Electric bikes are no longer a rare novelty and are gradually taking a place in the transportation ecosystem of cities. More and more residents of megacities are choosing e-bikes over cars or even public transportation. This is not an accident, but a consequence of technological progress, changing lifestyles and growing environmental awareness. Today, the electric bicycle is not just a convenient gadget, but a symbol of the new urban mobility.
Why e-bikes are becoming the main means of transportation in cities
If a decade ago e-bike was perceived as an expensive toy, now it is a full-fledged mode of transportation. Its popularity is due to several factors:
- Speed and efficiency. Thanks to the electric motor, you can effortlessly overcome 10-15 kilometers without sweating or getting tired. For residents of large cities, it is an ideal alternative to traveling in traffic jams.
- Convenience for all ages. Electric bicycles make mobility accessible to seniors, teenagers and those who previously avoided cycling due to physical limitations or terrain.
- A solution to the “last mile” problem. Many cities face the fact that residents can only take the subway or bus to a certain point, and beyond that it’s another 1-2 kilometers to walk. The electric bike solves this problem quickly and effortlessly.
The e-bike thus becomes a link between public transportation and personal mobility. It does not replace everything, but becomes an important element of the transportation system.
Green and profitable: less emissions, more savings
One of the main reasons why electric bikes are becoming a trend is eco-friendliness. Cars in cities produce up to 30-40% of all carbon dioxide emissions, while an e-bike produces virtually no air pollution. It runs on a battery that requires minimal electricity to charge.
The economic component is also obvious. The cost of one kilometer of travel by electric bicycle is dozens of times cheaper than by car. The owner saves on:
- fuel or electricity (for the car),
- parking, which in many cities costs more than the trip itself,
- maintenance, which is minimal on an e-bike.
To compare: an average e-bike battery charge costs 2-5 rubles, and it lasts for 50-80 kilometers. For a motorist, the same kilometers will cost dozens of times more.
In this way, e-bike solves an environmental and economic problem at the same time, which makes it particularly attractive in the face of rising fuel prices and tightening climate policy.
How cities are integrating electric bicycles into the transportation system
The world’s megacities have quickly recognized the potential of electric bicycles and have begun to actively incorporate them into their transportation strategies.
- Europe. In Germany, for the first time, more electric bicycles than conventional bicycles will be sold in 2024. In Amsterdam, where bicycles are traditionally popular, authorities are encouraging a shift to e-bikes for long-distance travel and freight transportation.
- Asia. In China, electric bicycles became a mass mode of transportation a few years ago. In Beijing and Hangzhou, they were integrated into the sheering system, which relieved the roads and improved the ecological situation.
- In New York, e-bikes are actively used by couriers and delivery services, which reduces the burden on automobile traffic.
To make integration successful, cities are implementing infrastructure solutions:
- Separate bike lanes separated from automobile traffic;
- rental stations with fast recharging options;
- mobile applications that link the e-bike to public transportation, allowing door-to-door route planning.
This integration makes the e-bike part of a comprehensive transportation system rather than a separate and isolated mode of transportation.
Challenges: safety, driving culture and infrastructure
The rise in popularity of e-bikes has brought pros as well as challenges.
- Safety. In the US, the number of accidents involving electric bicycles has multiplied in the last five years. The reason is the higher speed compared to a conventional bicycle and the lack of safe riding skills of many users.
- Parking. In cities where e-bike-sharing has developed, the problem of inappropriate parking is acute. Bicycles are left on sidewalks, blocking the movement of pedestrians and people with limited mobility.
- Culture of use. For many e-bike users, e-bikes remain a “toy” and they ignore the rules of the road. This leads to conflicts with motorists and pedestrians.
Problems can be solved through a comprehensive approach:
- Introduction of rules for e-bikes and fines for their violation;
- development of specialized bicycle lanes that take e-bike speeds into account;
- educational campaigns to create a culture of safe driving.
Without this, the mass introduction of e-bikes may cause the opposite effect – an increase in the number of incidents and dissatisfaction of citizens.
The future: from subsidies to mass choice
In the early stages of e-bike popularity, many city governments are introducing subsidies. For example, in Denver (USA), the program of partial compensation for the purchase of an electric bicycle caused such a stir that the number of applications exceeded expectations several times. This shows the real interest of residents.
But experts are confident: subsidies will not be necessary in the future. As technology becomes cheaper, battery life increases and e-bikes become mass-produced, they will become the natural choice for millions of people.
The trend is this:
- Global sales of electric bicycles are forecast to grow to 13-15 million units annually by 2030; this means that e-bikes will become one of the fastest growing segments of the transportation industry, outpacing even the electric car market.
- E-bike will occupy a key position in the “micromobility” segment, competing not only with conventional bicycles but also with cars on short distance trips; such trips account for up to 60% of all urban traffic, so the shift to e-bike has the potential to drastically reduce congestion and emissions.
- In cities where the transportation system will be built around the idea of the “15-minute city”, e-bikes will become the main means of transportation; residents will be able to get to work, stores and social facilities without using cars, which will increase comfort and reduce pressure on roads.
In fact, we are seeing not just a rise in the popularity of new transportation, but a transformation of the entire urban mobility model.
