Ebiking offers positive physical and mental health benefits for riders, however, inequitable access to bike share schemes and purchase cost barriers limit ebike availability and uptake in lower-income communities. Three trials of ebike access were co-designed sequentially between 2021 and 2023. They were all designed by a community bike organisation working in tandem with a research team. Trial delivery was community-led. During the trial, a third of weekly trips were made by ebike, while trips made by motor vehicle reduced by 25%. Cost emerged as a substantial barrier to ebike ownership. Effective models to support ebike uptake in lower-income communities require adequate funding of community organisations to grow local bike culture; safe and secure bike infrastructure; community ownership of an ebike fleet to support skill acquisition and social connection; and a pathway to low-cost ebike access. Access
Witten, K., Opit, S., Mackie, H., Raja, A. (2024) Challenging the inequities of ebike access: An investigation of a community-led intervention in a lower-income neighbourhood in Aotearoa – New Zealand. Journal of Transport & Health, 39, 101891.