Breda University study: LEVs can reduce car use but impact cycling safety

Research from Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) indicates that light electric vehicles (LEVs), such as e-scooters, e-cargo bikes, and fatbikes, could significantly reduce car dependency. In a survey of nearly 2,000 residents, 75% of participants expected to drive their cars less as a result of using LEVs, and 25% are considering a purchase soon.

However, the increasing presence of LEVs on existing cycling paths introduces new safety challenges due to variations in speed and mass. Using eye-tracking and skin-conductance sensors, researchers found that legal fatbikes and other LEVs attract more visual attention than traditional bicycles.

Paul van de Coevering, professor of Urban Mobility Planning at BUas, noted that the danger stems from user behavior rather than the vehicles themselves. The study suggests that as long as LEV users behave predictably and adhere to legal speed limits, they do not necessarily cause measurable stress or unsafety for other cyclists. Separated cycle paths were also identified as a key factor in increasing feelings of safety.