"Studies have shown that a mere 10% shift from car drivers to bike riders has resulted in a 40% reduction in traffic congestion. Even if you never touch an e-bike, you would benefit from supporting their increased use."

https://electrek.co/2023/08/22/electric-bike-craze-future-of-transportation/

It’s not an ‘electric bike craze.’ You’re looking at the future of transportation

Electric bikes aren't a fad or a craze, they're here to stay. Their numbers are growing every year. Now how do we make it all safer?

Electrek

@TheWarOnCars I was curious about the study being referenced and it actually talks about motorcycles, not necessarily ebikes.

"If 10% of all private cars are replaced by motorcycles, the total time loss for all vehicles decreases by 40%."

https://www.tmleuven.be/en/project/motorcyclesandcommuting#!%23collapseOne

@TheWarOnCars @tylerb I think FortNine brought up the study in one of his videos.

@tk @TheWarOnCars @tylerb it sounds like the key is this is simulated and assumes that when cars are dead stopped that motorcycles will all lane split and that then they will have zero impact on traffic congestion.

Plus they have less density than a car and tend to travel closer to the vehicle in front of them (in the simulation).

All added up to the gains reported.

@TheWarOnCars @tylerb @Schneems Motorcycles can also stagger when going in groups, which results in much more efficient use of road space than single occupancy vehicles.

@tk @TheWarOnCars @tylerb that’s a factor, though I don’t know if that was part of the simulation.

I think ultimately the 10% change generates a 40% benefit is more about reducing traffic below a tipping point.

This was in 2011 so I wonder if 12 years later if this has been reproduced with other more advanced simulations or other field studies.

@tk @TheWarOnCars @tylerb I’m 100% for bikes. It seems like if this claim holds up rigorously then cities aren’t spending enough of their budget convincing 10% of people to take alternative transportation.