Inclusive Ebike Uptake and Sustainable Use

Background

The potential for ebike ownership to replace private car-trips is promising but needs to be examined in the Irish context. The ISCycle ebike loan intervention consists of the provision of ebike loans, family-friendly accessories (bike-trailers, seats etc.), safety-gear, and cycle training.

As well as health behaviour change, ISCycle will address additional travel related attributes, i.e., the gender data gap, inclusivity in active travel, economic constraints and associated environmental impacts, in addition to the circular economy of e-mobility associated with the decarbonisation of travel.

Objectives

To trial an innovative and inclusive behaviour change intervention to promote ebike uptake, active travel, and modal shift away from private cars.
To determine immediate benefits and longer-term circular economy implications of ebiking, taking a life cycle perspective to evaluate the environmental impacts.
To provide evidence-based guidance and economic impact assessment to policy makers to implement inclusive, sustainable ebike policies in the future.

Project details

Based at University of Limerick, Ireland
Recruiting study participants at workplace sites in East Limerick
3-year project
4 work packages
Funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Department of Transport (Grant Number 21/RDD/736)

Impacts of ISCycle

Health

Creating inclusive opportunities to adopt active travel behaviours that contribute to increased physical activity and reduced air pollution and emissions

Environment

Promoting sustainable transport modes while assessing the potential environmental and recycling implications of emerging transport technologies

Transport

Offering alternative transport modes to the private car, with potential gains in distance and cargo-carrying capacity compared to walking or cycling a conventional bike

ISCycle ebike loan study

As a research project, there are some points of note about the ISCycle ebike loan study:

All participants complete an initial 2-week measure of their usual transport mode use, e.g. walking, cycling, driving, public transport.
Transport mode use is objectively measured with a GPS mobile app feature.
We are interested in the distance travelled and number of trips per transport mode, particularly increases in cycling and decreases in private car trips, i.e. modal shift.
Participants are randomly assigned to receive an ebike of their choice either immediately or after a waiting period.
The waiting period allows us to make stronger conclusions about the effect of the ebike loan on transport mode use.
Participants are supported to select an ebike that best meets their transport needs, e.g. travelling with passengers, taking the ebike onto public transport, doing a short commute.
The ebike loan lasts for 4, 8, or 12 weeks; this is also randomly assigned.
Transport mode use is measured throughout the ebike loan period.
As well as transport mode use, we are measuring physical activity, habits, and future bike purchasing.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse