AITPM Excellence Awards June 2016 Category

Transport Planning

Submission by RAC WA Project

Supported by:

RAC eBike Initiatives

CONTENTS 1.

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1

Overview .............................................................................................................................. 1

1.2

RAC eBike Trial ................................................................................................................... 1

1.3

RAC’s Internal eBike Schemes ........................................................................................... 2

1.4

‘Switched on Bikes’ Campaign ............................................................................................ 2

2.

Relevance to the category ........................................................................................................... 3

3.

Excellence attributes ................................................................................................................... 3

4.

Originality and innovation ............................................................................................................ 4

5.

6.

7.

4.1

‘Newness’ of eBikes ............................................................................................................ 4

4.2

RAC eBike Trial ................................................................................................................... 5

4.3

Keeping the momentum going through legacy initiatives .................................................... 7

4.4

Replicability.......................................................................................................................... 8

Engagement with the profession and/or the community in the development of the project ........ 8 5.1

Stakeholder involvement ..................................................................................................... 8

5.2

Communications / Promotion .............................................................................................. 9

Expected or delivered outcomes and benefits .......................................................................... 10 6.1

RAC eBike Trial ................................................................................................................. 10

6.2

RAC’s Internal eBike Schemes ......................................................................................... 12

6.3

‘Switched on Bikes’ Campaign .......................................................................................... 12

Summary ................................................................................................................................... 13

1.

INTRODUCTION

We are pleased to submit the ‘RAC eBike initiatives’ for the Transport Planning category of the AITPM Excellence Awards 2016. 1.1 OVERVIEW RAC WA partnered with a number of organisations to deliver an electric bike (eBike) trial in Perth, Western Australia. The aim of the trial was to gain insights into user experiences to better understand and promote the potential of eBikes to overcome some of the barriers to cycling, helping to make it a more convenient and realistic commuting option for more people. More broadly, the trial intended to showcase the growing importance of personal mobility options, as well as the wider benefits of cycling. The trial received a great deal of interest from government stakeholders (both in Western Australia and from the eastern States), industry and the media. Following the success of the trial, RAC progressed a number of legacy initiatives to keep the conversation going and maintain momentum in promoting eBike usage. These included:  refreshing and expanding RAC’s existing staff Pool Bike Scheme;  developing and introducing a Staff Commuter eBike Loan Scheme; and  sponsoring the City of Gosnells ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign, part of the ‘Switch Your Thinking’ initiative, through the RAC Community Sponsorship Program. The ‘RAC eBike initiatives’, which is the subject of this submission, comprises the RAC eBike Trial, RAC’s internal eBike schemes and RAC’s sponsorship of the ‘Switched on Bikes’ initiative. 1.2 RAC EBIKE TRIAL RAC partnered with the City of Perth, City of Wanneroo, North Metropolitan Area Health Service through Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Trust, and the University of Western Australia to run the RAC eBike Trial. The WA Departments of Transport and Sport and Recreation also supported the trial 1 through the Your Move program . The trial was launched on Friday 28 August 2015. Over 10 weeks, from Monday 31 August until Sunday 8 November 2015, 40 employees of the four participating workplaces (10 employees from each) had exclusive use of a SmartMotion eCity eBike for their commute to and from work, as well as any other trips they wished to make. Participants were asked to complete before and after surveys and report their usages and experiences through weekly travel diaries. To encourage sustained travel behaviour change, participants were given the opportunity to purchase their bikes at a discounted rate during Week 7 of the trial.

1 Your Move is a WA State Government program that supports members of the community to enjoy a more active and healthy lifestyle by changing the way they travel. In 2015, the program was run in the City of Wanneroo.

Page 1

Figure 1: RAC eBike Trial Launch

1.3 RAC’S INTERNAL EBIKE SCHEMES In 2012, RAC launched a pool bike scheme as an initiative of its workplace travel plan. This scheme comprised two eBikes which were available for staff to use during business hours to attend meetings, go to lunch or run errands. Demand for the pool bikes, particularly at lunch time, was high and there was an identified need to expand the scheme. In December 2015, the fleet was refreshed using four eBikes from the trial. In February 2016, RAC launched a staff commuter eBike loan scheme to provide staff with an opportunity to borrow an eBike for periods of up to 2 months to encourage new commuting behaviours to be established. These eBikes can also be used for other trip purposes.

