One-third of Danish We Cycle to Work scheme participants rode e-bikes
Comments Off on One-third of Danish We Cycle to Work scheme participants rode e-bikesSource: TV-Kalundborg.dk
The statistics for Denmark’s We Cycle to Work 2025 campaign show that one in three participants rode electric bicycles, and research indicates the health benefits are almost the same as when riding traditional cycles.
Following its ‘We Cycle to Work’ campaign, the Danish Cyclists’ Association surveyed its 58,000 participants and discovered that almost one in three used an e-bike for their daily commute. The survey also explored the reasons behind this choice, as explained by the association’s director, Kenneth Øhrberg Krag.
“In the survey, we asked participants why they chose electric bikes. Many responded that it was for exercise, while others have injuries and need extra assistance on bike paths. For us, the goal of the campaign is quite simple: to encourage more people to ride bikes and leave their cars at home. When electric bikes give more people the opportunity to participate and make the choice to exercise more manageable, we naturally welcome them. And research shows that it is actually almost as healthy as cycling with just your own muscle power.”
Health benefits
The research referred to by Øhrberg Krag was published by researchers at the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany, it tested 1,900 e-bike and regular bike riders, resulting in data on almost 60,000 bike rides over the span of three years. The research showed that both muscles and circulation were exercised almost as much on an e-bike as on a traditional bike. Many participants in the study indicated that they chose e-bikes for their additional assistance due to health problems.
This was echoed in statements from some of the We Cycle to Work survey respondents:
“Despite my disabilities, I can always get home, even if my body starts to feel tired – it gives me the opportunity to cycle more often and for longer trips.”
“I get to cycle, because after my breast cancer I would have stopped because of lack of energy.”
“Getting help up the hills and getting help when you have a migraine. At the same time, you still get fresh air and exercise your body more than if you took the car.”
The German study also found that the risk of heart attack was reduced by up to 40%, and metabolic disease such as type 2 diabetes were reduced by up to 50%.
Lifestyle benefits
Respondents to the We Cycle to Work survey indicated additional advantages to electric bicycles compared to traditional bikes, when used for work commuting. “You don’t show up sweaty when you have to be presentable,” says one. Another states, “I couldn’t cycle to work before I got an electric bike, I didn’t want to be sweaty all day at work and I don’t have time to shower when I get to work. So an electric bike is perfect for me.”
The We Cycle to Work campaign organisers hope to see a permanent lifestyle change for participants. Kenneth Øhrberg Krag stated, “Our campaign will of course only reach its full effect when the effort is sustained, and the bicycle is also the preferred means of transport after the campaign period in May. For many, this requires saying goodbye to the car, and I of course hope that many of this year’s e-cycling participants have chosen to do so.”
