Ten People, One Month, No Car. What did the Test in Olomouc Region show?

Throughout the month, participants used bicycles on loan as their main means of transport. They had access to various types of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and electric folding bikes. According to the final evaluation, the testers were satisfied or very satisfied with the bikes, and most of them plan to continue using cycling as a mode of transport.

E-bikes as a functional car replacement

The testers’ experiences confirm that e-bikes can replace a large portion of everyday trips. Participants appreciated the reduced physical effort, the ability to ride even in worse weather conditions, and the overall comfort.

“You get a workout, but you don’t wear yourself out. Then it doesn’t matter if there’s a headwind,” describes Margita Veselská, who rode 575 kilometers in September and saved more than 7,000 CZK compared to traveling by car. After returning the bike, she seriously considered buying one.

The mayor of Velká Bystřice, Marek Pazdera (ODS), who was also one of the participants, evaluated the test similarly. According to him, cycling brings not only environmental benefits but also positive effects on mental well-being and physical fitness.

Cargo bikes for everyday logistics

The testing also included cargo bikes, which proved to be a functional alternative to cars for everyday logistics. Martina Skálová described how, thanks to a cargo bike, she managed grocery shopping, trips into nature, and transporting her dogs without needing to use a car.

At the same time, it became clear that cargo bikes are not very suitable for combinations with public transport. By contrast, electric folding bikes proved to be an ideal tool for intermodality—that is, combining cycling, walking, and public transport—thanks to their lower weight and easy portability.

The testing clearly demonstrated the different roles of individual bike types: e-bikes as a universal car replacement, cargo bikes for family and shopping logistics, and folding bikes for combining multiple transport modes.

Savings yes, purchase not yet

Although the testers demonstrably saved money on transport during the month—amounts ranged roughly from 2,000 to 7,000 CZK per month—none of them has yet decided to purchase an e-bike. The main barrier remains the higher initial cost, as well as concerns about theft or the feeling among some testers that with good physical fitness, an e-bike is “not really necessary.” They are therefore more likely to stick with conventional bicycles.

An important outcome of the experiment is also its social dimension. According to the organizers, the testers became informal “ambassadors” of cycling—they actively shared their experiences with people around them and often recommend a similar test to others.

The experiment shows that the barrier to developing cycling transport is often not people’s unwillingness, but rather access to a suitable bicycle and the opportunity to safely try it in real traffic conditions. When people are given the chance to truly experience everyday life by bike, their perspective on transport often changes.

According to the Partnership for Urban Mobility association, similar experiments can therefore be an effective tool for changing individual transport habits and inspiring cities to create better conditions for cycling. In the future, they do not rule out organizing similar testing again.