E-bikes - good for public health?

It is well established that physical activity (PA) is health enhancing, and that active travel can increase total PA. The e-bike demands lower levels of intensity for the same pace and distance as a conventional bicycle, due to the assistance of the electrical motor. Still, the e-bike provides PA of at least moderate intensity, for both inactive and active individuals. The net volume of PA from starting to use an e-bike depends almost entirely on the transport mode it replaces, and the changes in travel patterns and other PAs. Overall, people tend to ride longer and more often when they switch from a CB to an e-bike. The impact of psychological health arising from riding an e-bike is still inconclusive.acceptedVersio

Road freight energy efficiency and CO2 emissions in the Nordic countries

Nordic countries have committed to improve the energy efficiency and decrease the CO2 emissions of freight transport. The aim of this paper is to compare the energy efficiency and CO2 emissions in the road industry for the Nordic countries in 2010, in order to identify the key factors and their impact on energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. A joint analysis method was developed to compare data. Quantitative data was used to conduct a decomposition analysis for several sectors, taking several indicators into account. Statistics from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden include continuous road haulier surveys, national account data and fuel consumption data. The CO2 emissions of road freight transport in the Nordic countries vary from 1.14 Mt in Denmark to 2.27 Mt in Sweden. While the size of the economy, measured in gross value added (GVA), is a major determinant for the emissions, the differences in transport intensity and energy efficiency also have a significant effect on the total emissions. This study is the first of its kind for the Nordic countries. Our research can be used as a first step in a continuous evaluation of the determinants of road freight CO2 emissions in the European countries. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved