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• e-bikes...we're all on the same page

  We need to embrace change and not put up road blocks. I ride an e-bike almost everyday including most winter days, this is something I would not have dreamed of with my regular bike. It has become my primary mode of transportation. I also want to make note too that on many occasion I am passed by high-end road bikes going much faster than I can at full throttle. Please do not be disillusioned that there is no exercise involved either, there is typically several levels of assist to use on your e-bike. It is your choice of how much or how little you want to work (very similar to a exercise equipment in the gym) What this means for me is getting on my bike everyday & not being intimidated by large hills, headwinds, extra cargo, or the need to arrive fresh. We are not motorcycles or mopeds and have no way of reaching those speeds or more importantly releasing those kinds of emisions, so riding in car traffic can be just as crazy for us and we appreciate the calm & convience of the bike trails as much as any other rider. E-bikes make it possible for many people who before had no way of enjoying any kind of meaningful cycling or like myself who only enjoyed riding when the conditions where perfect. I rarely use a car anymore. In today's world of climate change I encourage everyone to Please not stand in the way of new technology that is getting people out of their cars and onto bikes. Also please stop being so critical of people who for what ever reason require or prefer an assist (we all need a little assistance in life from time to time) I also ask that we e-bikers(the majority) who are respectful of others on the trails and in traffic not be judged by the few bad apples out there not following the rules. It's like everything else, there will always be those who don't play fair and traditional cyclists are no exception. My husband and I decided to purchase an e-bike a few years ago instead of a second car and couldn't believe the level of interest & curiosity we got everywhere we went. This is an industry who's time has come, with so many baby boomers wanting to continue having active lifestyles and the disastrouse effects of climate change, now is the time to foster inclusivity for all green transportation & exercise. My husband and I have become so passionate about green transportion we have actually opened up a bike shop here in Peterborough On (one of Ont. largest centre's of seniors not to mention a very environmentally concience community) Believe me when I say the need is there and the excitement and enthusiasm for this form of cycling is intoxicating. We encourage people to become more than just fair weather or recreational cyclists by giving people many options such as extra cargo kits, trailors, gear etc...and yes electric assist is a very natural fit to bring people out of their cars and onto their bikes as their primary transportation. Cheers to cycling in all its many forms.
  Angie Windrem (Green Street)

  Posted by Angie Windrem September 30, 2010 11:13:09

• my e-bike

  I've been riding a power-assist electric bike for 10 years. I had to buy it in Seattle because I couldn't find one here in Vancouver (now they're easy to find). I get the motor rebuilt about every 2 years at JV Bike. My daily commute is 35 km with a lot of hills. My particular e-bike requires me to pedal - the motor will not propel me along, it does however assist me. I appreciate this bike as it gets me to and from work quickly, with minimal sweat and with a smile on my face. I love cycling and have a regular bike for pedaling longer distances and when arriving "fresh" is not an issue.
  
  As an avid cyclist I can understand other cyclist's discomfort with electric bikes using bike designated paths. I too take issue with people zipping along without actually pedaling. I think about all the time and effort advocates have put into the fight to get safer bike routes. BUT at the same time I ride an electric bike and will continue to use it for my commute.
  
  As noted by BC E-biker, "in the end, i think e bikes open up bicycling to a broader range of people. at very least, they create a transitional vehicle for people who are ready to trade their cars for an honest bicycle. change is incremental. lets be nice." I agree! Change is incremental.

  Posted by monqi September 04, 2010 07:29:44

• E-Bikes (aka-Mopeds)

  The problem I have with the e-bikes is them being used on non-motorized trails. What I've seen so far in every single situation is them being used as mopeds. They don't use the pedals for anything but resting their feet. The ones I saw last week were on a bike/ped trail that's RR grade. It's completely flat. They were buzzing along at about 20 mph zipping around people with strollers, little kids on bikes and commuters.
  This isn't an elitists opinion either. If people are going to call me out for that then why not call them out for trying to turn our bike paths through parks into motorcycle trails? These are designated as non-motorized trails. They aren't designated as super highways for people on mopeds. I had a few of those older models about 20 years ago when I was a teenager. I only used the pedals to start them and when I ran out of gas. I didn't ride any of them on bike paths though. I understood why I shouldn't and it was against the law.
  
