Rising traffic congestion contributes to worsening air pollution, delays bus and delivery services, and makes streets unpleasant for pedestrians and cyclists. More and more, big cities want to replace the car to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants thanks to electric bicycles. Discover the case of London.
Road congestion will cost London £9.3 billion a year
According to a 2013 study (1), 70% of the London workforce drove to work during rush hour. The average British driver would spend 124 hours a year in traffic jams. This figure should even increase to 136 hours in 2030. This is equivalent to 18 working days per year spent in traffic.
In the end, between the rising value of fuel, the time wasted in the car rather than being productive at work and the extra cost of transporting goods, traffic jams have a measurable economic impact on the London economy. £307 billion between 2013 and 2030 to be exact.
The electric bike: the solution to replace the car
Faced with the growing problem of traffic congestion in London, the city is turning to more sustainable transport solutions. This is considered essential both for the economy of the city and for the quality of life of its people. The plan is to make London the greatest cycling city in the world by improving its infrastructure and making cycling more accessible.
The good news is that according to a study (2), 81% of Londoners are already able to cycle. This figure could also increase with the diversification of vehicles, such as electric bicycles. Indeed, while 22% of Londoners say they are too old or not fit enough to ride a bike, electric bikes present themselves as an ideal solution to encourage reluctant city dwellers to replace the car. Additionally, the introduction of the bike-sharing scheme, Santander Cycle, is making e-bikes more accessible to Londoners.
Currently, two-thirds of short trips could be made by bicycle to replace the car, and this, in less than 20 minutes. By allowing London residents to make these journeys by bicycle, traffic congestion could be greatly reduced. 28% of electric bike owners (3) would have acquired their own to replace the car.
Quantum, leader in the democratization of electric bicycles in North America
At Quantum, we want to help North America make the same shift to more livable cities through e-bikes. In addition to the benefits to the local economy, e-bikes contribute to a cleaner environment and healthier residents. Are you going to participate in the change?
Learn more about the benefits of e-bikes by following Quantum eBikes on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Sources:
- https://inrix.com/press-releases/traffic-congestion-to-cost-the-uk-economy-more-than-300-billion-over-the-next-16-years/
- https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cycling-action-plan.pdf
- https://www.ebicycles.com/ebike-facts-statistics/
