Non-profit organisation Rocky Mountain Institute has expanded the capabilities of its e-bike impact calculator to include data from more than 500 U.S. cities.
Its E-Bike Environment and Economics Impact Assessment Calculator which launched last year assesses the environmental and economic impact of shifting short vehicle trips to e-bikes.
By expanding its coverage and including state-level insights, the non-profit aims for the calculator to more robustly inform planning and design efforts for sustainable transport and cycling infrastructure.
“A key function of the e-bike calculator is its flexibility. You can estimate seasonal changes in bike ridership. You can see state level results then zoom in on your city. You can estimate health impacts from reducing travel by car,” Rocky Mountain Institute Senior Associate Bryn Grunwald told Zag Daily.
“We’ve taken feedback from stakeholders to build its functionality well beyond the first version. Plus, e-bike incentive programmes are rising in popularity across the US, so having a free, easy-to-use tool can be beneficial for assessing potential outcomes and helping convince key stakeholders to support bikes and bike infrastructure.”
The calculator focuses on shifting vehicle trips that are under five miles to e-bikes. It works under the default assumption that cities will aim to replace one in four car journeys under three miles with an e-bike, and one in 10 journeys under five miles. Then, it can show the reductions in emissions and economic savings from shifting this portion of trips to e-bikes.
Forming the backbone of the upgraded e-bike calculator are insights from the built-environment research data platform Replica. The Rocky Mountain Institute used insights from Replica’s Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 data to understand how short vehicle trips dominate in major metro areas, how people travel over time, and what percentage of trips are being taken by car by location.
“This helps users to identify which areas of the U.S. have transportation landscapes dominated by short car trips, which make them prime candidates for mode shift to bike,” Bryn said.
As well as more city and state-level insights, the upgraded version of the e-bike calculator estimates the health benefits from reductions in PM2.5 emissions, and can shift analysis from weekly to annual calculations for a more comprehensive perspective.
Rocky Mountain Institute recorded more than 780 downloads of the first version of the e-bike calculator, and has actively been in touch with cities like Atlanta, Georgia, and Edina, Minnesota about how it’s helping shape their e-bike incentive programmes. The non-profit is hoping the upgraded version will attract more geographies and is open to expanding the calculator beyond the U.S.
“E-bikes present an unprecedented opportunity to travel long distances over changing terrain without having to climb in a car,” Bryn said. “We hope to see the support of e-bikes grow and to become reflected in how roadways are built, parking is designed, and community space is created.
“This is an affordable, accessible, reliable mode that presents a strong opportunity to achieve equitable, clean mobility for all.”
