The Bull E-Bike Pilot

Please note the Bull E-Bike Pilot concluded in November 2022. This webpage will remain active to showcase the program’s accomplishments and results and serve as a resource for other cities.

The City of Durham’s Transportation Department conducted the Bull E-Bike Pilot to learn more about how electric bikes (e-bikes) can be deployed to improve the transportation experience in the Bull City. Selected participants used a pedal-assist e-bike for 4+ weeks in exchange for sharing information about their experience, including tracking their travel via a smartphone app. In addition to the e-bike, participants received a helmet, U-lock, other accessories, and maintenance support. We launched the first participant cohort on August 15, and the pilot ended in November 2022.

The goal of the Bull E-Bike Pilot was to learn the effects of a downtown Durham employee receiving an electric-assist bike. The collected data and lived experiences from this pilot project taught us and other cities that electric-assist bikes for downtown workers can help increase transportation access, reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, and more.

Participant Testimonial Videos:

Media:

WRAL News Feature

Bull City Today Feature

HOLA News Feature

Learn How We Got Here - Read Our Monthly Blog!

The goal of the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge was to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips to and around downtown Durham using behavioral science, human-centered design, and rigorous evaluation. The opportunity exists to integrate available electric-assist bike resources in Durham into a Mayors Challenge project.

A woman wearing glasses and a helmet on her bike.

A man wearing a helmet and standing in the grass.

A group of people standing next to bikes.

A person riding a bike in front of flowers.

A woman wearing a helmet and holding onto her bike.

A group of people standing around bikes on the street.

A group of people sitting in chairs and bicycles.

A room filled with lots of bikes and boxes.

A man standing next to a truck full of bikes.

A group of people sitting at tables in a restaurant.

A group of people sitting at a table with papers on it.

A man standing at the table with two other people.

A group of people standing around a yellow truck.

A man sitting on the ground holding something

A man is fixing his bike on the side of a bus.

Two people standing in front of a wall covered with post it notes.

Data Collection Partner: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) advances the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems.

NREL developed the OpenPATH app, through which Bull E-Bike Pilot project participants provided data about their trips. Data collected during the pilot was used to understand how e-bikes are used, including when and how often and the distance traveled. NREL and the City of Durham gained insight into the travel habits of participants and the CO2 savings generated by switching from drive-alone automobile and transit trips to trips on an e-bike.

After the program, the data was securely archived in the Transportation Secure Data Center (TSDC) at NREL to support long-term anonymous transportation research and analysis.

The Bull E-Bike team developed a quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Data limitations on this dashboard include missing participant trips and tracking outside pilot participation. Check out theBull E-Bike Pilot Data Dashboardto see some of the data collected.

NREL Public Data Dashboard

2023 ACT Conference:

Way to Go Durham Staff attended the 2023 Association for Commuter Transportation Conference to present on the impact of the Bull E-Bike Program. The presentation was entitled, “E-Bikes Enhancing Mobility while Maximizing Equity in the Bull City. “

During the conference, the City’s team was awarded the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for the program’s efforts and impact on a diverse commuter base. This award was given to the recipient who showcased a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the transportation commuter and TDM community and focused on establishing a commitment to creating a culture of inclusion within the areas of influence.