Comparing E-bike and Conventional Bicycle Use Patterns in a Public Bike Share System: A Case Study of Richmond, VA

TL;DR

This study compares usage patterns of e-bikes and conventional bicycles in Richmond, VA, revealing differences in trip distances, speeds, and geographic usage, with e-bikes used more extensively outside the city.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into how e-bikes differ from traditional bikes in urban sharing systems, highlighting their extended range and usage patterns.

Findings

E-bikes have longer trip distances and higher speeds.

E-bikes are used more outside the city.

Trip patterns are similar across different land uses.

Abstract

The results show that pedelecs are generally associated with longer trip distances, shorter trip times, higher speeds, and lower rates of uphill elevation change. The origin-destination analysis considering the business, mixed use, residential, and other uses shows extremely similar trends, with a large number of trips staying within either business or residential locations or mixed use. The roadway use analysis shows that pedelecs are used farther outside of the city than bikes.