The purpose of this project is to develop understanding and strengthen evidence on the effects of e-bike (EB) and combined e-bike plus e-scooter (EB+ES) share-hire schemes on public health, as well as associated social, economic, and environmental factors. The project aims to generate evidence-based guidance for local and combined authorities to support the implementation and development of these schemes, and to provide clear information to the public about their potential benefits.

Project background

Increased active travel (like cycling, walking or wheeling) has been associated with a range of health, wellbeing, and fitness benefits linked to regular physical activity. Regular physical activity is well established as contributing to the prevention of multiple chronic diseases and to reductions in all-cause mortality.

Over the past five to ten years, e-bikes and e-scooters have become increasingly popular as a form of travel. While e-bikes are a form of active travel, the level of direct and incidental physical activity associated with e-scooter use is less well understood.

Project outline

In the UK, e-bikes are legal and are classified as bicycles in law. E-scooters, unless operated as part of a government-approved trial, are currently illegal to use on public roads and are legally classed as motor vehicles.

The UK government has extended e-scooter share-hire trials multiple times, citing the need for further evidence before deciding whether to legalise private e-scooter use.

In autumn 2023, Bristol added e-bikes to its existing e-scooter share-hire scheme, while Leeds introduced an e-bike-only share-hire scheme.

We will use a natural experiment approach to evaluate these schemes, collecting data before and after their implementation (a controlled before–after cross-sectional design with some repeated measures), alongside qualitative interviews.

The research objectives are as follows:

• Examine differences in physical activity and travel behaviour following the introduction of e-bike share-hire schemes in cities with and without prior e-scooter hire schemes (Work Package 1)
• Explore users’ knowledge, perceptions, and use of EB and EB+ES share-hire schemes, and identify strategies to increase uptake across socio-economic groups (Work Package 2)
• Measure the physical energy demands associated with using an e-scooter within a share-hire context (Work Package 3)
• Estimate carbon emissions changes attributable to EB and EB+ES share-hire schemes (Work Package 4)
• Assess collision risks associated with EB, ES, and EB+ES share-hire schemes (Work Package 5)
• Evaluate costs and benefits of EB share-hire schemes from a public sector perspective (Work Package 6)
• Co-produce guidance for policymakers and service providers on the design and implementation of e-bike and e-scooter share-hire schemes (Work Package 7)

Project outputs

• HELMET (HEaLth iMpact of E-bikes and e-scooTers) study: Data collection methods and information gathered for the evaluation of the introduction of share-hire schemes
• We will add more outputs to this page soon

Project team

This project is a collaboration between the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Leeds, and Leeds City Council.

• Dr Miranda Armstrong (University of Bath) - Chief Investigator
• Dr Ruth Salway (University of Bristol) - Joint Lead Applicant
• Dr James Garbutt (University of Bath)
• Bruno Spellanzon (University of Bath)
• Professor Dylan Thompson (University of Bath)
• Dr Georgina Wort (University of Bath)
• Dr Katie Breheny (University of Bristol)
• Professor Frank De Vocht (University of Bristol)
• Joel Glynn (University of Bristol)
• Professor Russ Jago (University of Bristol)
• Dr Roger Morbey (University of Bristol)
• Dr Sabina Sanghera (University of Bristol)
• Dr Ian Philips (University of Leeds)
• Dr Caroline Tait (University of Leeds)
• Mr Vivian Elby (Leeds City Council)
• Professor Tim Jones (Oxford Brookes University)
• Dr Maryam Mani (Oxford Brookes University)
• Dr Nurgul Yardim Mericliler (Oxford Brookes University)
• Ms Lesley Welch (PPI)
• Mr Sulaiman Musa (PPI)