{"id":888184,"date":"2026-09-11T13:40:16","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T13:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/888184\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T13:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T13:40:16","slug":"e-bike-loan-scheme-shows-the-power-of-electric-in-banishing-cycling-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/888184\/","title":{"rendered":"E-bike loan scheme shows the power of electric in banishing cycling fears"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research routinely shows that fears over safety and sharing the road with motor vehicles is a major barrier to cycling. This is a shame, considering the physical, mental and environmental benefits of getting about by bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But could e-bikes <\/a>provide the answer?<\/p>\n

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According to a Cycling UK<\/a> survey, just 2% of UK adult journeys are made by bike. In the US, numbers from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) suggest that \u2013 between 2009 and 2017 \u2013 about 1% of all trips<\/a> in the United States were taken by bicycle.<\/p>\n

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In terms of the barriers, a 2018 YouGov poll<\/a> showed that 57% were worried about sharing the road with lorries and large vehicles, 56% had concerns over close passes and 49% worried about crossing busy junctions.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the power of the e-bike comes in. The best e-bikes<\/a> are quicker to get up to speed, the added power may allow for longer routes on quieter roads, and, the size and weight of an e-bike might just be enough to inspire greater confidence in those otherwise put off.<\/p>\n

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UK charity for cycling, Cycling UK, has certainly found that its e-bike hire scheme, \u2018Making Cycling E-Asier\u2019 \u2013 running in Greater Manchester and Luton and Dunstable \u2013 has encouraged people otherwise put off saddling up to give pedalling a try.<\/p>\n

In fact, in Bedfordshire\u2019s Luton, \u201ccycling to work increased from 32% to 75%\u201d following the introduction of the scheme, according to the organisation’s Director of Behaviour Change and Development, James Scott.<\/p>\n

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\u201cE-bikes aren\u2019t necessarily taking away from conventional cycling. They\u2019re expanding the market by bringing in people who previously felt cycling wasn\u2019t for them\u201d, Scott, told us.<\/p>\n

How are electric bikes banishing fears for the scheme users? Scott outlined the key feedback from users.<\/p>\n

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\"a\n<\/p>\n

Faster accelerations can reduce fears<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images \/ Sterling Lorence Photo)<\/p>\n

\u201c[Improved confidence] is not about going faster,\u201d Scott begins, \u201cit\u2019s about feeling safe and getting yourself out in front of the traffic,\u201d he explains, outlining participant feedback.<\/p>\n

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This is where the important difference between legal e-bikes and the illegal machines<\/a> we see far too many of lies.<\/p>\n

All UK-legal e-bike motors cut out at 15.5mph (25kph); in the US, speeds vary by state \u2013 most use a three-class system: Classes 1 and 2 provide assistance up to 20mph, while Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes can assist up to 28mph. But it\u2019s the added boost of power at slow speeds that makes all the difference; a motor gives a \u2018kick\u2019 in those first pedal strokes which can provide confidence at junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts.<\/p>\n

Anecdotal evidence concurs: \u201cOne of our research participants said, \u2018I can accelerate quicker in traffic than I could on my usual bike,\u2019\u201d Scott explains.<\/p>\n

In one case, a participant in Cycling UK\u2019s bike loan scheme enthused, \u201cI could get to work and back three times on this bike in the time it takes me to commute by public transport or by car. Undertaking all the cars on my way home in rush hour traffic in the cycle lanes is very liberating!\u201d<\/p>\n

Given that average traffic speeds in many urban areas are 12mph or so at peak times, e-bikes are very often a quicker option as well as a healthier and more enjoyable one.<\/p>\n

Quieter, longer routes?<\/p>\n

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\"Mycle\n<\/p>\n

Added power may allow riders to elongate their routes <\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Can e-bikes encourage people to use quieter, longer routes <\/a>instead of navigating busy roads? That\u2019s likely but not entirely proven.<\/p>\n

What is abundantly clear from the stats \u2013 57% worried about sharing the road with lorries and large vehicles, and 56% with concerns over close passes \u2013 is that high traffic counts deter would-be cyclists.<\/p>\n

The assistance of an e-bike<\/a> allows riders to be more flexible with route choice, granting the freedom to explore quieter roads over longer or hillier routes, rather than looking for the most direct option.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely evidence that people are willing to ride longer distances on an e-bike,\u201d Scott told me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had one participant who had never thought about cycling to work before because it was around an 18-mile trip each way. With an e-bike loan for a month, he cycled it every day \u2013 36 miles there and back.\u201d<\/p>\n

E-bikes also flatten out the hills, reducing fear born of moving much slower once the road points up.<\/p>\n

One scheme user said, \u201cthe commute felt too far before. It doesn\u2019t anymore. The hills felt intimidating, and there was a fear of arriving sweaty and concerns around fitness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Encouraging more underrepresented groups to cycle<\/p>\n

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\"The\n<\/p>\n

Fear of the road is more likely to put women off cycling than men<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

A lack of infrastructure can put women off riding more than men.<\/p>\n

In a 2025 report, Cycling UK <\/a>stated, \u201cOver half of women (58%) believe their cycle journeys are limited by safety concerns and a lack of suitable infrastructure. Female respondents pointed to roads not feeling safe enough to cycle (36%) and a lack of dedicated cycle routes (23%) as significant barriers to cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n

The added power may help to close the gap.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen make around half as many trips by bike as men and are more likely to be put off by fears around heavy traffic. E-bikes don\u2019t remove all those barriers, but they can alleviate some of them by making journeys quicker and taking some of the physical strain out of cycling,\u201d explains Scott.<\/p>\n

Those with disabilities often find e-bikes a great way to get to work too.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople with disabilities are motivated to cycle \u2013 they really want to cycle, including for commuting. What was often lacking wasn\u2019t the motivation, but access to the right bike,\u201d Scott says, adding, \u201cthere are lots of people with disabilities who can ride a standard bike, but having the electric assistance behind them makes it much more viable \u2013 particularly the acceleration and the constant power. Again, it\u2019s about the bike taking the strain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Car replacement<\/p>\n

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\"A\n<\/p>\n

E-bikes make great replacements for cars<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

There are many benefits and motivations for cycling as a whole. But those who begin with an e-bike are very often replacing car use rather than considering cycling a new hobby or leisure pursuit.<\/p>\n

In fact, I’m personally an example of this. This year, I swapped car miles for bike miles<\/a>, and as well as often saving time sat in traffic, I’ve lost weight<\/a> and seen my resting heart rate drop by 6bpm.<\/p>\n

Looking to results seen from the hire scheme in Bedfordshire\u2019s Luton, where participants’ cycling to work habits increased from 32% to 75%, \u201cone of the big things we saw was people dropping car travel for cycle travel,\u201d Scott says.<\/p>\n

Luton isn\u2019t the most bike-friendly town, with its busy inner ring road and car-oriented road network, so this shows that where e-bikes are available, Cycling UK\u2019s participants use their cars less.<\/p>\n

All of this said, the bike is only one part of the puzzle. Case in point, London\u2019s boroughs\u2019 investment in infrastructure<\/a> contributed to a doubling in cycling in Greater London between 2012 and 2024.<\/p>\n

Scott concurs. \u201cE-bikes are one part of the solution, but you have to marry them with the right cycling infrastructure,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cif we want more women cycling, more children cycling to school, and a broader range of people cycling, safe infrastructure has to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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