Seniors practice riding the electric bike

2012

Seniors can take part in special electric bike training sessions in a growing number of locations in the Netherlands. These sessions cover traffic rules and information about the e-bike as well as practicing one’s cycling skills.

Part of the training allows one to experience the possibilities and limitations of the electric bike on a prepared circuit and under professional guidance, including the practice of skills such as mounting, emergency stopping, and making left turns (for right-hand side traffic in mainland Europe). Technical aspects of the bike are also explained with tips on how the e-cyclist can safely participate in traffic. Different e-bike models can be tried out.
A professional provides guidance during the practice runs on the prepared circuit, giving tips during the extra exercises and helping participants overcome possible fears they may have about using the bike.
Research into the safety of e-bikes is currently under way in the Netherlands. Although the experts suspect that the electric bike will lead to more traffic accident casualties among seniors, no evidence of this has so far shown up in the statistics.

Leo Maathuis (Fietsersbond)
30-08-2012 @ 19:35

As for more accidents with electric bikes I want to stress (from experience) that the first generation electric drive systems (those that are equiped with only a pedal travel sensor) may show sudden drive pulses when sensor switches. This may occurr at low speed. The effect is quite surprising when manoeuvring at low speed.

The second generation bikes fitted with an additional torque sensor is quite a bit better manageable.

I. Spapé (SOAB)
02-09-2012 @ 22:47

Do you want to know more about our e-bike trainings? Look at this youtube video (in Dutch):

http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/174120412/Veiligheid+omhoog+door+elektronische+fietstraining+voor+ouderen+in+Uden+.aspx

As one of the trainers I experienced a whole lot of e-bikes were not fit for the target group of older people. There is a lack of knowledge for retaliers. Not only for the particiants of the training it was an exciting experience. Also for us, trainers from the Province of Brabant and SOAB: we learned a lot and next time I will conduct the training on my running shoes:-)

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