There is no denying the UK is facing some significant challenges:

1. Rise in cost of living: The most obvious one with little end in sight.  
2. Physical health: We need to look after ourselves! The British Medical Association highlights that the UK has a higher rate of preventable illnesses compared to other European countries.¹
3. Mental Health: The rise in those seeking mental health support has been steadily rising and the pandemic has accelerated this trend.²
4. The Aging Transport network: Are under increasing pressure. Becoming more expensive, crowded and unreliable at times.
5. Sustainability: Finally the need to tackle climate change and reach net zero by 2050.

These are arguably some of the biggest challenges we face today.

But what do they all have in common?

Could an e-bike be part of the solution? 

Let’s take a look.

Avoiding Public Transport

With the developments of lithium batteries and e-bikes pedal assist or throttle features, you can now travel further than ever before with less effort. Due to many of their designs, e-bikes are also often designed specifically for comfort, with slightly wider tyres and a more relax geometry position for a more comfortable ride. Perfect for beginners. In addition they are also often able to carrier heavier loads easier too.

Overall this opens up new opportunities for journeys that were previous not achievable by pedal only bicycles. Not forgetting it can also be more convenient too. No more waiting for the train or bus to arrive at quarter past the hour. You set off on your journey as soon as you're ready. And travel door to door!

However this is just the start.

Physical Wellbeing

The NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week. If your commute is around a 25-minute cycle one way, and you commuted to work by e-bike 3 times a week, you would be well on your way to reaching the recommended level! Due to their power assistance, e-bikes give you more choice as to how much effort you would like to put in, while still reaching your destination. 

The UK's adoption of e-bikes and cycling, in general, is behind many of our European counterparts³ Is it a coincidence our European counterparts have less preventable ill health? There of course might be lots of factors at play but being less active including less cycling could very likely have a lot to do with it.

Cost Saving

While there is of course an initial expense to buying an e-bike, there are certainly cost savings to be had in the long run. The numbers and cost saving opportunity will of course depend on individual circumstances. But if we take a quick look at average annual expenses for the UK commute but train and car, there are clearly some great cost savings to be had.

Average annual cost by train:                                     £3,455⁴

Average annual cost by car:                                       £1,610⁵

Keeping in mind e-bikes are now available on cycle to work schemes making them tax deductible and even more affordable.   

Contribute to sustainability

By swapping traditional transport for a journey on an e-bike, you would be contributing substantial to the greater good of the environment and the ultimate the goal of reaching net zero by 2050.

A study conducted by researchers at Leeds University, highlights the average e-bike life cycle of CO2 emissions 22 g/km while in comparison a petrol car (EU Average) produces 258 g/km, 11.7 times less!

Even compared to travelling in an electric car e.g. a Nissan leaf, the g/km is 104. So a trip by ebike still produces roughly 5 times less!⁶

Having Fun

Finally e-bikes can be heaps of fun! Swapping a crowded train for some fresh air can be marvellous. And we are talking from experience here at eBike Junction! But it could also take the form of a weekend adventure along a river, exploring a country lane, or meeting friends for coffee. The opportunities for an adventure on an e-bike are immense. And it is widely recognised that a bit of time and exercise outdoors plays a key component to positively managing ones mental health.

In Summary

To what extent an e-bike will solve these challenges for you will of course be down to one’s personal circumstances. And we recognise each of these areas can be explored in much greater detail.

However hopefully this provides sufficient food for thought as to how they can indeed be part of the solution.

At eBike Junction we whole heartedly believe e-bikes can have a huge positive impact on society and our individual overall wellbeing, ultimately helping solve some of the biggest challenges we currently face today, one journey at a time. 

 

References

¹ Source British Mental Health Association: https://www.bma.org.uk/media/6520/the-country-is-getting-sicker-bma.pdf

² Source British Mental Health Association: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/mental-health-pressures-data-analysis

³ Source Euronews: https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/09/19/cycling-in-europe-which-countries-and-cities-are-the-most-and-least-bicycle-friendly

⁴ Source: Analysis by Virtual office assistant SpareMyTime: https://www.smetoday.co.uk/transport/london-train-fares-double-uk-city-average/

⁵ Source: The Commuter Census 2022: https://www.mobilityways.com/insights/cost-of-living-and-commuter-trends/

⁶ Source: CREDS researchers at the University of Leeds, box 1 Cars vs ebikes. https://www.creds.ac.uk/publications/e-bike-carbon-savings-how-much-and-where/