Road safety of e-bikes with a focus on single-vehicle accidents. In recent years, e-bikes have gained wide popularity on Swiss roads. With more than 75,500 units sold, e-bikes accounted for almost a quarter of the entire cycle market in 2016. Of the vehicles sold, 78 % were slow e-bikes with pedal support up to 25 kph and 22 % were fast e-bikes with pedal support up to 45 kph. In the past, e-bikes were perceived more as bicycles for older people, but now younger people are also increasingly turning to two-wheelers with electrical support. While the increasing spread of e-bikes is accompanied by various advantages (e.g. ecological advantages compared to motorised private transport, relief of the road infrastructure or public transport), road safety also faces challenges. (Author/publisher)
Abstract