Figure 2: RAC Pool Bikes

1.4 ‘SWITCHED ON BIKES’ CAM PAIGN Inspired by the eBike trial, a number of local governments approached RAC for advice and assistance on the promotion of eBikes and to express an interest in being involved in future eBike trials.

Page 2

In March 2016, RAC sponsored the ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign, as part of the ‘Switch Your Thinking’ initiative. ‘Switch Your Thinking’ is an initiative of the City of Gosnells, City of Armadale and Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, working together as the South East Regional Energy Group. This group facilitates projects that help communities and councils reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, one of which is the ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign. ‘Switched on Bikes’ is a promotional, educational and community engagement campaign that aims to increase awareness and adoption of eBikes within Perth, helping to reduce emissions from transport and promote greater commuter choice. It involves promotional activities, eBike user and driver safety education, community events (including eBike conversion demonstrations) and an eBike trial at each participating council.

2.

RELEVANCE TO THE CATEGORY

Perth has been growing at a rapid rate and it has been forecast that the City’s population could 2 increase by a further 1.5 million, to a total population of 3.5 million, by 2050 . Strong population growth brings its own challenges. It is predicted by 2031, seven of the nation’s ten most congested road corridors, including the top four, will be in Perth and the cost of congestion will reach almost $16 3 billion . While there is no single solution to Perth’s congestion challenge, the promotion of active transport options needs to be an integral part of the response. This will require increased investment to provide better walking and cycling networks, better planning of communities to provide access to local services, amenities and jobs, as well as educational and promotional activities, to make it safer and more convenient for people to choose these modes. RAC’s eBike initiatives are a practical form of cycling promotion, giving people an opportunity to try an eBike before they invest in one, as well as increasing the community’s awareness of eBikes. The trial in particular provided valuable insights and encouraging evidence to demonstrate the appeal and potential of eBikes to increase cycling participation, as well as some of the safety and infrastructure considerations associated with increasing eBike usage. With the trial demonstrating eBikes can be a real alternative to the private car for some commuting trips, ongoing promotion, education and investment in infrastructure to facilitate and encourage usage is essential. Through the internal eBike initiatives, RAC is also demonstrating its continued commitment to managing travel demand associated with its business activities by promoting a balanced range of transport options to staff.

3.

EXCELLENCE ATTRIBUTES

Discussed further throughout this submission, the initiatives exhibit a number of excellence attributes, particularly in regards to:  uptake of eBikes in Australia has been relatively slow in comparison to Europe and their use as a mode of transport here is a relatively novel concept. There is also limited research available on the use of eBike usage in the Australian context. These initiatives are providing valuable insights in readiness for an expected increase in eBike;

2 Western Australian Planning Commission (2015). Draft Perth and [email protected] million. May 2015, p. 7. 3 Infrastructure Australia (2015). Australian Infrastructure Audit Report.

Page 3

 the collaborative approach to developing and delivering the trial (refer Sections 4.2.1 and 5);  the innovative design of the trial – this trial involved a relatively large scale workplace loan system which allowed easier monitoring of usage, as well as a simpler and centralised way to manage administration, registration, training, insurance, liability and warranty. A number of systems were considered and identifying the most appropriate system for the trial was a challenge in itself;  using real-life examples to challenge the status quo of how transport planning projects are initiated – these practical initiatives have an important place in promoting and facilitating active transport. Importantly, they could be easily replicated by other organisations to achieve similar outcomes in encouraging behaviour change (refer Sections 4.4 and 6) and the lessons learned could help inform future planning and design of cycling infrastructure to cater for increased eBike usage; and  the trial resulted in substantial behaviour change during the 10-weeks and has provided encouraging evidence of the potential of eBikes to enhance the attractiveness and convenience of cycling as a mode of transport for commuting to work (refer to Section 6). The legacy initiatives strive to keep this momentum going (refer Section 4.3).

4.

