Targeting the introduction of E-bikes based on behaviour change potential and user perception

Abstract

Conventional bike-sharing schemes have been introduced in cities as an urban mobility option, reducing car usage and alleviating public transport; however, cycling shares in Goteborg is one of the lowest in Europe. Goteborg has been dedicated to increase the share of sustainable transport in the city. The Electric bicycle (E-bike), which offers a greater form of service than the conventional bicycle, then appears to be rather interesting to policy makers. This study is carried out with the goal to open the door for E-bikes in Goteborg by identifying potential for change from car users to E-bike users. First, the current situation of Swedish perception on cycling and policy were analyzed with a literature review. Second, the authors explore whether E-bikes can remove barriers or provide the same benefit of the alternative modes for people in Goteborg. At the third phase, the geographical potential of E-bikes in Goteborg was identified on three bases: the ratio of cyclist using cars for commuting purposes, travel distance, and the barriers removed. The result suggested that E-bikes theoretically remove the barriers expressed by 53% of people in Goteborg when comparing to regular bicycles. A public E-bike pool is a good solution for overcoming the first two phases of behavioral change, by demonstrating the technology and creating a public supply of E-bikes. Hisingen is the area with the greatest potential to adopt E-biking habits, setting up an E-bike pool in Hisingen can hypothetically substitute around 5% of commuting trips done by the car users who have the capacity to cycle. For the entire Goteborg area, up to 4% of the trips less than 10 km could be replaced by E-bikes. Together with the proper policy strategy, a change towards sustainable transport mode could be realized supported by wide acceptance among the general public.