Is an e-bike “cheating” when it comes to using transportation for fitness? A new longitudinal Norwegian study finds it’s not – on the contrary; it’s a boost! The research followed e-bike riders for six months, comparing their use of the bicycle for transportation before and after. The results show that the riders quadrupled their cycle distance and more than doubled their use of a bike for transport.
So, if you saw e-bikes as an eco-friendly tool for commuters that only made the journey less physically tasking and quicker, think again. This study demonstrates that the vehicle still has positive effects on riders’ fitness.
The distance traveled per day rose on average from 1.3 miles (2.1km) before buying the e-bike to 5.7 miles (9.2km). And the total number of journeys made by bike instead of another mode of transport rose from 17% to 49%. Meanwhile, the control group (those still using a regular pedal cycle) showed little change in behavior over the same period.
The researchers write:
“E-bikes are increasingly turning into an essential part of the urban transport system and can be an important contribution to reducing environmental impact from transport by shifting people away from motorized transport. We find that the increased cycling is not just a novelty effect, but appears to be more lasting. Our study thus indicates that policymakers can expect a positive return of policy measures aimed at increasing the uptake of e-bikes, such as subvention schemes, etc.”
E-bikes are an excellent alternative to motorized transport. They take up less space, help people maintain an active lifestyle, and produce no emissions, so they are suitable for the environment. Furthermore, unlike ordinary bicycles, which can be perceived as a lot of work, e-bikes are more comfortable and alluring enough to get drivers out of their cars. You can find a great selection of high-quality e-bikes from online stores like Electric Bike Paradise. The two-wheeled tech is a handy addition to urban transport, and riders love using them – as this study goes to show.
