Citation

Van Cauwenberg J, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Clarys P, de Geus B, Deforche B. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2018; 50(9): 1780-1789.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0000000000001638

PMID

29649069

Abstract

PURPOSE: Electric bicycles (e-bikes) may offer an opportunity to stimulate physical activity among older adults. The current study compared Flemish (Belgian) older e-bike users against those not using an e-bike on socio-demographics, health characteristics and access to motorized transport. Additionally, it examined the association between e-bike use and levels of cycling and the moderating effects of sex, BMI and cycling limitations.

METHODS: An online- or interview-version of the same questionnaire were completed by 1146 participants. Data were analysed using logistic regression and hurdle models.

RESULTS: Women, those with a higher BMI and those with one (compared to no) motorized vehicle in the household had higher odds of being an e-bike user. E-bike use was related to higher odds of having cycled for transport in the past week and this relationship was stronger among those with a higher BMI (low BMI: OR= 1.89, 95% CI= 1.24-2.91; high BMI: OR= 3.34, 95% CI= 2.26-5.00). Among those who cycled for transport in the last week, e-bike use was associated with 35% more minutes of cycling for transport (95% CI= 17-56%). E-bike use was related to 183% higher odds of having biked for recreation (95% CI= 115-274%). Among women and those with cycling limitations who cycled for recreation in the last week, e-bike use was also related to 57% (95% CI= 18-109%) and 180% (95% CI= 63-381%) more minutes of cycling for recreation, respectively.

CONCLUSION: E-bikes may provide an opportunity to promote cycling among older adults, particularly among subgroups at risk for physical inactivity.

Language: en