The survey, which involved one thousand Italians aged over 15, shows that e-bikes are increasingly seen as an alternative to the car and public transport.
The e-bike is gradually making its way into Italians' aspirations as a genuine means of transport. This is the picture painted by research carried out by OnePoll for Shimano, which highlights how the electrically assisted bicycle has all the characteristics needed to carve out a substantial share of the market and a place of its own on the road.
Excellent substitutes for both the traditional bicycle and the scooter, e-bikes are ideal for avoiding road traffic, for tackling long distances and uphill routes with ease, and for arriving at work less sweaty.
Of the one thousand people resident in Italy surveyed in April 2016, 85 per cent said they would happily use an e-bike instead of public transport, while 77 per cent reflected on the need to get some physical exercise by making the most of their commute. Fifty-seven per cent have leisure in mind and think about the pleasure of being outdoors, while 40 per cent would opt for electric two wheels to avoid travelling on crowded trams and underground trains.
The research also asked respondents why they would prefer an electrically assisted bicycle over a traditional one. Above all, the possibility of saving time appeals to 51 per cent of those surveyed, as it means reaching their destination more quickly — but also more comfortably, as 43 per cent replied. In particular, more than a third do not want to arrive at the office hot and flustered, also due to the lack of shower facilities in the workplace.
The shortage of cycle lanes in Italy, subsidies for the purchase of electric bikes, and the opportunity to try out models are further reasons that are encouraging more and more people to set money aside to buy an e-bike.
"Using an e-bike to run daily errands or get to the office can significantly improve each of our quality of life," comments Eduardo Roldan, Managing Director of Shimano Italy Bycicle Components. "It is our job to raise awareness by promoting its benefits, while it is the country as a whole that must row in the direction of a new consciousness linked to the concept of sustainable mobility".