Micromobility, Ebikes and Escooters: Unsung Climate, Health and Affordability Heroes

There's a new climate-smart trend that's quietly sweeping the world and racking up bonafide climate wins. This is your Micromobility, Ebikes and Escooters fact sheet. 

(Image courtesy of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy) 

Heading into our recent, first ever "All Electric Hub and Spokes" city bikepath tour/party event host Bentley dug into this new means of transportation and emerged thinking Ebikes & Escooters (or Micromobility) are very much the unsung climate, health and affordability heroes of of the last few years. Here's what he found.

****

SUSTAINABILITY

"EVs as a whole displaced about 1.5m barrels of oil a day globally in 2022, according to Bloomberg. Two-thirds of that – almost 1m barrels a day – was just from #Ebikes and mopeds, which are known as #ElectricMicromobility."
https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2024/apr/11/evs-are-booming-but-electric-bikes-are-really-cutting-emissions

"But we don’t need everyone to ride an #ebike to work to make a big dent in our carbon-pollution problem. A recent study found that if 5% of commuters were to switch to e-bikes as their mode of transportation, emissions would fall by 4%."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/10/reasons-to-get-e-bike-emissions-climate-change-benefits/675716/

Did you know that replacing 25% of trips under 5 miles with e-bikes would be like taking 338,000 cars off the road?
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-health-benefits-of-electric-bikes

"While #EVs have a role to play, it appears that the rise of #Ebikes & electric #micromobility might outpace them in cutting global oil demand, bringing us closer to a more #sustainable future."
https://momentummag.com/ebikes-beat-cybertruck-sustainability/

"As gas prices rise and battery costs fall, #ebike #sustainability and affordability, along with their smaller carbon footprint, position them as the true heroes in the quest for green mobility."
https://momentummag.com/ebikes-beat-cybertruck-sustainability/

"#Ebikes and mopeds are currently displacing four times more demand for oil than all the world’s electric cars combined." 
https://momentummag.com/ebikes-beat-cybertruck-sustainability/

"#Ebikes and mopeds are currently displacing four times more demand for oil than all the world’s electric cars combined." 
https://electrek.co/2024/06/05/after-tesla-the-surprising-next-best-selling-electric-vehicle-in-america-is-this-electric-bike/

"In a world obsessed with electric vehicles (EVs) and the flashy allure of shiny bobbles like the Tesla Cybertruck, a new #sustainability study suggests that the unsung heroes of green mobility are the humble #ebikes, scooters, and mopeds."
https://momentummag.com/ebikes-beat-cybertruck-sustainability/

"Battery-powered #EScooters are the most effective at limiting emissions over the life cycle of all commuting options" 
https://coloradosun.com/2024/03/19/electric-scooters-transit-commuting-colorado-greenhouse-gas/

"There are roughly 290 million #ebikes and mopeds on the road and they’re slashing almost four times as much oil demand as electric passenger cars."
https://www.corporateknights.com/transportation/are-e-bikes-driving-the-green-transition/

“The #ElectricTransport revolution is a great chance to rethink how we move through our cities & whether we even need a car at all. Cars, after all, often have only one occupant. You’re expending a lot of energy to transport yourself.”
https://www.corporateknights.com/transportation/are-e-bikes-driving-the-green-transition/

****

UPTAKE

When New York introduced e-bikes to its fleet, ridership tripled from 500,000 to 1.5 million people."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/10/reasons-to-get-e-bike-emissions-climate-change-benefits/675716/

"In Europe, #ebikes are projected to outsell cars — all cars, not just electric ones — by the middle of the decade."
https://techhq.com/2022/04/why-e-bikes-are-fast-becoming-the-green-transport-of-choice/

"In the U.S., #ebike sales are outpacing electric car sales and are tracking towards 1 million annually."
https://www.bicycling.com/news/a39838840/ebikes-are-outpacing-electric-car-sales-in-the-us/

"After Tesla, the surprising next best-selling electric vehicle in America is this Ebike."
https://electrek.co/2024/06/05/after-tesla-the-surprising-next-best-selling-electric-vehicle-in-america-is-this-electric-bike/

****

****

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

“Research says people ride e-bikes more often and farther, so they get more physical activity, even though it’s less intense.”
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-health-benefits-of-electric-bikes

When bicycling is made easier and more enjoyable, courtesy of pedal assist, it’s more likely to become a part of people’s everyday lifestyle."
https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-health-benefits-of-electric-bikes

"Study after study shows that people with longer car commutes are more likely to experience poor health outcomes and lower personal well-being—and that cyclists are the happiest commuters."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/10/reasons-to-get-e-bike-emissions-climate-change-benefits/675716/

****

AFFORDABILITY

"After factoring in #Ebike maintenance and a few bucks a month in electricity costs, I estimate that we’ll save about $50,000 over the next five years by ditching our car."
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/10/reasons-to-get-e-bike-emissions-climate-change-benefits/675716/

****

THE BIG QUESTION:
How to get more Ebikes and Escooters into the hands of the people that need them most, especially all those groups traditionally left behind by society?

****

GET ON AN EBIKE!!!

Longtime Hub and Spokes sponsors Bow Cycle Ebikes have very generously offered a 30% rental discount for the remainder of 2024 to Hub members, volunteers and friends! Get out there and sample out incredible downtown active transportation network and this GREAT new way of getting around and seeing the world! See you on the trails!

****

Learn more about the City of Calgary's electric mobility plan, sign up for their newsletter and more!

****

Join the Calgary Climate Hub: https://calgaryclimatehub.ca/membership

Donate to the Calgary Climate Hub: https://calgaryclimatehub.ca/donate

Volunteer with the Calgary Climate Hub https://calgaryclimatehub.ca/volunteer

Listen/Like/Share/Subscribe to the Climate Lens Podcast! https://www.podcastics.com/podcast/4706/link/