Method for controlling a pushing aid on an electric bicycle, wherein the electric bicycle has • a drive, by way of an electric motor, for generating a propulsion for the electric bicycle, and • a velocity sensing system, and • a gearbox between the drive and the drive wheel, wherein the method • uses the velocity sensing system to record a velocity variable representing the velocity of the electric bicycle, and • controls the pushing aid according to the recorded velocity variable and a gear ratio between the drive and the drive wheel, and, after activating the pushing aid, • detects a rotational movement of the drive and • takes the detected rotational movement as a basis for starting control of the pushing aid, wherein the method detects a direction of rotation of the drive as the rotational movement, and a positive direction of rotation is identified when the drive generates a propulsion, characterized in that the method • responds to a detected negative direction of rotation of the drive by actuating the pushing aid according to a predetermined gear ratio, in particular for initial control, and • responds to a detected positive direction of rotation of the drive by, in order to control the pushing aid, taking the recorded velocity variable as a basis for determining a gear ratio and actuating the pushing aid according to the determined gear ratio. • a drive, by way of an electric motor, for generating a propulsion for the electric bicycle, and • a velocity sensing system, and • a gearbox between the drive and the drive wheel, wherein the method • uses the velocity sensing system to record a velocity variable representing the velocity of the electric bicycle, and • controls the pushing aid according to the recorded velocity variable and a gear ratio between the drive and the drive wheel, and, after activating the pushing aid, • detects a rotational movement of the drive and • takes the detected rotational movement as a basis for starting control of the pushing aid, • uses the velocity sensing system to record a velocity variable representing the velocity of the electric bicycle, and • controls the pushing aid according to the recorded velocity variable and a gear ratio between the drive and the drive wheel, and, after activating the pushing aid, • detects a rotational movement of the drive and • takes the detected rotational movement as a basis for starting control of the pushing aid, wherein the method detects a direction of rotation of the drive as the rotational movement, and a positive direction of rotation is identified when the drive generates a propulsion, characterized in that the method • responds to a detected negative direction of rotation of the drive by actuating the pushing aid according to a predetermined gear ratio, in particular for initial control, and • responds to a detected positive direction of rotation of the drive by, in order to control the pushing aid, taking the recorded velocity variable as a basis for determining a gear ratio and actuating the pushing aid according to the determined gear ratio. • responds to a detected negative direction of rotation of the drive by actuating the pushing aid according to a predetermined gear ratio, in particular for initial control, and • responds to a detected positive direction of rotation of the drive by, in order to control the pushing aid, taking the recorded velocity variable as a basis for determining a gear ratio and actuating the pushing aid according to the determined gear ratio.