Adoption of e-bikes and its relationship with car use in Ghent, Belgium

Abstract

As urban mobility face increasing pressure to transition toward more sustainable mobility models, e-bikes have emerged as a promising alternative to private car use, especially for medium-distance trips. This thesis explores the relationship between ebike ownership and car use in the city of Ghent, Belgium, with the aim of better understanding how emerging modes of transport interact with traditional transport habits. Using data from the Ghent mobility survey of 2021, the research applies descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression models to examine how individual and contextual factors shape mobility choices. The analysis identifies significant associations between e-bike ownership and variables such as age, origin, employment status, education level and district of residence. However, the results show that e-bike ownership does not have a statistically significant effect on the number of kilometers travelled (VKT) by car. These findings suggest that while e-bikes represent a promising sustainable transport option, their impact on reducing car use may be more limited than often assumed. By helping to understand how people move through the city and which factors influence their choices, the study contributes to the broader understanding of urban mobility dynamics. These insights can help inform future decisions to make transport in Ghent more sustainable, accessible and aligned with real mobility needs.

Outgoing