  I don't generally get worked up about stuff but it's pretty clear cut to me that when you go nascar on bike paths that families and children are given for recreation it's the wrong direction completely. I'm also fairly upset that people would ask me to join the club of promoting bicycle/ped paths for non-motorized vehicles and then later those people start promoting motorized vehicles on those trails.
  
  I don't really care about them in bike lanes on the street or if it's a truly handicap person though. But some 35 year old guy that wants to use the Greenway in MPLS for his 5 mile commute to work? No way! It's basically a way to avoid the traffic other motorized vehicles have to face and put your motor on our non-motorized bike/ped trail.
  
  Back to the elitists thing. You know I had a few mopeds when I was kid. I also had a few dirt bikes. I got my first motorbike when I was 5. It was an Arctic Cat. As a teenager I regularly tore the hell out of the Fishbox and Potfin farm fields. I also regularly got shot with salt pellets and ticked by the cops. I got my first 155 mph motorcycle at 19. That thing was f-ing fast as hell. It went from 0 - 60 in about 3.5 seconds on one wheel. That was at about 13,500 rpm's and before I even shifted to second gear. You want an elitist point of view? Get f-ing real motorcycle.
  
  This is what I see happening in MN with this. 1. Say no them and things stay as they are on non-parkway routes. (Greenway, Three Rivers Trails...)
  2. Allow them and things change. There will be user conflicts due to the speed and carelessness of the riders and a speed limit that doesn't exist will be imposed. Then we get to go back to the streets and hand it over to other people because who wants to ride at 10 mph? This simply isn't being thought through far enough. As far as me driving to work and you cheating? I don't even own a car. It's not about that. It's about keeping trails that were designated as non-motorized free of motorized vehicles. But, it is cheating. It's riding a motorcycle.

  Posted by Ned Turnbuckle August 05, 2010 14:46:54

• what?

  I just dont understand why this article is in the "magazine for self powered people." Its not self powered, it still requires the burning of coal to use it.

  Posted by Nic August 02, 2010 16:02:09

• Jim H ("One Less E Bike")

  ripping on e bikers isn't going to get us anywhere. if the magazine for self-propelled people cannot reflect on a technology that aids in self-propelltion, then they should consider leaving out the bicycle from their articles.
  
  perhaps neo-ludite pedestrains might agree with you Jim, but let's get wise to the problems that face our city and the world.
  
  i am able-bodied, and like Jim H, love to pedal. but loads of people (ie. those who prepetuate gas consumption) are not so inclinded.
  
  in the end, i think e bikes open up bicycling to a broader range of people. at very least, they create a transitional vehicle for people who are ready to trade their cars for an honest bicycle.
  
  change is incremental. lets be nice.
  
  
  
  

  Posted by D p July 31, 2010 19:32:34

• One final thought...

  E-bikes allow people who may not (currently) be physically able to ride a "standard" bicycle the opportunity to go out and enjoy riding bikes again. No one, especially not the jim h's of the world, should be allowed to take that opportunity away much less belittle, insult or badger anyone for choosing an e-bike.
  
  Happy, safe cycling everyone (even jim h).
  
  B!

  Posted by BC E-biker July 10, 2010 01:51:30

• The myopic mindset of the self-righteous elitists amongst us.

  Yes, I'm referring to you, jim h.
  
  The ignorance of your statements strongly suggest that you are as ignorant on the subject of e-bikes as you are about the people who ride them. I own four bicycles two of which are e-bikes that I use for commuting. Now, I've been commuting to and from work by e-bike for three+ years and guess what: I always pedal (as do most of my fellow e-bikers). If I didn't pedal I wouldn't have dropped forty+ pounds during my first 10 months of commuting.
  
  Yes, I dropped over forty pounds riding an e-bike.
  
  I find that there have been a number of damned good reasons to go electric besides the fact that e-bikes are fast, fun and make good economic sense. Consider this: I don't require a shower or change of clothes when I get to work, I can haul significantly more cargo and I'm no longer the least bit bothered biking to work in poor weather. Rain, wind, extreme heat, bring it on! I'm pedaling my bike at a steady pace regardless of environment or geography and I can choose when and how much I increase my exertion levels. Bet you can't say that. Did I mention fast? I average 35 kmh on the flat, still pedaling of course, fully laden with all my cargo. Hills? Who cares. Bring 'em on!
  
