University Campus E-bikes research

This project was designed to trial a fleet of 10 Electrically Assisted Power Cycles (EAPCs). The Eastbourne EAPCs, or e-bikes, were available between the university’s campus in Eastbourne and the town’s rail station.

Staff members who completed e-bike training were given access to an e-bike booking system which enabled them to book one of the ten e-bikes based in Eastbourne station to use while on university business. Staff and students were also able to sign up to a separate rental scheme enabling them to rent an e-bike for various periods of time.

One of 11 being funded by the Department for Transport in a bid to “help tourists, residents and workers go further by bike”, the projects were chosen by Carplus, the non-profit environmental transport non-governmental organisation, which investigates whether electric bikes are the answer to congestion, transport and health problems.

e-bikes-pic1

Project timeframes

The project ran from October 2015 to September 2017.

Project aims

The aim of the proposal was twofold:

  1. to link the University of Brighton Eastbourne campuses with Eastbourne station – for staff and students 
  2. to offer residents who live locally to the campus access to the e-bikes at weekends and holiday periods

The project explored the uptake of electrically assisted pedal cycles (EPACs) in a campus context, and in conjunction with other partners, specifically the train operating company, Southern and the local authority.

The project offered a fleet of 10 e-bikes for use between the University of Brighton campus in Eastbourne, and Eastbourne station. There were access-controlled bike storage facilities at the two Eastbourne campuses and the train station; bike accessories in all locations; and compulsory e-bike training for interested users.

The Eastbourne campus is connected to the main Brighton campuses by the notoriously dangerous A27 or by rail. A conservative estimate of 10 per cent suggested that there were potentially 170 staff and student users that might be interested in using the scheme, which does not include staff visiting from the Brighton campuses.

This project demonstrated the value of EAPCs for linking rail and university locations, together with understanding the role of storage solutions and innovative support services. University staff and students were the key users groups, with additional use by the public to increase bike use during those times less busy for staff/students (e.g. weekends).

e-bike-Eastbourne-map

Project launch

On 7 March  2015, the trial of a fleet of 10 Electrically Assisted Power Cycles (EAPCs) for staff and students took to the streets for the first time in Eastbourne.

Associate Professor Anne Mandy welcomed everyone to the launch at Eastbourne railway station, which was also attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Debra Humphris, Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell and Eastbourne Mayor, Councillor Janet Coles who all trialled the bikes and gave them the thumbs up.

Southern Railway and Eastbourne Borough Council collaborated with the university’s research which explored the uptake of electric bikes.

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Research team

Associate Professor Anne Mandy

Output

Partners

Eastbourne Borough Council

Southern Railway

Sustrans

Black Bikes company, Eastbourne