Some say e-bikes often make a great introduction into cycling if you’re looking for some help riding at first. But others aren’t so sure, claiming e-bikes takeaway from the real challenge and benefits from using a road bike. We’ve heard lots of opinions including folks who are quite opinionated on the matter, saying as cyclists, shouldn’t we be all about meeting the roads head-to-head with just our bikes between us and the pavement? nothing else in the mix to help propel us forward but us.
To help you form your own opinion, here are the facts about e-bikes! Are they friend or foe?
It’s Easy to Plug In:
If you can find an outlet, you can charge your bike. Unlike electric cars, which require dedicated charging stations, most e-bikes plug in anywhere. Some even have removable batteries, which make it even more convenient to charge. (Elby says to plan around four hours to get their e-bikes fully charged.)
You Can DIY:
It’s possible to turn any pedal bike into a pedal-assist bike with devices like the Copenhagen wheel, or retrofit kits from BionX, E-Rad, and LEED USA.
Free to Roam the Road:
According to California state law, any pedal-driven e-bike with a max speed of 20 mph can use any of the state’s bike lanes, bike paths, bike trails or off-street bikeways. (E-bikes are still pretty new, so in many areas, the CA law is the accepted standard in absence of local regulations.)
Yes, There Are Age Limits:
According to Portland State University’s TREC Transportation Insight for Vibrant communities, as of December 2015, at least 40 US states and Canadian provinces had a minimum operator age for e-bikes, typically 14 or 16 years of age. In Alberta, 12 year olds can operate an e-bike, but in Quebec, you must be 18.
Thinking you’re liking the idea of an e-bike? Check out the selection here
Reference: bicycling.com