Gaining Traction on Social Aspects of E-Biking: A Scoping Review

Author:

McCurdy Allison1,Perry Elizabeth E.1ORCID,Leahy Jessica E.2ORCID,Coleman Kimberly J.3,Doyle Joshua1,Kiewra Lydia A.1,Marocco Shelby A.1,Iretskaia Tatiana A.1,Janes Madison M.1,Deliyski Mikael1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Community Sustainability, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

2. School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA

3. Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA

Abstract

E-biking is alluring for its various physical, environmental, and financial benefits and the ability to travel farther and faster, and being physically easier to ride than astride an analog (traditional) bicycle. E-bikes are also a source of controversy, especially in places where analog bicycles have been allowed but e-bikes represent a “slippery slope” of technology permissions and/or in situations where the function of e-bikes may increase concerns about safety. Despite an increase in use and conversation about such use, academic literature focused on e-bikes’ social aspects remains sparse. The objective of this work is to describe the existing literature on the characteristics of social aspects of e-biking, particularly in leisure contexts. Analyzing the literature on e-bike social research is crucial considering e-bikes’ rapid rise in popularity and potential effects on access, inclusion, leisure, and sustainability. As e-bike prevalence and use increases worldwide, it is important to understand what topics characterize the existing e-bike literature, and, particularly in leisure-focused studies, to ascertain where studies may lend insight toward aims of inclusive and sustainable access, and related policy considerations. The Integrated Recreation Amenities Framework (IRAF) provides a conceptual framework for considering this question, as it focuses on the topical, spatial, and temporal scales of outdoor leisure-related activities toward sustainable conditions and explicitly provides an opportunity for emergent and case-specific factors to be considered alongside established ones. In this work, we explore the following: (1) How are e-bikes discussed across disciplines? and (2) How are e-bikes discussed in leisure-focused articles? Using a scoping review approach, we analyzed a corpus of 279 peer-reviewed articles relevant to the social aspects of e-bikes. Primarily using the IRAF for conceptual framing, our results center the geographies and contexts, topical areas, interdisciplinarity, and emergent additional social considerations of e-biking in general and in leisure-specific studies. The results enable us to connect interdisciplinary topic discussions and suggest where foundational and connective studies are warranted. This can inform decision making related to e-bike adoption, encourage multi-scalar thinking, and extend interdisciplinary research.

Funder

Northeastern States Research Cooperative, State and Private Forestry, Northern Research Station, United States Forest Service

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York and under Michigan State University Institutional Proposal

Publisher

MDPI AG

Reference54 articles.

1. Glusac, E. (2024, June 24). Farther, Faster and No Sweat: Bike-Sharing and the e-Bike Boom. The New York Times, Available online: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/travel/ebikes-bike-sharing-us.html.

2. E-bikes in the mainstream: Reviewing a decade of research;Fishman;Transp. Rev.,2015

3. Baechle, T.J., and Kressler, K.M. (2020). Perceptions of Conflict Surrounding Future E-Bike Use on the Arizona Trail, Arizona Trail Association.

4. Changes in recreational behaviors of outdoor enthusiasts during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis across urban and rural communities;Rice;J. Urban Ecol.,2020

5. Reid, A. (2024, June 10). eBikes.org’s Data-Driven Insights into the B-Bike Market. Available online: https://ebikes.org/general/e-bike-market-insights.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3