PeopleForBikes recently hired Ash Lovell, Ph.D., as its new electric bicycle policy and campaign director and is in the process of hiring an eMTB policy and program manager as its commitment to more resources to support the use of, and access to, ebikes across the U.S.
The nonprofit plans to focus on trail access, land management opportunities and concerns and develop new PeopleForBikes eMTB programming.
Its electric bike commitment comes as industry analysts estimated that “more than 12 million electric bikes will be sold in the U.S. between 2020 and 2030,” said PeopleForBikes.
According to NPD Group data, the 2020 electric bicycle retail market in the U.S. was estimated to be $547 million, more than double the 2019 market. For 2021, electric bicycle sales have not slowed. In the first half of 2021, sales of electric bicycles were up 64 percent compared to January through June of 2020, according to NPD.
“With the data from NPD Group and our own research showing that 15 percent of Americans plan to purchase an electric bicycle in the next ten years, we see nothing but opportunity for this sector of the industry,” said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. “We are working with our industry committee leaders and brands to accelerate all things electric bicycles in 2021 and beyond. We are dedicating more staff, electric bicycle events and online education, policy initiatives, data analysis, and Ride Spot routes to go even bigger for electric bikes.”
