Top 5 health benefits of commuting via e-bike

• 48% of Brits say their mental health has dramatically improved since they started cycling or walking for a regular period of time
• 20% of Brits say their commute is the most physically and mentally draining part of their day

• 48% of Brits say their mental health has dramatically improved since they started cycling or walking for a regular period of time
• 20% of Brits say their commute is the most physically and mentally draining part of their day
• 37% of Brits avoid jobs where majority office working is a requirement because they hate commuting into the city
• 26% of Brits say since the pandemic, they have dreaded using buses and tubes
• 13 million Brits have a bike that is currently rusting in storage – do we not have the percentage for this?

Mood boosting benefits: 
Moderate-intensity cycling can provide significant boosts to overall mood and happiness. A 2019 study found that those who cycled outdoors had both improved executive functioning and mental health. And another study that looked at a 12-week program of older adults in Australia found that they reported a better quality of life, including greater social confidence, a boosted mood and a feeling of empowerment.

Energy enhancing:
Moderate exercise such as cycling promotes the release of endorphins in your body, which helps you feel better while lowering your stress levels and provide a significant boost to energy levels. Following moderate-intensity exercise, studies show that people who cycle feel more attuned and focused throughout the day.

Connection:
According to the CDC, there are serious health risks associated with social isolation and loneliness. It can be associated with an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and more. With cycling groups becoming more and more popular across the nation, cyclists can boost social connections whilst also boosting their health.

More exciting commute:
For those that make the transition to ‘active commuting’, research suggests the physical and mental health benefits are enormous. Statistics Canada has found that 66% of people who cycle or walk to work are ‘very satisfied’ with their commutes, compared to 32% who commute by car and the 25% who commute by public transit.

Physical benefits:
The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines recommend each week adults do at least 150 minutes moderate intensity activity, 75 minutes vigorous activity, or a mixture of both. Cycling is one way to get aerobic exercise — also known as cardio — which gets your heart and lungs working. A Danish study that followed over 52,000 men and women, ages 50+, for 20 years found a 11-18% lower risk of coronary heart disease among those who biked — and a benefit was seen even amongst causal cyclers.

With Swytch’s proprietary research finding that over 13 million Brits have a bike that is rusting in storage, the solution to Britain’s commuting woes could be lying dormant in garages across the nation. The Swytch Kit allows you to convert any bike into an e-bike with a small battery-sized device that costs £500 – allowing users to save around £1,500 in annual commuting costs in London. E-biking makes city cycling a breeze – less strenuous than normal cycling but allowing users to burn almost the same amount of calories.

Oliver Montague, CEO of Swytch Technology, comments on the benefits of cycling to reduce commuting stress: 

“The impact commuting is having on our mental health is worrying. Over the past year we’ve had stressors on our journeys such as rail strikes, and most recently – a hike in TfL prices amidst a historic cost-of-living crisis, which have fuelled our apprehension towards public transport. Now, as workers are being incentivised to return to the office, our data reveals a shift in the way people perceive commuting and the need for Brits to adapt alternative modes of commuting such as cycling.

“It’s important to realise that cycling is not only reserved for the fit and active few that live close to their offices – with e-bikes making cycling a less strenuous activity, riding to work can become a breezy and enjoyable part of your day and accessible to all. Not only is this a cost-effective way to travel, but our research has further emphasised the mental health benefits of transitioning to an active commute.”

About Swytch

Swytch was founded by engineers Oliver Montague and Dmitro Khroma in 2017 in response to an obvious gap in the market for a sustainable transport solution. The idea first developed when Oliver was cycling to his workplace to meet with his boss. Despite travelling similar distances, Oliver had broken into a sweat whereas his boss arrived impeccably dressed, simply because he was on an eBike.

Oliver now plays a pivotal role as head of the company as CEO and Dmitro leads a world-class London-based engineering team as CTO. Already saving 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from previous models, Swytch believes that transport shouldn’t cost the Earth – so they’ve made it their mission to make electric transport accessible to everybody.