Enjoyable, confidence and higher well being: Inaspect a 12 months on an e-bike

Increasing charges of energetic transport is a extremely efficient approach of accelerating population-level bodily exercise,^{1, 2} supporting well being³ and lowering transport-related carbon emissions.⁴ Aotearoa New Zealand’s hilly topography, changeable climate and comparatively spread-out cities imply that e-bikes are more likely to be notably efficient in overcoming a number of the challenges to biking.⁵ E-biking might also be achievable for many individuals who don’t at the moment cycle and wouldn’t contemplate driving a non-electric bike.⁶ However, whereas e-biking is rising quickly, e-bikes are costly, and price is a big barrier to their uptake.⁶ Aotearoa’s low charges of biking⁷ imply that growing e-biking amongst individuals who don’t at the moment cycle can be more likely to require neighborhood, sensible and social help.⁸ 

The HIKO e-bike programme

HIKO is an e-bike programme in Wainuiomata, Wellington, which is operated by a marae-led Hauora service. HIKO offers long-term entry to e-bikes at no cost, together with cycle abilities coaching, e-bike upkeep and biking gear (e.g. helmets and locks). In its first 12 months, 26 Māori and Pacific adults participated within the programme.  We adopted the HIKO programme over the 12 months via focus teams and interviews with individuals previous to the programme, at six months, and at 12 months. Our analysis, revealed within the New Zealand Medical Journal, explores individuals’ experiences, specializing in the psychological and bodily well being impacts of e-biking.⁹ Further analysis explores the programme design and impacts on journey and social connectivity.¹⁰

E-biking can help folks’s aspirations for higher well being

Participants described enhancing their well being as an essential motivation for attempting e-biking. Some individuals recognized particular well being targets, together with supporting quitting smoking (“I’m hoping the biking will just give me enough of a cough attack to want to stop.”) or shedding pounds. Some individuals have been enthusiastic about e-biking as one thing which might be accomplished with out aggravating “old age injuries” notably hip, again and knee ache. Lastly, individuals described beginning e-biking as a approach of function modelling an energetic way of life:

 For Māori and Pasifika … we’re function modelling for our children, our tamariki and our mokopuna.

E-biking is feasible and pleasant for many individuals who expertise boundaries to being energetic

Several HIKO individuals described experiencing well being or weight-related boundaries to being energetic discovered that e-biking was an achievable and pleasant approach of shifting. E-biking was described as well-suited to the wants of older riders, ‘bigger’ riders, and other people with continual situations, particularly joint ache:

I’m an previous woman so, if I can do it, anybody can do it and it’s good for my arthritis.

Features reminiscent of step-through frames and e-bikes with a better rider weight restrict supported a various group of riders. Our analysis highlights observe factors for well being practitioners to think about in discussing e-biking with particular person sufferers (see Box 1).

Table 1: Practice factors for healthcare professionals

E-biking has a variety of bodily and psychological well being advantages

Over the course of the 12 months, individuals described common e-biking as contributing to higher psychological and bodily well being. Some individuals seen an enchancment in managing a spread of continual situations, notably joint ache, respiratory situations and metabolic situations, for instance: 

There’s been so many different wins with getting out and being energetic… the burden loss and my diabetes, my gout.

For many individuals, the psychological well being advantages of e-biking have been notably essential: 

you’ve a second in time the place you aren’t excited about work, not excited about issues of the world… clearly you get the bodily advantages however… it’s what it does for me mentally.

These self-reported well being enhancements are in line with well-established advantages of accelerating ranges of average bodily exercise.^12-14 Some individuals additionally efficiently integrated e-biking into their methods for quitting smoking.

The ‘fun factor’ and social connections assist folks to stay with e-biking

Enjoyment and social help are key components in persisting with bodily exercise.¹⁵ Consistent with earlier qualitative research on e-biking,^{16, 17} individuals loved driving with others, being exterior, and having the ability to go on mini-adventures. Some individuals in contrast e-biking favourably with different low-impact actions:

 I do not wish to sit in a fitness center… I do not wish to stroll on a treadmill. I want one thing that is going to be attention-grabbing… How are you able to get bored when each bike journey is totally different?

Supporting e-biking

HIKO took individuals who didn’t journey and transformed them to bike driving by, firstly, giving them entry to an e-bike that met their particular wants and, secondly, creating social help to maintain modified behaviour via the marae-led, community-focused programme design. 

Other jurisdictions have very excessive ranges of the inhabitants who cycle; HIKO reveals that with the appropriate surroundings and help that is more likely to be achievable in Aotearoa New Zealand additionally. However, creating giant inhabitants shifts to e-cycling will want coverage to create bigger entry programmes and expanded bike networks in all city areas.

Authors particulars

Dr Emma Osborne, Department of Public Health, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Pōneke | University of Otago, Wellington

Cheryl Davies, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Mutunga ki Te Wharekauri, Tū Kotahi Māori Asthma Trust 

Assoc Prof Caroline Shaw, Department of Public Health, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Pōneke | University of Otago, Wellington