Increasing Active Transportation Through E-Bike Use: Pilot Study Comparing the Health Benefits, Attitudes, and Beliefs Surrounding E-Bikes and Conventional Bikes (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: The emergence of electric pedal-assist bicycles (e-bikes) presents an opportunity to increase active transportation by minimizing personal barriers to engage in physical activity. Objectives: This study assesses the beliefs of individuals using e-bikes for active transport, and reports on preliminary biometric measurements while using e-bikes for physical activity in comparison to conventional bikes. Methods: Participants used both conventional bicycles and e-bikes to compare energy expenditure while riding on the study route. Apple smart watches were used to track each participant's heart rate, distance, speed, and time while riding both bicycles. Three survey instruments were used to estimate beliefs, one administered prior to riding the bicycles, a second administered after riding a conventional bike, and the final survey completed after riding an ebike. Survey instruments were constructed using constructs from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Results: The study sample (n=33) included adults between the ages of 18 and 34. Paired T-test analysis revealed that participants believed a conventional bike was more likely than an e-bike to benefit their physical health (P=.002) and save them money (P= .005), while an e-bike was perceived to be more likely than a conventional bike to save them time (P<.001). Paired T-test analysis revealed participants significantly agreed more with the statement that they could ride an e-bike most days (P=.006) compared to a conventional bike. After participants traveled an average of 10.46 miles on each type of bicycle, participants' mean average heart rate while riding the e-bike was 6.21 beats per minute lower than when riding the conventional bike (P=.04), but both were significantly higher than resting heart rate (P<.001). Conclusions: This study suggests that e-bikes may still be considered an active form of transportation capable of providing much of the physical health benefits obtained during conventional bike use. E-bikes may help reduce some of the obstacles to conventional bike use, such as increased transportation time, decreased convenience, and physical fatigue.