ORIGINALITY AND INNOVATION

The initiatives are considered to be original and innovative due to the following: 4.1 ‘NEWNESS’ OF EBIKES An eBike is a bicycle with both an electric motor and rechargeable battery that provides assistance to the rider. There are currently two categories of eBikes in WA, those with a maximum power output of 200 watts and ‘Pedalecs’ which comply with European Standard EN 15194 and have a maximum power output of 250 watts. In 2012, the Australian Government adopted the EU design standard and 250 watt pedalecs became legal in WA in April 2015. eBikes are increasing in popularity around the world, with many people finding them a convenient form of personal mobility. The global eBike market has expanded dramatically and, according to forecasts by Navigant Research, global annual sales are anticipated to increase from around 32 4 million in 2014 to over 40 million in 2023 . Uptake has been slower in WA, and while there has been a lot of research exploring eBike usage in other countries, research in the Australian context is still in its infancy. RAC believes eBikes are a key to unlocking more demand for cycling and embarked on the trial to gain a better understanding of their potential through the eyes of users. The trial and legacy initiatives intended to help raise awareness of eBikes, particularly as a viable mode of transport, and they are proving successful in doing so. The recent legislative change in WA may create more choice for consumers, and in turn potentially help to drive demand, but these initiatives are helping to spark the initial interest. Furthermore, understanding the potential safety and infrastructure considerations, through real-life user experiences, is crucial in informing future planning and design to cater for increasing eBike usage.

4 Navigant Research (2015).

Global annual sales of e-Bicycles are expected to Exceed 40 Million Units by 2032.

Retrieved from

https://www.navigantresearch.com/newsroom/global-annual-sales-of-e-bicycles-are-expected-to-exceed-40-million-units-by-2023.

Page 4

4.2 RAC EBIKE TRIAL 4.2.1

COLLABORATIVE APPROACH

As previously mentioned, RAC partnered with the City of Perth, City of Wanneroo, North Metropolitan Area Health Service through Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Trust, and the University of Western Australia to run the trial. It was also supported by the WA Departments of Transport (DoT) and Sport and Recreation. RAC initially proposed a trial of eBikes to the DoT as part of its sponsorship of the Your Move program, to be delivered in the City of Wanneroo. Given the objectives of Your Move, being to encourage more healthy and active lifestyles, there were clear synergies and RAC and the DoT worked collaboratively to develop the trial approach and harness opportunities to leverage off the promotional opportunities from running both in tandem, to maximise exposure. To make the trial more robust, there was also considered to be value in extending it to include inner Perth locations. The three other partners were approached because they are large employers already actively promoting more sustainable travel options to their staff and there was good alignment of goals. Each partner organisation nominated a Trial Coordinator to assist with the planning and operation of the trial. The approach and communication strategy were refined in consultation with these partners, and activities were coordinated across all organisations involved in delivering the trial. The trial would not have been possible without the contributions and ongoing support of the Trial Coordinators.

Figure 3: Partners, participants and RAC representatives at the trial launch Furthermore, other organisations contributed to the smooth running of the trial, including the suppliers commissioned by RAC to deliver support services such as the cycling training (West Cycle), eBike maintenance (Perth Electric Bike Centre) and transportation of the bikes at the start and end of the trial (Bike Valet). The success of the trial in encouraging behaviour change, better understanding the needs of eBike users and promoting eBike usage is a testament to what can be achieved when a range of organisations come together in pursuit of shared goals. 4.2.2

TRIAL DESIGN

A number of systems were considered by RAC and the DoT, with a workplace lease system being preferred. This was further refined in consultation with the City of Wanneroo and the other three partner organisations.

