1 in 6 Belgians use an electric bike
 

https://ecomodder.com/forum/attachme...1&d=1583252180


Now, that's EV market penetration! And healthy growth:


2017 - 10%
2018 - 13%
2019 - 16%


The number is not current quarter or annual sales, but actual full-fleet numbers.

Fun fact from the article:

(That's cyclists in total, not specifically about e-bike riders.)


Full article (with other info about car & public transit usage):
https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-ne...electric-bike/

Full article:


https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-ne...electric-bike/

I've been seriously tempted to move somewhere with better infrastructure for alternative transportation. It's hard to ride an ebike safely when there are no bike lanes.

It sounds like you are amazed, the article talks about the capital of beers :p

But yes, E-bikes are booming here, mainly for commuting. Due to major traffic jam problems and the improving infrastructure for cyclists. On the other hand, owning and driving a car is punished and cycling is financially rewarded. For instance: my total daily commute is 14 miles and I get $ 5 for that. That's $ 120 a month, untaxed, plus what I save by not taking the car. The population is getting convinced.

You are paid to ride your bike! That's amazing. How is it monitored for compliance?

Electric assist or regular?

I have a regular bike, it's not a great distance and it is almost flat.

It is difficult to control, it is mainly based on trust and good will. You have to promise it in a contract.

Most workplaces or companies have barriers for cars so you have to badge in to get in. If not, you receive a badge to park your bike in a secure garage. That way it can be monitored a bit. But you could put your bicycle in your car, park the car somewhere else and only cycle the last mile to your work. So when your commute is 40 miles a day you have a big cheque and the end of the month. But that is also quite a hassle, if you can keep that up without being seen.

I guess it might be harder to get in trouble pedalling while drunk than driving while drunk :D

The corona virus seems to have a strong positive effect on the number of bicycle trips.

In many city's in Belgium and Brussels in particular, cars are now loosing priority.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/attachme...1&d=1593532284

https://www.brusselstimes.com/brusse...ockdown-lifts/

Good that this change was initiated by the lock down. People have realized that things can be done differently.

That's awesome!

I personaly also commute with an EV-bike. Useful since there is a 350m height difference between home and office :)

Sure, but it becomes a matter of concern once cars are portrayed as somewhat "evil".

Less car travel during the pandemic has reduced pollution and made life somewhat easier for cyclists in cities built more than three hundred years ago. There is a population that thinks cars and their drivers are evil menaces. I was dropped from a Facebook group for saying I didn't mind riding in traffic. If you can ride a bicycle that is fine but realize that not everyone can do that. Older people are looking to add electric motors to their bikes. There are big gains to be made in drag reduction for commuter bikes.

What about cargo bikes? :)

They're ruining the possibility of resorting to an eventually more affordable and practical way of short-distance commuting due to a somewhat extremist agenda. Besides some people not being able to resort to a bicycle, there wouldn't be anything inherently wrong if someone simply doesn't want to embrace the bicyles bandwagon.

My personal opinion? They are indeed "evil" in city centers. Cars shouldn't be there. And not just because of pollution. Give the city back to pedestrians and cyclists. Free up space for green areas. And organize proper and clean public transport for the less mobile. That's how my ideal inner city should look like.

*wondering if I will be kicked out of the forum after my previous statement*
Love the sound of combustion engines and the smell of gasoline though. ;-)

You're better off off Facespook entirely. City centers aren't necessary since the advent of Internet.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/035/1/64...63981_t6dd.jpg

Besides a few troublemakers that appear once in a while, most of the folks in this forum are civilized and willing to take a look at other folks' perspective. But I disagree with your views about a strict restriction against motor vehicles in city centers.