E-Bike and Health: E-Bikers Exercise More Than Cyclists

According to a study conducted by Science Direct, cyclists who use electric bicycles do much more exercise than cyclists who use muscle bicycles.

This research was conducted on 10,722 users residing in different European cities (Barcelona, ​​Antwerp, London, Örebro, Rome, Vienna and Zurich), the minimum age was 18 (16 for Zurich) and is based on the travel habits of all users, including those who prefer a car or public transport for daily trips. The conclusion reached by this research is, without a doubt, surprising and somewhat contradictory: how is it possible that assisted pedaling allows a cyclist to perform more exercise than with a traditional bike?

The answer is simple: those who prefer an electric bike travel longer distances than conventional cyclists, which allows them to "balance" the number of calories burned. Furthermore, the electric bike is likely to be used more regularly, especially in urban areas, for example, to get to the workplace. However, the study also reports that traditional cyclists maintain better health, with an average body mass index of 23.8, compared to 24.8 for electric bike enthusiasts.

Regardless of whether it is electric or not, the bicycle remains in any case a "healthy and sustainable" alternative to polluting means of transport, such as motorcycles or cars, according to the research by Science Direct. Thanks to the assisted pedaling of the electric bicycle, it is in particular possible to cover wider distances than a simple bike, which would considerably reduce the environmental impact of our travels.

This research therefore encourages "to accept electric bikes as a healthy and ecological means of transport". However, the question of the environmental impact of electric mobility remains open. In the urban travel sector, another study has just found that electric scooters are 42 times more polluting than the subway. There is still no information regarding potential negative impacts of the electric bicycle.