Page 5

Other systems considered included an eBike hire system, with docking station infrastructure (similar to those with regular bikes in Melbourne, Brisbane, and a number of European cities), and a library lease scheme allowing short-term loans to members of the community (similar to a scheme operated by the City of Vincent, WA). For both systems, users would have been required to provide identification and complete a registration form, and the use of GPS trackers was considered for monitoring usage (although differentiating between users would have been difficult). While these options had clear merits, and would have allowed the wider community to trial eBikes, they presented a number of challenges not excluding, transference of responsibility to other parties as well as issues relating to insurance, liability and warranty. They would also not allow sufficient time for new commuting behaviours to be established. Under the workplace lease system, participants (who were employees of the partner organisations) had access to their own eBike for storage at their place of work and home. This system allowed easier monitoring of usage, as well as a simpler and centralised way to manage administration, registration, training, insurance, liability and warranty. Consideration was given to allowing the eBikes to be shared with other members of the family but this was discounted, again due to insurance, liability, and warranty challenges. Risk management Safety is of paramount importance to RAC and its partners and this was a critical consideration in the trial design. To identify and understand the health and safety risks associated with the trial, risk assessments were conducted, leading to the implementation of a number of mitigating controls to manage these risks, including: Cycle training

The requirement for all participants to take part in a mandatory cycle training session and to receive a practical demonstration of how to use the eBikes.

Crash and breakdown procedures

Development of crash and breakdown procedures, both for internal use and for communication to the participants. This included participants having the option to call RAC Roadside Assistance to arrange a maxi-taxi to transport them and their bike in the case of a breakdown or incident.

Insurance

Taking out a Voluntary Workers Policy to cover participants in the event of accidental injury whilst using an eBike in the trial and taking out insurance to cover the eBikes against theft, loss or damage.

Terms and Conditions

Preparation of a waiver stipulating the terms and conditions of participation, as well as a declaration of personal and medical fitness to take part in the trial for instance.

Induction booklet

Preparation of an induction booklet, setting out the various procedures, tips on using the bikes, relevant road rules, RAC / partner organisation / participant roles and responsibilities, etc. for participants to read and understand prior to signing the waiver.

Such mitigating controls also apply to RAC’s internal eBike initiatives, with new users being required to undergo a robust, but simple, safety induction process. They have to read an induction booklet and sign a waiver form. Once complete, the scheme coordinators (comprising internal RAC staff) provide a practical demonstration of how to operate the bike, observe them cycling on a shared path and administer a short multiple choice road rules and cycling safety test.

Page 6

Figure 4: Participants receiving a demonstration and enjoying their cycle training Aligned to the intent of the trial, RAC was pleased to share our knowledge and the intellectual property developed through the trial with the City of Gosnells for the eBike trials to be offered through the ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign. Encouraging lasting behaviour change Also of importance to the trial design was encouraging any newly established travel behaviours to be maintained following the trial. To foster this, a limited number of the eBikes were made available for participants to purchase at a discounted rate (expressions of interest were invited in Week 7). As such, the transference of warranty from RAC (as the original owner) to participants purchasing a bike was negotiated as part of the supplier agreement when procuring the bikes. This was well received, with 17 participants (and one partner organisation) taking up this offer and the after survey revealed continued usage.

“I'm most definitely interested in purchasing my e-bike. I love it and can't imagine life without it”. City of Perth participant.

4.3 KEEPING THE MOMENTUM GOING T HROUGH LEG ACY INITIATIVES The trial was only ever intended as a first step in promoting eBikes. To build on the success achieved, and to continue the conversation, RAC explored a number of potential legacy initiatives as a next step. This included consideration of internal initiatives as part of RAC’s ongoing commitment to managing its own workplace travel and external initiatives, to raise awareness of eBikes amongst the wider community. Due to demand, the refreshed and expanded RAC staff pool bike scheme was a logical use of some of the eBikes from the trial. The scheme was streamlined to make booking and accessing bikes easier and more convenient through the use of a self-service system. While the pool bikes are very popular, particularly during lunch times, there was a desire to give staff the opportunity to try an eBike for an extended period to see if it is a commuting option which could work for them. With loan periods of up to two months, it is envisaged this will encourage and establish new commuting behaviours and will allow sufficient time for staff to decide whether they invest in one so they can continue commuting by eBike (or regular bike). The pool bikes and commuter eBike loan schemes are just two ways RAC is helping staff to access a range of transport options, reinforcing its commitment to safe, accessible and sustainable mobility. Through the ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign, RAC also supports a number of local governments to deliver initiatives throughout 2016 which further promote eBikes and encourage increased uptake. This campaign aims to reach an audience of approximately 5,000 people.

