BOULDER, COLO (August 25, 2021) — PeopleForBikes, a national bicycling advocacy nonprofit and the bicycle industry's trade association, is committing more staff and resources to support the use of and access to electric bicycles across the U.S.
Industry analysts estimate that more than 12 million electric bikes will be sold in the United States between 2020 and 2030. According to NPD Group data, the 2020 electric bicycle retail market in the United States was estimated to be $547 million, more than double the 2019 market. For 2021, electric bicycle sales aren't slowing down — in the first half of 2021, sales of electric bicycles were up 64% compared to January-June of 2020.
Looking ahead, PeopleForBikes sees electric bicycles playing a key role in helping solve many of the issues facing America today. The organization stands firm in their belief that electric bikes can help improve our health, connect communities, boost the economy, strengthen our nation and protect the planet.
"With the data from NPD Group and our own research showing that 15% of Americans plan to purchase an electric bicycle in the next 10 years, we see nothing but opportunity for this sector of the industry," said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. "We are working with our industry committee leaders and brands to accelerate all things electric bicycles in 2021 and beyond. We are dedicating more staff, electric bicycle events and online education, policy initiatives, data analysis and Ride Spot routes to go even bigger for electric bikes."
PeopleForBikes recently hired Ash Lovell, Ph.D., as its new electric bicycle policy and campaign director and are in the process of hiring an eMTB policy and program manager. This new, first-of-its-kind position will focus on trail access, land management opportunities and concerns and develop new PeopleForBikes eMTB programming.
"Model, three-class electric bicycle definition laws have now been passed in 36 states, but this is only the beginning," said Lovell. "I'm excited to be joining the team at the perfect time to help PeopleForBikes capitalize on this momentum and take the lead on growing electric bikes nationwide."
In addition to expanding the number of states adopting model electric bicycle legislation, PeopleForBikes is also working to build a coalition of bipartisan support for the E-BIKE Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as the Bicycle Commuter Act. If signed into law, the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act would provide consumers a 30% tax credit on the purchase of a qualifying new electric bicycle, and the Bicycle Commuter Act could put nearly $1,000 back in the pockets of employees who choose to bike to work, either by personal bicycle, electric bicycle or bike share.
"We're seeing ridership, sales and general interest in electric bicycles skyrocket," said Dice. "For the first time, elected officials are talking to us about electric bicycles for climate, mobility and equity decisions. We're positioning electric bicycles as a solution for individuals, communities and our nation."
PeopleForBikes is also currently helping the bike industry design an electric bicycle battery recycling program with nonprofit battery collection and recycling experts Call2Recycle. Call2Recycle is sharing its expertise with PeopleForBikes and 20 bike industry companies on a battery recycling task force to provide the crucial connection from rider to recycling and help resolve the logistical challenges and regulatory intricacies in safely and compliantly delivering batteries for recycling. The new industrywide program will work with suppliers, retailers and riders to make sure electric bicycle batteries are properly recycled. Furthermore, PeopleForBikes' policy team is working on a variety of additional local and state-level purchase incentives and programs to help make electric bikes more accessible and affordable.
Finally, PeopleForBikes is working with leaders from their industry Electric Bicycle Subcommittee to design and host an in-person Electric Bicycle Summit this fall. The event will take place on Nov. 19 in concert with the Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Arizona, and is open to all who are interested in the future of electric bicycles. More details will be announced soon.
If you have any questions regarding PeopleForBikes' electric bicycle work, please contact Ash Lovell at ash@peopleforbikes.org.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is making biking better for everyone by uniting millions of Americans, thousands of businesses and hundreds of communities to make every bike ride safer, more accessible and more fun. When people ride bikes, great things happen. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
