa, Lucio & Chia, Victoria & Wildish, Sarah & Tan, Maria & Hoornweg, Daniel & Lloyd, Meghann & Dogra, Shilpa, 2022. "What do we know about pedal assist E-bikes? A scoping review to inform future directions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 25-37.
    7. Tomasz Bieliński & Agnieszka Ważna, 2020. "Electric Scooter Sharing and Bike Sharing User Behaviour and Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-13, November.
    8. Hallberg, Martin & Rasmussen, Thomas Kjær & Rich, Jeppe, 2021. "Modelling the impact of cycle superhighways and electric bicycles," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 397-418.
    9. Bi, Hui & Li, Aoyong & Zhu, He & Ye, Zhirui, 2023. "Bicycle safety outside the crosswalks: Investigating cyclists' risky street-crossing behavior and its relationship with built environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Zhang, Yongping & Lin, Diao & Liu, Xiaoyue Cathy, 2019. "Biking islands in cities: An analysis combining bike trajectory and percolation theory," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    11. de Kruijf, Joost & van der Waerden, Peter & Feng, Tao & Böcker, Lars & van Lierop, Dea & Ettema, Dick & Dijst, Martin, 2021. "Integrated weather effects on e-cycling in daily commuting: A longitudinal evaluation of weather effects on e-cycling in the Netherlands," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 305-315.
    12. Park, Yujin & Akar, Gulsah, 2019. "Why do bicyclists take detours? A multilevel regression model using smartphone GPS data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 191-200.
    13. Ugo N. Castañon & Paulo J. G. Ribeiro, 2021. "Bikeability and Emerging Phenomena in Cycling: Exploratory Analysis and Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    14. Sreten Simović & Tijana Ivanišević & Aleksandar Trifunović & Svetlana Čičević & Dragan Taranović, 2021. "What Affects the E-Bicycle Speed Perception in the Era of Eco-Sustainable Mobility: A Driving Simulator Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, May.
    15. Kaplan, Sigal & Wrzesinska, Dagmara K. & Prato, Carlo G., 2018. "The role of human needs in the intention to use conventional and electric bicycle sharing in a driving-oriented country," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 138-146.

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