Page 7

4.4 REPLICABILITY The trial provides a positive example of how behaviour change messages can be activated through practical projects, providing robust evidence and ultimately achieving better outcomes. It is apparent the trial simulated significant interest and has inspired others to explore similar activations. The trial design could be easily replicated by other organisations to achieve positive outcomes in promoting eBikes, and this is evident from the trials being progressed by member councils through the ‘Switched on Bikes’ campaign. Many of the lessons learned could also apply to a range of initiatives seeking to promote active transport through practical actions.

5.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PROFESSION AND/OR THE COMMUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT

Engagement with the professional and broader industry was crucial in developing the trial, and engagement with the media and other activities to disseminate the approach and key outcomes has also been important in achieving the trial objectives. Furthermore, these activities and the profession and community’s response have played a role in the development of the legacy initiatives. 5.1 STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT As previously mentioned in Section 4.2.1, the trial design was developed by RAC and the DoT, and further refined in consultation with the trial partners. Key engagement activities included:

Trial Coordinators

Trial materials and communications

eBike selection and procurement

Cycle training

Participant recruitment

A Trial Coordinator was nominated by each partner organisation to assist RAC with the planning and operation of the trial, this included participant recruitment and selection, coordinating communications and troubleshooting throughout the trial. Input was sought from the Trial Coordinators, and eBike supplier, in developing key materials for the trial (including recruitment materials and Induction Booklet) and also to develop and coordinate communications activities. The Department of Transport also provided input to the travel diary and prepared personalised journey plans and provided advice to all 40 trial participants as part of the induction process. Engaging a suitable supplier who would undertake repairs and maintenance in accordance with service standards specified by RAC was a key consideration in the procurement process. RAC also worked with the supplier to ensure participants received a practical demonstration of how to use their eBikes as part of the induction process. RAC commissioned WestCycle to provide mandatory bike skills and on-road cycle training for trial participants. RAC worked with WestCycle to plan and deliver a two hour workshop to equip participants with the necessary skills to help them feel safer and more confident using the eBikes. Expression of Interest (EOI) materials were circulated to the staff of each partner organisation through their internal communication channels and were designed to explain how the trial would work, who could take part, benefits of participation and required contributions. This stimulated a lot of interest and discussions within the organisations, and over 110 employees from the four organisations applied to take part. RAC worked with the Coordinators to ensure a good crosssection of participants. Page 8

Trial launch Increasing participant engagement

At launch event trial partners, participants, the eBike supplier and RAC staff an opportunity to meet each other. A closed Facebook group was created for participants to share their tips and experiences. Participants were also encouraged to share photos and captions for a “Where has your eBike taken you” competition.

Streamlining and expansion of the staff pool bike scheme was informed by feedback received via RAC’s annual staff travel survey and regular user feedback. Staff engagement in this, and the commuter loan scheme, has been encouraged through all staff emails, posters in common areas, lunch and learn sessions and group inductions. Within four days of the EOI, 24 members of staff had signed up to participate in the commuter loan scheme. 5.2 COMMUNICATIONS / PROMOTION The communications strategy for the trial, which was developed in consultation with the partner organisations, comprised a range of activities to engage the media and broader community to stimulate interest in the trial and raise awareness of eBikes as a viable mode of transport. All communications were coordinated and opportunities for cross-promotion were identified throughout the trial, including the Your Move communication channels to promote active transport messages and the partner organisations own internal channels. RAC communication channels included:

RAC communication channels



social media (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn);



the RAC blog (https://blog.rac.com.au/);



the RAC website (http://rac.com.au/news-community/road-safety-andtransport/cycling/e-bike-trial);



the RAC For the Better microsite (http://forthebetter.rac.com.au/environment/e-bike-trial);



the RAC member magazine, Horizons – the trial featured in the December / January 2016 and June/July editions.

