Sales of e-cargo bikes have increased in recent years. In the major cities of German-speaking Switzerland, just over half of all car trips within the city are less than 5 km long (City Mobility Comparison, 2017). It is therefore conceivable that some of these trips could be replaced by e-cargo bikes.

In the first phase of this project (2024/2025), fundamental questions regarding e-cargo bike usage in Swiss cities and potential safety issues were examined. Reliable data on accidents involving e-cargo bikes in Switzerland is not yet available. Initial studies have shown that the anchor points for child safety belts are often inadequate. Furthermore, there are issues with the dimensions and handling dynamics of e-cargo bikes. Longer braking distances and the width of the bikes, which allow less room for maneuver in narrow bike lanes, pose additional risks. As the number of users rises, an increase in traffic conflicts is also expected, with pedestrians often sustaining more severe injuries in collisions with e-cargo bikes. Based on the existing research, it can therefore be concluded that as sales of e-cargo bikes increase, higher accident rates are to be expected.

In the second phase, which has now begun, user surveys will first be conducted. These surveys will include both “experienced” users as well as newcomers and potential buyers. The focus will be on, among other things, willingness to wear helmets and knowledge about safely transporting children.

In the next step, informational materials (video clips, flyers, etc.) will be created. These materials will specifically address the identified issues and present them to users in an easily accessible format, so that they can ride their e-cargo bikes safely and comfortably at all times.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the ZHAW. It is funded by the AXA Foundation for Prevention. The report on Part 1 is available here:

https://www.stiftung-praevention.ch/e-cargo-bike/