Source: Khashayar Kazemzadeh and Enrico Ronchi (2021). From bike to electric bike level-of-service. Transport Review.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2021.1900450

Kazemzadeh and Ronchi explore that the evaluation of electric bike (e-bike) riders’ perception of comfort can embark toward a better understanding of user requirements. The aforementioned aspect of performance is conducted  through Level-of-service (LOS) studies. Subsequently, this provides wide array of bike invention from time to time onward.

Currently, the e-bike LOS (ELOS) concept is scarcely developed and research concerning e-bike travel behaviour characteristics is relatively sparse. This article conveys discourse in which bike LOS (BLOS) studies as a foundation to identify the knowledge gap for ELOS. In its intertwined BLOS, e-bike riding comfort and the distinction between bikes and e-bikes characteristics were scrutinized.

Travel behaviour, and e-bike modal substitution research are assessed to provide a better picture of e-bike riders’ requirements. Based on these domains, this article assesses preliminary conceptual framework for the development of ELOS. The results indicate that there is a limited number of studies that whether explicitly evaluate ELOS or consider the e-bike in the BLOS analysis. Subsequently the extent of substitution of cars, public transport, and bikes by e-bikes comprises wide spectrum from partial to complete replacement, thus potentially affecting ELOS developments.

The specification of this substitution contributes to a deeper understanding of the ELOS concept in relation to the adaptation of LOS indices used for other transport modes. Ultimately, it appears evident that ELOS developments would require further research on e-bike interaction analysis in shared mobility in which vulnerable road users are present. The findings of the scholar work of this article provide leverage for researchers and policy-makers assessing the knowledge gap in ELOS and provide a prior conceptual framework for ELOS development.