Employment-based e-bike programs are growing in the USA. LEVER researchers MacArthur and Dill (PSU) were the first to evaluate such a program. This study examines the results of a pilot project, which took place from April 2014-September 2015 in the Portland region. Participants from three Kaiser Permanente Northwest campuses (1 urban and 2 Suburbans) were issued an e-bike for 10 weeks to use for various trip purposes, focusing on first/last-mile commuting. Participants were asked to complete three surveys—before, during, and after using the bike—to evaluate how their perceptions and levels of cycling may have changed. Responses were analyzed using statistical software and a GIS. This study’s findings support the general hypothesis that e-bikes enable users to bike to more distant locations, bike more frequently and allow broader participation in cycling for certain segments of the population by reducing barriers to cycling. This study was funded by the National Institute of Transport and Communities (NITC).

Publication:
Evaluation of an Electric Bike Pilot Project at Three Employment Campuses in Portland, Oregon