Citation

Lin X, Wells P, Sovacool BK. Transp. Res. A Policy Pract. 2017; 103: 223-234.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.tra.2017.06.014

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In this paper, we ask whether electric bicycle (e-bike) use in urban China is a temporary phase or an embedded form of sustainable mobility. A survey was conducted in Nanjing in order to assess the characteristics and attitudes of electric bicycle users and other mode users (e.g. pedestrians; car drivers). Based on over 1000 responses a Logit Model was used to analyse current and future mode choice. The results show that electric bicycles are not necessarily displacing cars on a substantial scale, but are rather displacing the 'benign' modes of walking, traditional bicycling, and using the bus. We conclude that electric bicycles are helping to enable mobility-dependent lifestyles that may in the future be supported by cars, rather than offering a true departure from carbon-centred, motorized forms of transport.

Language: en

Keywords

Alternative mobility; E-bikes; Electric bicycles; Nanjing; Regime embedding; User attitudes