E-bikes: City Savior or Supervillain?
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Certification Maintenance
Course Details
The climate crisis and traffic safety crisis demand bold solutions, including reducing our reliance on single-occupancy-vehicle trips. E-bikes make biking more accessible to older adults, people in hilly and suburban places, and many people who don't identify as "cyclists." These are some of the reasons why growth in e-bike sales is out-pacing electric cars, and one in three consumers in China has an e-bike.
E-bikes bring challenges too: they're expensive and not an option for lower-wealth households that have the greatest need for affordable transportation options; cheap batteries can catch fire; safety concerns; and more. Emerging trends in 2023 have led to a moment in many cities where e-bikes are being actively banned by some entities and promoted by others.
This course will overview the e-bike boom that we're seeing in the US and present Top 10 specific actions that cities can take to get ahead of the challenges and make the most of the opportunity e-bikes present. There will be time for feedback on the Top 10 list — what is missing? Then, we will explore two applied case studies of specific local programs designed to increase e-bike access amongst low-income buyers and improve safety for everyone.
Learning Outcomes
- Speak with confidence about the leading opportunities and concerns cities face as the popularity and prevalence of e-bikes explode.
- Discuss the Top 10 things communities can and should be doing now to support safe and equitable access and use of e-bikes.
- Share specific examples of applied, local programs cities in the US have implemented related to e-bike safety campaigns, rebate/incentive programs, battery/fire safety, and policy solutions to leading challenges.