Professor Chris Cherry was recently quoted in WIRED for the article “Cities Want Ebikes to Stay in Their Lane—but Which One?,” which discusses some of the public challenges cities are facing with the rise of e-bikes. The rise in e-bikes can be partially attributed to the pandemic, as sales have at least doubled two years in a row.
Among the challenges that come with this rapid growth is a lack of data about e-bikes that can inform solid transportation policies for bike share programs. Cherry’s research about e-bikes offers some insight. He spoke to WIRED about the way that e-bike injuries are often misclassified, but that e-bikes riders tend to ride them just like conventional bicycles.
“E-bikes have created some tensions between park advocates and transportation advocates, but tensions between user groups aren’t new,” he said. “It’s important to capture the benefits from e-bike use while mitigating any conflicts that occur simply from more people using the system.”