Overview
Many commuters resort to forms of mobility that are harmful to the environment, in particular their own cars, for their daily commute to work. New, environmentally friendly and active modes of transport, like S-Pedelecs (fast electric bicycles), represent an effective, innovative and active form of mobility and could encourage more commuters, even those with longer distances to cover, to travel to work using resource friendly modes of transport that are not harmful to the environment and are also good for their health. At present, the legal situation regarding the registration of S-Pedelecs and their use of the bicycle infrastructure is complicated and varies from country to country.
Similarly, no research has as yet been conducted into the impacts of S-Pedelecs for road safety, their possible target groups and corresponding transfer potential and suitable incentive systems for their use, and any correlations between these aspects. It is to be assumed that the different and complicated (in comparison to other bicycles and traditional Pedelecs) rules/bans on the use of S-Pedelecs will damage their social acceptance and deter potential users, thus preventing them from attaining their actual usage potential.
The goal of the 'POSETIV - Potential of S-Pedelecs as an effective mobility alternative' project is to systematically study the potential of S-Pedelecs for commuters and derive suitable measures at both the individual and the political level to make better use of their potential to change mobility behaviour. In a first step, data on the mobility behaviour of 100 commuters with an affinity for motorised private transport from Vorarlberg (Rheintal area), Salzburg (city/surrounding area) and Burgenland (rural area around Eisenstadt) will be gathered. The study participants will then be provided with a Pedelec-25 and an S-Pedelec, each for a period of two weeks.
Using new app-based mobility behaviour survey and qualitative research methods (e.g. in-depth interviews, mobility journal), the transfer potential of S-Pedelecs and push/pull factors that favour such a transfer will be studied in depth in practice for the first time. A conflict analysis will be used to identify the impacts on road safety, link these to actual locations and thus determine any effects of a potential use of bicycle infrastructures. Results and insights:
- Identification of factors that influence a mobility transfer.
- Insights into special impacts of S-Pedelecs on road safety in conjunction with a possible use of bicycle infrastructures and legal aspects.
- Identification of barriers to the use of S-Pedelecs.
- Derivation of suitable measures, strategies and concepts for a safe and efficient use of S-Pedelecs taking relevant stakeholders into account.