Blog posts sharing inspirational participants stories and the preliminary results, included:  http://blog.rac.com.au/2015/11/maintaining-the-momentum-after-the-rac-ebike-trial/  http://blog.rac.com.au/2015/10/enjoying-the-ride-with-the-rac-e-bike-trial/  http://blog.rac.com.au/2016/01/car-commutes-halve-rac-e-bike-trial/

Media coverage

Knowledge share through industry forums

The trial attracted significant media interest (TV, print, online and radio), at its launch, the half-way point and upon release of the preliminary results. This included Channel 7 and 9 News, The West Australian, Huffington Post and Perth Now. The media coverage on the trial reached a total audience of 548,026. RAC has shared highlights from the development, launch, outcomes and lessons learned from the trial through industry forums in the hope of inspiring the development of other initiatives. These include: 

presenting at a TravelSmart forum hosted by the DoT in September 2015, on the sharing economy;



participating in an interactive session at a TravelSmart forum in February 2016 on workplace cycling initiatives; Page 9



providing a keynote presentation an Active Living forum hosted by the Department of Health in May 2016, on managing traffic congestion; and



Engaging the community

submitting a paper to be presented at the 2016 AITPM National Conference. To stimulate further interest in eBikes amongst the broader community, RAC ran a “Win an eBike” competition. The winning response was: I’d love to have an eBike because…. “you can help reduce traffic congestion and pollution, be healthy, yet arrive in nearly the same time without so much sweat”.

Figure 5: eBike Trial media coverage and RAC Horizons article extract

6.

EXPECTED OR DELIVERED OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS

6.1 RAC EBIKE TRIAL The purpose of this trial was to gain insights into user experiences to better understand and promote the potential of eBikes to make cycling a more attractive option for more people. Over the 10 weeks, a total of 1,741 eBike trips were made by participants – 1,398 for commuting purposes and 343 for other purposes. The most frequently stated “other” purposes were for leisure / fun (47 per cent), for fitness / exercise (33 per cent) and to go to the shops (32 per cent). Significant behaviour change was experienced during the trial, with usage of eBikes for commuting purposes remaining high throughout the 10-weeks. Figure 6 shows the methods of travel for trips to and from work before, during and after the trial. Before the trial, a majority of participants’ commuting trips were made by car (61 per cent in total). However, 11 per cent were also made by regular bicycle and an additional 1 per cent by bicycle and public transport. During the trial, 55 per cent of all commuting trips were solely made by eBike, with an additional 1 per cent by a combination of eBike and public transport, and 1 per cent by bicycle. This equates to a total of 57 per cent of commuting trips involving an eBike or bicycle for some portion of the journey.

Page 10

After

46%

Week 10

0%

36%

Week 9

2%

39%

Week 8

34%

Week 7

35%

Week 6

1% 1% 1%

31%

Week 5

4%

27%

Week 4

23% 26%

Week 2

26%

Week 1

23%

Park & ride

55%

Kiss & ride

56%

Walk & public transport Bicycle & public transport e-Bike & public transport Bicycle

57%

0%

e-Bike

57%

4%

20%

50%

59%

Motorbike / scooter

55%

56% 0%

Car as passenger

65%

2%

Before

48%

55%

1% 3%

Week 3

Car as driver

26%

5% 40%

60%

80%

0%

Walk all the way

100%

Taxi Other

Percentage of total trips to and from work

Figure 6: Mode of travel for trips to and from work

5

The proportion of commuting trips by car increased to 46 per cent following the trial; however, this represents a 15 percentage point reduction compared to before the trial. In addition, just over a quarter of commuting trips continued to be made by eBike (26 per cent) and a further 15 per cent by regular bicycle, maintaining a high cycling mode share of 41 per cent. For those who purchased their eBike (17 out of the 40 participants, within the first seven weeks), 50 per cent of their commuting trips continued to be made by eBike and 13 per cent by regular bike. With a majority of participants already owning a regular bicycle before the trial, but less than half cycling for any purpose at least once a week, the increase in cycling experienced is considered to demonstrate that eBikes can increase the attractiveness of cycling as a mode of transport. In addition, 31 of the 32 participants that completed the after survey said they would recommend eBikes to others as a commuting option. When it comes to sustained behaviour change, a majority of participants said they expected to continue cycling more often than they did before the trial (11 of which said they were extremely likely to) and over half said they were likely to drive less often (8 of which said they would drive a lot less).

