UK ministers urged to promote e-bikes to tackle health and climate crises | Transport policy | The Guardian

Campaigners say subsidy scheme could create £2bn in health benefits and cut 1m tonnes of emissions annually
Peter Walker
An employee works on an electric bicycle at a factory in Germany. Photograph: Ralph Orlowski/Reuters
Ministers should consider subsidising e-bikes as they do electric cars, campaigners have urged, after a study found that mass use of such bikes could create more than £2bn in health benefits and cut a million tonnes of emissions annually.
While grants of up to £1,500 are available for low-emission cars, vans and motorbikes, there is no such assistance for electric-assist bikes, which help propel riders up to a maximum powered speed of 15mph when the bike is being pedalled.
According to an evidence review by academics at Westminster University, commissioned by the campaign group Bike is Best, boosting e-bike use would bring other benefits not created by electric cars, including reduced road congestion and fewer potentially dangerous particulates from tyre and brake wear.