  Another point to consider is that e-bikers have all the same concerns and challenges as any other cyclists and alienating us with your mind-numbingly ignorant stance doesn't help anyone concerned with issues of bicycling advocacy.
  
  To those who call e-bikers cheaters (and seriously, who and what are we cheating? Last time I checked commuting and pleasure riding weren't competitive sports) then I say that similar logic dictates that those who use gears, lighter frames, skinny race slicks, wear flamboyant lycra clothes, coast down hills and draft must also be cheaters (but I don't because I'm not so sadly linear in my thinking).
  
  Lastly, my successes as an e-bike commuter have inspired me to go car free. Hopefully I can unload my car this Summer. Tell you what, jim h, if you're interested I'll sell it to you cheap. It's a sport coupe with a spacious hatchback so you'll be able to load your bike into the trunk whenever you want to ride trails outside of town.
  
  Happy cycling.

  Posted by BC E-biker July 10, 2010 01:41:09

• let's quit obfuscating

  These are mopeds, people. Electric mopeds. Most of them still have pedals, but they aren't used much.
  
  Momentum calls itself "the magazine for self-propelled people." So what's the promotion of electric powered vehicles? This is a total sellout.

  Posted by jim h June 16, 2010 17:03:32

• E-Bikes

  People always comment to me that I am cheating when I ride my electric bike. I turn around and ask them if they drove to work?
  I love my electric bike. I have been riding since 2005 in the hilly Greater Vancouver and have just replaced my first worn out battery at 12,000 km! I commute 15.5km to work and I usually average 25 km/hr. I pedal along the whole time. If I really push it I can get up to 29 km/hr average speed one way! Without the power I would average 20-21 km/hr. Since I have got my ebike I put on almost as much mileage as my car!

  Posted by Tim May 19, 2010 10:38:16

• E-Bike experience

  I have a car/scooter(250cc) and a new E-bike. E-Bikes come in many flavors. Mine is a 500w/36v kit with a Lifepo4 battery. I live in hilly New England and will now ride the 9 miles each way to work and sell my scooter the next time gas hits $4/gal.
  
  Quick observations - I do not need to peddle on flats and the motor dose 90% of the work up hill. I cruise @ 20mph and go on sidewalks, roads( dirt/paved) etc. It is so much fun and I love plugging in to charge. No gas stations for me! Now my wife and I will ditch the second car when we retire and have one + 2 e-bikes.
  
  I purchased a kit and new bike, no big deal to assemble. I think that a-lot of people who want to get places fast and reliably without sweating and arriving tired will be into this. It just works!
  
  ENJOY!

  Posted by Bill Caulway May 12, 2010 12:14:43

• E-BIkers

  Nice article. And timely. Wish you did not add a plug for Walmart and BestBuy, though ("Want it cheap? Try Walmart. Try BestBuy."). These big chains want to put the small independent bike shops (and everyone else) out of business. They don't need a plug from Momentum.

  Posted by Rich Gunn - SF May 09, 2010 20:42:03

• ebikes

  We are on the horizon of new motors and batteries, which are both lighter and more powerful the bike hopefully will be much more prevelent.
  http://www.thekpv.com

  Posted by mee May 08, 2010 09:50:53

• E-Bikes

  Those are some pretty bizarre looking E-Bikes. Check out Schwinn's E-Bikes - they look traditional enough to use in a Tweed Ride. Also, read my article on E-Bikes in last issue of NJ Walks and Bikes:
  http://policy.rutgers.edu/VTC/bikeped/Walks_and_Bikes/Vol3_Issue2/electric1.html
  

  Posted by Cheryl Allen-Munley May 07, 2010 13:47:40

• E-Bikers

  The future of urban commuting could look a lot like Gerome Spinner. He has a 14-mile (22.5 kilometer) commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan. He ditched his car and is on his second e-bike, a Trek FX+. He’s neither a kid nor an athlete.
  
  
  
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