E-cycling to work: Incentivizing behavioral change and the road to well-being

Abstract

This research focuses on the effects of an e-cycling incentive program on short- and longer-term behavioral changes, and how these outcomes be understood from underlying behavioral processes and external factors. The investigation also looked into the change in behavior and how this resulted in changes in travel satisfaction. By applying a longitudinal approach, a group of participants in an e-bike incentive program was followed, using a series of online questionnaires and GPS-data. In total, two-thirds of the original commuting trips were replaced by e-bike trips. The research reveals two substitution effects. For distances up to 10 kilometers, conventional bicycle trips are substituted by the use of the e-bike and for distances above 10 kilometers, e-bikes replace car trips. This research also shows that two-thirds of all participants are consistent when comparing their behavioral intention and actual behavior. During the program, the other participants adjust their behavior, with this group making more use of the e-bike. The research results also show that the likelihood of e-bike use is influenced by air temperature, wind speed and precipitation. Despite the technical advantages of the electric bicycle, which reduces the required physical effort which leads to an increase in the use of e-bikes, the adverse weather conditions seem to make the choice to permanently abandon the car too difficult. This research shows that there is a positive relationship between the increase in physical health and travel satisfaction, which increases the attractiveness of e-bike use and positively influences behavioral change. This study contributes to both scientific knowledge in the field of longitudinal behavior change as well as practical implications when it comes to developing behavioral change incentive programs.