Five reasons why you should use an e-bike to cycle to work

By Rebecca Bland

4 Aug 2022

Electric bikes are great for all types of riding. Whether it’s shredding trails, taking the kids to school or simply getting more types of people on two wheels, electric bicycles have a lot of benefits.

Something they’re particularly good for is commuting to work. So in celebration of Cycle to Work Day, here are five key reasons why you should consider an e-bike as your new commuting vehicle.

And if you're looking for a new commuting tool, check out our guide to the best electric bikes for every type of rider.

1: You’ll arrive at work feeling fresh – but not drenched in sweat

There's no feeling like riding a bike, particularly if you're heading to work on one. The beauty of electric bikes, however, is that not only do you feel more alert and perky when you get to the office (or wherever you work), but you'll also likely be less sweaty. And as many places of work aren’t equipped with showers or changing rooms, particularly with the summer we’re having, feeling less sweaty is not a bad thing!

2: You can take the scenic route

Enjoying your commute might seem like an alien concept if you usually spend hours on a crowded train, but riding an e-bike to work can make the journey far more enjoyable. With the added electric pedal assist, you don’t necessarily have to map out the most direct route – you can enjoy a more scenic route, or even tackle some hills that you may not normally. Electric bikes open up a world of possibilities – and not just on your commute.

3: E-bikes can be bought as part of a cycle-to-work scheme

Electric bikes are still expensive compared to regular versions, but as they continue to soar in popularity it's now possible to buy a wide range of e-bikes using a cycle-to-work scheme. They involve hiring or leasing a bike, and paying through a salary sacrifice scheme, which makes they cheaper and most cost-effective.

There are several schemes, all of which have different budget caps, but if your employer is part of one, it's a great way to spread the cost of something you can use not only for commuting but for riding outside of work as well.

4: They’re cheap to run

The most expensive part of buying an e-bike is the initial purchase. There's no getting around the fact that they can be severely expensive to buy – often about as much as a second-hand (non-electric) car. However, their maintenance, insurance, and repair costs are far less than that of most cars, with each charge costing pennies compared to tens of pounds for filling up your car.

Like we said above, cycle-to-work schemes are great ways of spreading the costs of an e-bike, and may be worth considering if you're ready to ditch your alternative commuting method but are worried about the initial costs.

And in some cities, you don't need to own an e-bike to commute on one: many cities now feature dockless rental e-bike fleets, which you can hire quickly and easily with your smartphone. The costs (around 50p per minute) add up over longer journeys, but they're a great option for occasional commuting.

5: An e-bike might even be quicker

Unless your commute is on quiet country roads or across the country on a high-speed train, you may find that riding an e-bike to work might actually be quicker. Particularly in urban environments, where the average moving speed of a car is pretty low, being able to ride in separated cycle lanes or move freely through traffic is somewhat freeing – and you can wave to your colleagues as you pass them by.

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