Monday’s Headlines Wonder About E-Bikes’ Future

E-bike sales surged in 2020 and 2021 but have been flat ever since.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on January 19, 2026

Photo: University of Twente

After a COVID-era boom, the market for e-bikes is softening. Facing high costs and tariffs, several manufacturers have gone bankrupt over the past couple of years. But David Zipper thinks e-bikes could still transform transportation in ways that past innovations like e-scooters and car-sharing didn't. (CityLab)
Saving money and getting in better shape are just a few of the benefits of ditching your car. (Momentum)
Putting children and their caregivers first when designing streets results in communities that are safer and more inspiring for everyone. (Arch Daily)
Optimizing bus stop locations makes bus service faster and more reliable. (Works in Progress)
Smart Cities Dive notes that Yonah Freemark's recently released list of upcoming transit projects leans heavily toward bus rapid transit as cities seek a cheaper alternative to light rail.
Seattle's bikeshare and e-scooter ridership rose 60 percent last year, topping 10 million. (The Daily)
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issued an executive order creating a bus-only lane on Denny Way for Route 8, aka Route Late. (The Urbanist)
The Oregon DOT is trying to stop Portland from putting a bus-only lane on 82nd Avenue. (BikePortland)
Oregon Democrats may not be able to repeal their unpopular transportation funding bill before it heads to the voters. (Willamette Week)
The Utah Transit Authority could raise fares by 50 cents later this year. (Salt Lake City Weekly)
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno wants to fast-track sidewalk repairs by bringing the work in-house instead of using contractors. (Times-Picayune)
An L.A. Times columnist takes aim at an Uber-backed ballot initiative limiting fees for plaintiff's attorneys.
Austin's Project Connect is getting closer to winning a $4 billion federal grant for light rail. (KVUE)
Instead of cracking down on dangerous drivers, Phoenix is cracking down on endangered pedestrians. Police will no longer give warnings for jaywalking, handing out citations instead. (AZ Family)
A high-speed train derailed in Spain and hit another train, killing at least 21 people. (Reuters)
The U.K.'s Labour government has revived talk of new rail lines in Northern England. (The Guardian)