Future of E-Bikes on Public Lands: A Human Factors Field Study at Minute Man National Historical Park

Abstract

Electric-assist bicycles (e-bikes) are growing in popularity, and their use has increased on public lands managed by federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Evaluation of e-bike use on public lands is hindered by a dearth of scientific research, as noted in a prior literature review completed by the study team. This paper presents the results of a human factors field study that evaluated participant speed and behavior on an unpaved, multiuse trail to answer research questions about trail user safety and social interaction. The study concludes that e-bike riders travel approximately 1 to 2 mph faster than conventional bike riders on average, but that individuals’ speeds among conventional and e-bike riders are widely distributed and overwhelmingly overlap, including at the upper and lower extremes. The sex of the rider predicts a greater difference in speed than whether they are using a conventional or an e-bike. The study also found conventional and e-bike riders generally reduce speed in areas of potential conflict and exhibit similar precautionary behaviors when passing other trail users and when crossing trail junctions and vehicle paths. Public lands managers can use these results to inform their decisions about managing e-bike use on multiuse trails with similar characteristics.