Nicola Christie, Professor of Transport Safety at University College London, William Powrie, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Southampton, and Nisreen Alwan, Professor of Public Health at the University of Southampton, are project co-leads on the Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub. Here, they explore the challenges and improvements required to maximise the health benefits of e-bikes.

Electric bikes (e-bikes) are rapidly reshaping urban mobility. In the UK, these battery-powered, pedal-assisted vehicles are available as privately owned models, DIY conversions, or through shared loan schemes.  Whilst e-bikes are legally required to go no faster than 15.5 mph there are many online conversion kits that can allow bikes to achieve much faster speeds with the police struggling to detect and confiscate such vehicles.  But as their popularity increases, so does the debate: do e-bikes genuinely contribute to the public health of cities?

A Boost to Active Living

E-bikes offer a compelling gateway to physical activity, especially for older adults, people with chronic conditions, and residents of hilly cities.   It is estimated that around 9% of the adult population (18-64) have access to an e-bike with peak use among young adults (20-39) at around 13% with the lowest use among older people at 5%[1] . It is estimated that in 2024 146,000 e-bikes were sold in the UK, with predictions of it increasing to 188, 000 by 2030.[2] By reducing the physical strain of pedalling, they make cycling more accessible and inclusive, though e-bikes can be expensive and therefore not always affordable. The effort expended by the rider—comparable with a brisk walk—support cardiovascular health and improved fitness. Crucially, by replacing sedentary car trips, e-bikes can nudge users toward more active commutes and lifestyles. Beyond physical health, cycling—electric or manual—has been linked to reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive function. E-bikes, especially as part of loan schemes, can also help bridge first- and last-mile gaps in public transport, offering a flexible, low-emission solution for urban connectivity.

Environmental and Urban Benefits

E-bikes substituting car journeys contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality. Their quiet operation reduces noise pollution, enhancing the liveability of urban environments. These benefits align with broader sustainability goals and the push for greener cities.

Safety and Social Friction

However, the rise of e-bikes brings safety concerns. Their higher speeds compared with traditional bicycles can lead to conflicts on shared paths, especially in cities lacking adequate cycling infrastructure. Riders may be forced into traffic, increasing collision risks. Media reports are highlighting hospital surgeons seeing ‘massive’ increases in injuries related to e-bikes[3]. Currently, in police recorded road casualty data, casualties related to e-bikes are combined with all pedal cycle casualties, so we do not know the extent to which they are involved in injury-causing collisions.

E-bikes are particularly popular among food delivery workers, who often convert pedal cycles using low-cost kits. While this supports fast delivery, it has also led to a surge in illegal e-bike use. This allows delivery workers to go much faster than legally permitted, so riders can have all the benefits of a motorcycle without the need for a mandatory licence, tax, insurance or expensive helmet.  Moreover, some delivery riders may ride on pavements, ignore traffic signals, or ride through pedestrian-heavy zones creating unpredictable and hazardous conditions. Vulnerable groups—older adults, children, and people with disabilities—are especially at risk. These behaviours contribute to a sense of urban disorder and anxiety, undermining trust in shared infrastructure and potentially affect those from the poorest backgrounds who are most dependent on walking  It is also important to recognise that delivery riders are in precarious low paid work and use e-bikes to make a living and also need to be protected from injuring themselves.

Moreover, media reports of police confiscations of illegal e-bikes, battery fires, and e-bikes used in crimes such as phone snatching may tarnish the public perception of e-bikes and the role they play in urban mobility.

Equity

There also needs to be consideration of whose health e-bikes support. E-bikes can be expensive, need to be stored and insured and safely charged– factors that are all barriers for those on low incomes or living in high density areas. In cities like London cyclists are predominantly young, male, white and middle class[4] – we need to ask whether the use of e-bikes will be inclusive of a wider demographic, otherwise we are just improving the health of those most likely to be healthy already. Observations in the Netherlands indicate extensive usage of e-bikes by people of all ages, and of cargo e-bikes by families with young children and equipment or shopping to transport.

The Challenge of Urban Space

As e-bike usage grows, so does the demand for secure parking, charging stations, and dedicated lanes. Without proactive planning, cities risk overcrowding pavements and cycleways, fuelling friction between different road users.

Toward a Holistic Urban Strategy

To harness the benefits of e-bikes while mitigating their risks, cities must adopt a holistic approach. This includes:

• Investing in protected cycling infrastructure
• Integrating e-bikes into broader transport networks, with dedicated / segregated road space where appropriate
• Collecting data on affordability, demographic patterns of use and casualties specifically related to e-bikes
• Launching education campaigns to promote safe riding and mutual respect
• Monitoring and understanding other non-user’s views on e-bike use
• Enforcing legal compliance

E-bikes offer clear advantages in accessibility and carbon / pollution reduction and may offer significant health benefits - if they displace journeys currently made by private car (as opposed to by pedal cycle or walking).  Yet they also pose challenges around safety, the allocation of urban space, and the potential substitution of more vigorous physical activity. For policy makers, urban planners and public health officials, the goal must be to design cities that support safe, active, and inclusive e-bike use—ensuring that the health benefits for all outweigh the risks which may exacerbate health inequalities.

About the Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub

The Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub (HLTH) has been established to lead research into the potential to maximise the health benefits of low-carbon transport. Rapid decarbonisation of transport is essential if the UK is to meet statutory greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions targets. Historically, CO2e emissions reduction measures have not systemically considered physical and mental health impacts, or inequalities in their distribution. The HLTH will identify barriers, incentives and accelerants for implementing healthy low-carbon transport schemes. It will propose and evaluate new solutions for maximising health co-benefits and reducing health inequalities associated with low-carbon transport interventions by taking a ‘whole systems’ approach. Reducing health inequalities regionally and nationally is a key focus, as is defining, co creating and co-curating our strategy and programme with a broad range of stakeholders, especially the public.

If you would like to be kept informed of the activities of the HLTH or for any other enquiries about the hub please contact Tim Yates, Marketing, Communications and Events Manager, email: tim.j.yates@ucl.ac.uk.