Climate News 25:05
Last week, I wondered whether local governments have a role at all in promoting electric vehicles (recognising that there is a distinct difference between metropolitan and regional councils) and whether we should be focusing more on e-bikes.
It’s important to recognise that e-bikes are more than just a motorised version of a bicycle. By making it easier to ride faster and further, e-bikes have opened up active transport to new audiences, particularly women and older people. These are often audiences who have tried cycling in the past and stopped, either for health, convenience or safety reasons. Thinking about why they stopped, what was it about e-bike that brought them back – the behavioural perspective - should shape how councils think about supporting e-bike use. While many local government interventions to support cycling apply equally as well to e-biking, there are some additional approaches to be tested. Councils such as Hobart, Frankston, Yarra Ranges, Ballarat and Gold Coast have installed e-bike specific charging, often along popular cycling routes. While it’s possible to charge e-bikes at some EV charge stations, they may be less desirable to new / returning cyclists if they are not integrated with on-road cycling infrastructure. Because of their higher price versus a standard bicycle, the security of an e-bike while it is charging must be an additional consideration. No more racks against walls around the side of a shopping centre. Parking and charging should be close to the desired destination. The type of parking also needs to take into account that e-bikes are generally bigger than standard bicycles and come in different forms. Cargo and extended passenger e-bikes are increasingly considered as second vehicles rather than bikes and their usage reflects that, with a greater amount of utility cycling, such as school trips and shopping. End of trip facilities need to be in the right place and large enough to accommodate these. Ultimately, for councils considering electrification of transport, e-bikes offer a more affordable and equitable avenue to reducing emissions than EVs with the additional benefits of increased population health and safer local streets. It’s unlikely that councils are going to not support EV uptake, but it’d be nice to see a little more balance in their approach.
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