E-bikes in rural areas: current and potential users in the Netherlands

Abstract

This study considers how socio-demographic characteristics, mobility situation and attitudes explain current and potential e-bike use in rural areas. Due to longer distances between travel destinations, rural areas in most western societies are characterized by a high car dependence and low use of active modes like walking and cycling. Developing e-bike mobility in these areas can support more healthy and sustainable rural mobility. A large-scale mobility survey conducted among rural residents in the northern parts of the Netherlands provides insight in the determinants of current and potential e-bike use in rural areas. The participant characteristics show that in rural areas also, the e-bike is already used among a broad population of varied ages and backgrounds and for different purposes. Among respondents who did not own an e-bike, especially those with lower socioeconomic status and a household with children showed more willingness to use an e-bike in the future. No evidence was found for current or potential substitution of public transport use. Current e-bike users less likely use a car or regular bicycle as their primary mode of transport. Those who are willing to use an e-bike are less likely to currently use a regular bicycle as their main mode of transport. These findings suggest that the e-bike can substitute both car and bicycle use to some extent. However, bicycle users seem more reluctant towards owning or adopting an e-bike than car users, suggesting greater potential for a shift away from car travel. Furthermore, current and potential e-bike users hold more positive attitudes toward different aspects of e-bike travel than non-users. This provides impetus for future actions to further encourage e-bike use.

The Extra Mile

“…In this regard, there are high hopes for technological innovations in the mobility domain (Metz, 2019). The e-bike is already being used by a sizeable number of people in rural areas of the Netherlands and could to some extent replace the car, especially among people of lower socioeconomic status (Plazier, 2022). Indeed, the results of this thesis show a positive association between e-bike ownership and perceived accessibility in rural areas (see Chapter 6), justifying further encouragement of e-bike use.…”

“…Household characteristics have no significant link. Notably, e-bike ownership, which has been suggested to potentially increase accessibility in rural areas, indeed positively relates to perceived accessibility (Plazier, 2022). The variables reflecting whether dwelling characteristics are more important to the respondent than the environment and whether a region is perceived to be left behind have the expected signs but are not significant.…”