Recent research from Portland State University found that e-bikes encourage new people to ride, gets those who already ride to ride more often, and people feel safer when riding e-bikes than standard bikes. E-bikes are replacing car trips as well. Results indicated that e-bike rides replaced 1,778 motor vehicle miles (average of 9.3 miles per trip) just within the last three trips reported by respondents. MacArthur J., 2017 - National Electric Bike Owner Survey
A review of e-bike classifications and regulations and an exploration of conflicts between e-bikes and other vehicles found that as e-bike users increase, so do issues with vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. MacArthur, J. and Kobel, N., 2014 - Regulations of e-bikes in North America
In a 2015 survey, League of American Bicyclists members agree that e-bikes have positive aspects. More than 80% of respondents indicated that they agreed or somewhat agreed that electric bicycles can be used by older people and people with physical challenges, functionally replace cars for a wide variety of trips, offer transportation options to people who can’t drive, expand the number of people using bicycles, get more people biking more often and make family bicycling more accessible. McLeod, K., 2015 - Electric bicycles: public perceptions & policy