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More than 3% of car trips could be replaced by bike and public transport

06/05/2024 13:32 Comments Off

The Knowledge Institute for Mobility (KiM) has conducted a data analysis of information from the Dutch Mobility Panel. It has recommended that, with effective policy measures, combining cycling with public transport has the greatest potential to encourage users to drive less.

In this study, nine benchmarks were used to analyse if various car journeys by users could have been replaced by public transport and bicycle usage. These included, whether public transport was available, whether the travel duration was less than 1.5 times longer than by car, and if the traveler was healthy enough to walk and cycle instead of drive by car.

Findings and implications for mobility potential

KiM’s analysis revealed that the amount of car journeys that could be switched with public transport and bike was 3.4 percent of journeys and 7.8 percent of total distance traveled. They also found that the combination of using the bicycle with public transport was more attractive for longer car journeys that have an average of 33-41 kilometers.

The study revealed that the travel time and cycling distance to public transport stops and stations could also influence the shift in travel mode, which implied that there could be effective policy measures taken to make travel time shorter, or the bike/public transport experience more comfortable and convenient for people to accept a longer travel time.

In terms of public transport and bicycle combinations, the analysis highlights the train being combined with the bicycle as having the most potential, with 80-90% of replaceable car trips being estimated to be able to be swapped with this specific combination.

The analysis also stresses the importance of retaining current public transport and bicycle users, and suggests that employers could also help further to encourage public transport and bike usage, since more than half of the 3% of replaceable car trips were for commuting purposes.

E-bikes get more Dutch commuters into the saddle – KiM

03/10/2022 13:14 Comments Off

Source: fietsberaad

Increasing amounts of Dutch people are investing in electric bikes to travel to and from their place of work. Researchers at the Knowledge Institute for Mobility Policy (KiM) expect this trend to continue, though it is noted that e-bikes primarily replace traditional bicycles.

Due to the possibility of faster travel with less effort, the number of new electric bicycles has been on the rise since 2018, overtaking the sales of regular touring and city bicycles. In 2021, approximately 52% of the 923,000 new bicycles sold were e-bikes. The number of electric bicycle owners, estimated at 3.6 million in 2021, will continue to grow in the coming years, conclude the KiM researchers in their report on the purchase and use of e-bikes.

More than 1 in 5 Dutch citizens that do not yet own an e-bike plan to purchase one within the next 5 years, including a large group that plans to use the technology for their home-work journey.

With working Dutch people willing, on average, to travel up to half an hour via e-bike, approx. 10km, about 60% of all commutes could be replaced by this transport type. Included in this group are those who would be unable to cycle without electrical assistance, opening up a whole new segment of two-wheeled commuters that can now enjoy active travel.

Due to the growth in e-bike ownership, KiM expects that e-bike use will grow by approximately 45-70% over a period of 5 years, from 2019 to 2024. Part of that growth is at the expense of traditional bicycle use. The total distance traveled by bicycle is expected to increase by 6-8% as a result of an increase in e-bike ownership. This does not take into account other factors influencing use, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or economic and demographic developments.

The researchers believe – partly on the basis of previous research – that increased e-bike ownership will probably lead to a decrease in car use, but they cannot determine with certainty to what extent.