Figure 7: Likelihood of cycling more than before the trial

Figure 8: Anticipated impact on driving frequency

5 Question: “Over the past week, how did you travel to and from work each day and how long did these journeys take [Mode_Day]”.

Page 11

Furthermore, the trial clearly demonstrated the personal benefits of cycling for transport: 

One in three participants that completed the after survey said they made financial savings as a result of using the eBikes during the trial (collectively saving over $1,600 per week);



7 out of 32 reported time savings associated with their commute to and from work (totalling over seven hours on average per week); and



23 out of 32 experienced a range of health / wellbeing and / or fitness benefits (e.g. feeling fitter and healthier, weight loss, feeling happier and less stressed and improved sleep quality).

The importance of investing in safe infrastructure (with a slight preference towards off-road infrastructure), workplace end-of-trip facilities and road user education and training (including for novice eBike riders) to encourage and facilitate cycling was apparent from the experiences reported by participants. In general, the feedback received from participants throughout and after the trial was very positive and from this it is apparent that many now have a newfound, or reignited, passion for cycling that will live on.

“It has renewed my love of cycling, and now it is the only way I will commute to work”. City of Perth participant.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the 10 week bike trial and have found that even now the trial is finished, I am still getting up early in the morning to go for a scenic bike ride along the coast. I am a lot fitter and really enjoying the freedom you get on the eBike, not being limited by where you can travel by fitness”. UWA participant.

6.2 RAC’S INTERNAL EBIKE SCHEMES RAC undertakes an annual Staff Travel Survey to allow monitoring against mode share targets developed for the Workplace Travel Plan and awareness and usage of key initiatives. The 2015 survey, which was undertaken in November, revealed that almost 70 per cent of pool bike users rate the scheme eight out of 10 or higher. This feedback was provided just prior to the relaunch of the pool bike scheme, with the refreshed and expanded fleet. Since the relaunch, a further 58 members of staff have been inducted to the scheme, demonstrating a renewed appeal. The staff commuter eBike loan scheme will be monitored and evaluated through a short participation survey, designed to determine whether the scheme has encouraged staff to cycle for commuting purposes and / or purchase an eBike. Interest in the scheme exceeded all expectations, with the eBikes allocated to different members of staff well into the first quarter of 2017. From feedback received to date, two out of four users are considering purchasing an eBike. 6.3 ‘SWITCHED ON BIKES’ CAM PAIGN Through community events and further trials at the participating councils, it is anticipated that general awareness of eBikes will increase and Council staff and the community alike may be inspired to view eBikes as a convenient and practical mode of transport. Individuals using eBikes as a result of this campaign could also be expected to receive health, wellbeing and financial benefits, similar to those demonstrated through the RAC eBike Trial. Audience numbers and demographics for each community engagement event delivered will be recorded throughout the campaign to aid evaluation. Likewise, the success of the eBike trials will be measured through participants populating a personal journey record to capture their eBike usage throughout the trial. Page 12

7.

SUMMARY

The results of the RAC eBike Trial have shown significant behaviour change was experienced, with commuting trips by car almost halving and 55 per cent of all such trips being made by eBike during the trial. A substantial decrease in the proportion of commuting trips by car was also maintained following the trial and cycling accounted for 41 per cent of commuting trips. Uptake of RAC’s internal eBike initiatives has exceeded all expectations and RAC is proud to have inspired, and be supporting, other organisations to keep the momentum going in promoting eBike usage. RAC believes the eBike Trial, and its associated internal initiatives and sponsorship activity, have provided encouraging evidence of the potential of eBikes to enhance the attractiveness and convenience of cycling as a mode of transport for commuting to work. The success of the Trial, and the ongoing interest in the legacy initiatives, is also testament to what can be achieved through effective partnerships delivering practical projects that put advocacy into action. It is evident that such demonstration projects have an important place, alongside research, in using real-life examples to change the status quo of how transport planning projects are initiated. Moving forward, RAC will continue to explore further opportunities to encourage and facilitate eBikes as a key to unlocking more demand for cycling.

Page 13