E-bikes can replace cars and make people fitter is the positive conclusion confirmed by Cycling Made Easy’s 2014 customer survey.
However, Ray Wookey, the firm’s director, cautioned: “It’s not simply a case of getting any old e-bike, it has to be the right one.”
The survey found that owners of e-bikes cycle between three and four times a week – far more than the average Briton, if that’s to be compared to the Government’s 2012 National Travel Survey figures. That NTS data concluded that only 2% of all trips were made by bicycle in 2012 (the survey noted a ‘relatively small number of cyclists in the NTS sample however).
62% of CME’s customers, by comparison, said they “often used their e-bikes instead of a car”.
Three out of five respondents said that they were fitter since owning an e-bike, which counters the myth that you can’t get fit with an e-bike. Ray says: “The misunderstanding still persists that an e-bike does all the work and the rider gets no exercise. This is simply not the case and this survey shows that because people enjoy using their e-bikes so often, they are being more active than they ever were before.”
The survey highlights that finding the right bike is key to cycling regularly and Cycling Made Easy says that “using an e-bike 3 to 4 times a week justifies the initial cost of purchasing one”.
Ray continues: “There is no such thing as an e-bike that fits everyone. We see customers every week who are baffled and bewildered by the choice in power systems and battery sizes. The truth is, if you don’t get the right e-bike, you’re not going to be getting all the health and finance benefits that our customers tell us they’re getting. If you want those benefits, you need to go to an e-bike specialist and actually try some bikes out. That’s what we offer and it works for our customers.”
Not a single survey respondent disagreed with the statement “I would recommend my electric bikes to a friend or family member”.
Cycling Made Easy were also pleased to report from the survey results that 87% thought CME gave a “high standard of customer service”.
