Pressure mounts on "fake e-bike" sellers, #168

Serious fire risks found on online marketplaces

Suspected dangerous e-bikes that pose a ‘serious fire risk’ have been found for sale on Amazon and eBay, prompting an intervention by MPs. Meanwhile cycle-friendly measures boost businesses, what Gen-Z needs to get on their bikes, and how to sell cycling.

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

MPS URGE AMAZON AND EBAY TO END DODGY E-BIKE SALES. Amazon and eBay were found to be selling dangerous, illegal e-bikes this week, prompting a letter from MPs Fabian Hamilton and Olly Glover urging action, reports The Guardian. Products resembling three Ridstar e-bikes, rejected at the UK border this week by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, were found on both sites. The OPSS says the bikes do not meet safety standards and pose a serious fire risk. This naturally raises questions about the adequacy of online sellers’ product safety measures.

PATHWAYS FOR GEN-Z. Young people need safe cycle routes, secure parking, and better signage and maps to ride more, new research shows. In a survey of European cycling habits by Decathlon, Gen-Z, i.e. 13-28 year-olds, already cycle - 75% to get around, and 58% riding once a week or more. Youngsters want to cycle to stay fit, experience freedom and play, save time and avoid traffic, and save money, in that order. The solutions are consistent across countries and cities.

CYCLING BOOSTS URBAN BUSINESS. Researchers have found ‘an increase in cycling trips significantly contributes to the emergence of new local shops and businesses’. This is groundbreaking as, unlike roads or rail, there’s been limited analysis of the impact of cycling on business. Based on a new dataset from London OpenStreetMap data, tying together cycle infrastructure, geographical and demographic data, on top of a literature review, the research provides a granular look at relationships between cycling investment, usage and local businesses.

UK LAGGING BEHIND EUROPE ON CYCLE ROUTES. New analysis of the cycle-friendliness of cities finds the UK is stagnating on cycle progress compared with our European neighbours. While two UK boroughs made it to the top 20, Cambridge and Hackney, outside of London the UK has generally lagged behind the capital. The Netherlands has six of the top 20, Paris and Lyon scored high and Brussels, Leuven and Munich all out-pedalled us, as Road.cc reports.

MAKING MICROMOBILITY ACCESSIBLE? Research has found just 10% of disabled people have used shared mobility like dockless ebikes and scooters, while more than half believe it could improve their lives. A year-long project in Salford will trial ways to improve access for disabled users, in a bid to lower barriers. Delivered by CoMoUK, Cycling UK, Salford City Council and shared micromobility operators, Lime and Beryl, the project will include skills and confidence sessions, led rides and assistance with digital access. This follows earlier work to improve access for disabled users.

OTHER HEADLINES

HOW TO MAKE CYCLING SEXIER AND COOLER? This BBC CrowdScience piece investigates one listener’s question about marketing cycling in a more appealing way to boost numbers. Hans, who lives in Berlin, suggests treating cycling as a product, rather than something virtuous for health and the environment. Perhaps this approach is the answer to the question: when the benefits are so clear, why aren’t we cycling more? Featuring Professor Ian Walker, who says ‘does it get the job done?’ is the key question, then ‘can I afford it today?’, then the environment. In other words, it needs to fit into our lives. Oh, and be fun.

INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK: A neat series of maps illustrating changes to cycling facilities in Greater London in just three years, 2013-2016. Source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209090

ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD OF THE WEEK:

Kitemark. A UK quality trademark given to products that have been independently and repeatedly tested by experts. An e-bike kitemark has been proposed to help customers and service providers, like insurers and transport bodies, understand when a product is safe

Until next time,

Adam Tranter

CEO, Fusion & Founder, #BikeIsBest

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