
Swiss research shows speed pedelec riders have different cycling infrastructure preferences
23/06/2025
2 minutes
Source: CROW Fietsberaad
As part of a research project, “E-Biking in Switzerland”, researchers at ETH Zurich examined the preferences of various groups of Swiss cyclists and non-cyclists, with regard to cycling infrastructure choices.
The project was established to better understand the role of electric bikes in Switzerland, where they are a popular sustainable transport choice, with 1 in 5 households owning an e-bike or speed pedelec.
Research method
Almost 3,000 Swiss cyclists and non-cyclists took part in a questionnaire, in which they were presented with a selection of 13 out of 52 choices between two situations. The situations represented a main or neighbourhood street, with variations in the car traffic intensity, width of cycle path or lane, and available parking spaces. Images generated from a cyclist’s perspective represented the situations, and were accompanied by the travel time associated with the infrastructure shown.
Participants had to choose which was their preferred situation, which in turn would determine how many extra minutes of travel time they were prepared to accept with the chosen or avoided infrastructure.
Speed pedelec riders
Participants who were frequent speed-pedelec riders attached least value to bicycle-friendly infrastructure, being the least likely to accept extra travel time in exchange for travelling on a cycle path. One factor in this choice is the ability of speed pedelec riders to keep pace with traffic. Although they appreciate cycle paths, they place more value on lower traffic levels and fewer parked cars in neighbourhood streets.
More occasional e-bike riders have the strongest preference for cycle-friendly neighbourhood streets, while frequent e-bikers prefer cycle paths.
Gender differences
Research results showed a greater sensitivity among women to bicycle-friendly infrastructure than men, a possible explanation for the lower numbers of female cyclists in Switzerland. Non-cyclist women are the most sensitive towards road design and car traffic in neighbourhood streets, making them a significant target group for tailored cycling incentive schemes.