Senior Lecturer in Sport Sociology, Sheffield Hallam University

Jim Cherrington is affiliated with Peak District MTB, an advocacy organization that aims to improve, protect and promote the interest of mountain bikers who live and ride in the Peak District National Park.

Sheffield Hallam University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

The sales of electric bicycles have increased sharply recently. In 2020, the European Union and the United Kingdom sold a total of 4.6 million electric bicycles, an increase of 52% year-on-year. In the UK, nearly one-third of adult bicycles sold today are electric.

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As a specific category of electric bicycles, electric mountain bikes can increase outdoor accessibility for riders who are socially or physically excluded. They can also help balance the cycling abilities of different riders.

But they are also the subject of controversy, because electric bicycles allow riders to travel farther and faster in the countryside. This has led to a fierce debate among cyclists, horse riders and walkers about the acceptable speed, noise and erosion levels of this new technology.

In fact, on social networking sites and various Internet forums, it is generally believed that electric mountain bike riders are selfish, lazy and anti-social. These riders have also been accused of over-reliance on cars and driving at speeds that are unsafe for other users in the countryside-which is said to damage bicycle lanes and the wider environment.

The introduction of motors and batteries into all-terrain bicycles may create the potential for more cyclists to enter the outdoors. But heavier parts, wider tires and increased torque have caused many riders to worry about the potential environmental impact.

Our research shows that traditional mountain biking involves a complex relationship between rider, bicycle and terrain. Through careful experimentation and progress, the rider learns to pay attention to the limits and abilities of his body and the bike. In doing so, they have a deep understanding of the feel of the trail and the topography of the landscape.

This has been shown to affect their contact with other user groups, as mountain bikers make concessions for walkers and horseback riders based on mutual understanding of the terrain. Riders usually make way for uphill walkers and may choose to wait before passing horses on rugged trails to avoid moving objects that might hit or frighten animals.

The fear of electric bicycles is that the added motors will make users feel complacent about the needs of the terrain and the needs of others-riders will prioritize going uphill as soon as possible, or riding the bicycle battery as much as possible.

But while many of these fears and complaints may be correct, most are based on anecdotal evidence rather than any actual research. Therefore, as part of our latest project that has not yet been released, we talked with 30 e-bike riders in England to learn more about why people choose e-bikes and how they actually ride them. Our research results so far indicate that electric mountain bike users are generally more responsible than people think.

Participants we have interviewed so far told us how they keep asking other (non-electric bike) riders how tired they are or how difficult the terrain is to suit the team’s pace and energy level.

When riding with non-electric bikers, the participants also told us that they put themselves behind to avoid "rubbing others’ noses", while some people said that they would go with them when they were too tired to go on. Others exchange bicycles.

Electric bicycles also seem to have a broader social role in crime, ill health, and social exclusion. One participant-a disabled former soldier-said that his electric bicycle has become a springboard for a new social enterprise that uses bicycles to solve juvenile delinquency. We also heard from several older participants that buying electric bicycles has greatly improved their physical and mental health.

On the other hand, we also received reports of riders passing through a group of walkers. One of our participants who worked in the bicycle industry noticed two examples where electric mountain bike riders went too far in the wilderness, their batteries ran out, and needed to call an air ambulance.

The relationship of some riders with batteries and on-board computers further illustrates this concern. Although our research is still ongoing, many participants have described how the Bluetooth link between their bicycle and GPS tracking applications (such as Strava) allows them to "compete" with friends more effectively.

These are isolated incidents, but they reinforce existing research that illustrates how tracking devices can be combined with other forms of sports and physical activity technology, leading to forms of unethical, disrespectful, and irresponsible behavior. Using Strava to encourage fast and competitive riding is also related to increased trail damage and surface erosion.

To quote popular mountain bike commentator Rob Warner, "Electric mountain bikes represent the most important thing that has happened to mountain bikes since mountain bikes." They enable people to overcome a series of social and physical obstacles and engage in more outdoor sports.

But the question remains whether the risks to the environment outweigh the potential benefits to culture, health and society. More research is needed to ensure that future conversations are based on evidence rather than anecdotes.

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