Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, have swiftly emerged as a prominent mode of transportation in Canadian cities and towns. Our communities are no exception to this transformative wave. With a growing number of residents embracing e-bikes for commuting, errands, and recreation, it has become essential to address the pertinent considerations surrounding local infrastructure, policies, and safety. At Lincolnmain.ca, we stand as fervent advocates for the integration of e-bikes into our communities, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive e-bike strategy that capitalizes on their benefits while minimizing associated risks.
In this post, we embark on a journey through the latest technological advancements in e-bikes and how they can shape a forward-thinking e-bike policy for Lincoln, Ontario and surrounding towns. With well-thought-out strategies, e-bikes can evolve into a sustainable, safe, and efficient mode of transportation as our population continues to burgeon.
The Soaring Trajectory of E-Bikes
E-bikes are equipped with compact electric motors that provide pedal assistance, making cycling accessible to a broader demographic, extending travel distances, and reducing physical exertion. While conventional pedal bicycles maintain their appeal, e-bike sales have experienced a remarkable surge in Canada. Between 2016 and 2020, retail e-bike sales quadrupled, exceeding $100 million annually.
What fuels this e-bike boom? A combination of key factors, including:
- Technological enhancements: Lightweight batteries, enhanced power, and sleek designs.
- Cost reductions: Considerable drops in e-bike prices in recent years.
- Enhanced accessibility: E-bikes cater to older individuals and those with physical limitations.
- Reduced reliance on automobiles: Offering an alternative for short trips.
- Environmental advantages: E-bikes are environmentally friendly with zero emissions.
These advantages have spurred a growing adoption of e-bikes by individuals, delivery services, and shared bike programs, with their usage projected to continue rising exponentially.
Opportunities and Challenges
The e-bike revolution offers both opportunities and challenges to our community:
Opportunities:
- Enhanced mobility: Facilitating efficient transportation for a broader population.
- Reduced traffic congestion: Fewer vehicles on the road for short journeys.
- Environmental benefits: Contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Public health promotion: Encouraging active lifestyles and outdoor recreation.
- Economic development: Supporting local bike shops, rental services, and tourism.
- Multimodal integration: Seamlessly connecting e-bikes with public transit.
Challenges:
- Infrastructure requirements: Including bike lanes, trails, and parking facilities.
- Existing policies: Many rules were not designed with e-bike usage in mind.
- Safety concerns: Addressing potential collisions with pedestrians and automobiles.
- Liability issues: Clarifying regulations related to insurance and injuries.
- Enforcement complexities: Ensuring adherence to speed limits and other rules.
Key Technological Innovations Guiding Policy
Several recent technological advancements in e-bikes could help formulate effective policies and infrastructure planning for our community:
- GPS Tracking: Onboard GPS devices enable e-bike owners to track their bikes if stolen, potentially aiding in their recovery. Usage data can also provide insights into riding patterns and demand. A comprehensive policy should encourage or incentivize GPS installation for owners, subsidize free GPS devices for shared e-bike services, partner with law enforcement to swiftly track stolen e-bikes, and utilize aggregate GPS data for infrastructure planning.
- Integrated Locking: Innovations like frame-integrated locks and smart locks activated through mobile apps can deter e-bike theft. A policy should mandate integrated locks on all new e-bikes, partner with shops to offer retrofit locks at a discount, and create designated parking zones equipped with smart locks.
- Onboard Sensors: Sensors that trigger braking, detect collisions, and provide riders with alerts have the potential to significantly reduce e-bike accidents. A policy could establish standards for mandatory safety sensors based on speed capabilities and use cases, subsidize or incentivize safety upgrades, especially for delivery e-bikes, and pilot sensor technology on municipal or public e-bike fleets.
- Charging Infrastructure: A network of public charging stations can alleviate “range anxiety” concerns. Policy options include requiring charging capability in all new public parking facilities, establishing designated charging zones throughout the community, exploring solar-powered charging stations, and setting standards for private businesses providing charging.
- Storage Solutions: Secure storage areas offer e-bike owners a parking solution and reduce sidewalk clutter. Potential regulations include mandating minimum e-bike parking requirements for new developments.
As Jay Higgins, President of Hamilton Electric Bikes, eloquently states: “Hamilton Electric Bikes was opened over six years ago. We have seen almost double-digit growth year over year. The long term and more sustainable growth in my opinion is coming from people realizing that there has to be a better way to commute to work or school other than sitting in a car in traffic or on crowded and many times unreliable public transit. E-bikes are a better and more environmentally friendly way to run errands or to go that last mile and a better way to exercise or continue their riding after an operation or as one ages. E-bikes check all those boxes, and that is where the real long-term and sustainable growth of e-bikes will come from.”
Mr. Higgins’ insight highlights the immense potential for e-bikes to revolutionize local transportation and mobility, especially as more people seek better alternatives to traditional car commuting and environmentally unfriendly modes of transportation.
In 2023, many bike shops across the country, and indeed the world, experienced a sharp decline in sales. While this can be attributed to a decrease in the spike observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, interest, understanding, and sales of e-bikes have continued to expand. Though not at the astronomical growth rates seen between 2020 and 2022, they still demonstrate strength in 2023 compared to the years between 2016 and 2019 by a significant margin.
Jay Higgins, President of Hamilton Electric Bikes, underlines the enduring appeal and potential of e-bikes as a long-term solution for transportation and mobility in our community. Please reach out to Jay and the Team at Hamilton Electric Bikes for any questions on specific e-bikes or to schedule a test ride. They are in our opinion one of the best e-bike shops around. We especially love their profile videos they put out highlighting new riders and their e-bike choice. Truly shows the diverse range of people looking for a new mode of transportation.
Up next from us at lincolnmain.ca is a detailed itemized e-bike policy that we believe could be a template for towns like Lincoln, Ontario and communities across the country. Its important that policies like this are considered as these towns continue to grow. Stay tuned!
