United States Mobility Insights

Why the future of mobility belongs to e-bikes

When Carl Benz received approval for his first gas-powered vehicle in 1886, nobody could have known we would find ourselves in a climate change emergency 135 years later. In The United States alone, 411 grams of CO2 emissions are currently emitted per mile driven by car. Our cities are too polluted, we need cleaner alternatives.

The revolution of sustainable mobility

There are more and more investments in sustainable mobility efforts across the US right now. Los Angeles has already built 1,190 miles of bike lanes, specifically designed for e-bike commuters to glide through the hills and valleys. In Washington D.C., cyclists can enjoy 48 miles of bike lanes stretching across the city for a healthy, eco-friendly commute. And New York has announced that Manhattan's Brooklyn Bridge will double its bike lane space.

Distance per ride

Average distance covered per e-bike round trip US:

7.16 miles

Average distance covered per e-bike round trip rest of the world:

5.24 miles

The difference:

1.92 miles

Average time per round trip

Average time on an e-bike US:

45 minutes

Average time on an e-bike rest of the world:

33.4 minutes

The difference:

11.6 minutes

VanMoof Rider heat map

American VanMoof riders have saved 118.3 tonnes of CO2 emissions from being released over the last year. Here you can see the geographical distribution of our riders.

The future of mobility in The United States

How the bike landscape is changing in the US

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Across the USA the landscape for cleaner mobility alternatives is changing. Los Angeles is one of the frontrunners of bike friendly US cities. Local authorities have already made sure that 1,190 miles of bike lanes are now present in the city. Another bike friendly city is the city of Washington D. C.. Over 48 miles of bike lanes are currently in use. Also the federal government is now working on the E-bike Act, meaning 30% tax credit for e-bike purchases.

The costs of bike lanes versus car lanes

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Protected bike lanes cost $20,000-100,000 per mile to build, versus $1 million for car lanes. Maintaining bike lanes is also much cheaper than car lanes. For example, the City of Portland calculated in 2013 that the city’s entire bicycle network, consisting of over 300 miles of bikeways would cost $60 million to replace (2008 dollars), whereas the same investment would yield just one mile of a four-lane urban freeway. (source)

The Future

"E-bikes make everyone healthier. They reduce society’s reliance on cars and lower greenhouse gas emissions. They increase productivity and space in our cities. They transform commuting from the worst part of your day into the best. As we look towards a post-Covid future, they will play a central role in our green recovery."

- Taco Carlier Mobility Insights Overview

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