March 13, 2023 - As e-bikes are more widely used all over Europe and beyond, we must question how this trend influences cycling tourism. What are the specific needs of e-bike users? Our main conclusion is that e-cyclists have quite similar needs to other cycling tourists and quality is essential for both.
E-bike demand drives the growth of bicycle sales in volume and value, with 5 million units sold in 2021 out of 22 million bikes and e-bikes together, according to a CONEBI report. The same document forecasts an extra 10 million bikes bought each year by 2030, 47% more than the annual number in 2019. The trend is even stronger in Germany, with 42,5% of bike sold in 2021 being e-bikes, as demonstrated by Zweirad-Industrie-Verband. E-bikes are an attractive product for a greener mobility in cities: the electric assistance adds extra comfort to commuting, limiting the physical effort and still being beneficial for people’s health.
First noticed in cities’ streets, the broader use of e-bikes creates new opportunities for cycling tourism. Where long-distance tours or steep inclines would be quite off-putting to many travellers, the e-bike opens the perspective of easier, less athletic, more fun cycling holidays. E-bikes considerably simplify long-distance travel, especially for beginners or those who are not used to doing sports.
They are an increasingly popular option for day trips, too, simply as they extend the possibility of exploring further destinations and looping back the same day. Moreover, straddling on an e-bike could be a renewed opportunity for cyclists who stopped biking long-distance for health reasons to resume long-distance cycling.
This trend is demonstrated by impressive national figures: In 2021, 42% of German cycle tourists used an e-bike for their holidays according to the ADFC cycle travel analysis 2022. In the Netherlands, 52% of leisure cycling trips were made on e-bikes during the same year as reported by Fiets Platform (“Recreatief fietsen in Nederland”).
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