Last month, Professor Chris Cherry’s research on e-bike impacts on greenhouse gas emissions was cited by Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congressional Bike Caucus Chairman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in a new legislative proposal aimed at encouraging the use of e-bikes.
The Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act proposes to increase the use of e-bikes through a consumer tax credit.
Among the findings of Cherry’s study, which was done in collaboration with researchers at Portland State University, was that if 15 percent of car trips were made by e-bike, carbon emission would drop by 12 percent. This statistic was prominently highlighted in the press release announcing the E-BIKE Act to Panetta’s constituents.