Talk about having things both ways. Chat with e-bike riders and you’ll hear them celebrating the fact that they get cyclists’ privileges without having to use the power of the pedal.
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“You don’t need a driver’s licence, a licence plate or insurance,” says NOW listings coordinator Julia Hoecke, who paid $800 for her Monsoon model from Blue Avenue and is lovin’ it. “You get to ride in the bike lane and you can park on the sidewalk.”
But maybe not for long. The Ontario government’s three-year e-bike pilot project ends in October, and things could very easily change then. The pilot is designed to assess the safety situation, licensing issues and whether e-bike enthusiasts should be getting this kind of free ride.
For now, the advantages of this particular mode of transportation go beyond the absence of bureaucratic hassles. While it’s not safe to ride it in the rain, the e-bike uses no fossil fuel, exactly the green reason the province is all over it, and can go as fast as 3o km/h. Just plug it in for three to eight hours to recharge it and get, depending on the model, a 30 to 50 km ride.
And the ride is smooth.
“It’s like cruisin’ on a couch,” says I.T. systems analyst Jason Friedlander, who owns a more expensive Mountaineer e-scooter ($1,500) from Blue Avenue. “I don’t drive – never have – so the e-bike lets me haul groceries, and I don’t arrive at work all sweaty.”
Hoecke assists the ride by pedalling. It helps get the engine back up once you’ve stopped, she says. But Friedlander says he almost never touches the pedals. His Mountaineer is actually too wide to reach them, he says, so wide that the pedals often get clipped by the curb.
No wonder other bike lane users aren’t exactly fans. It’s not just that e-bikes are space hogs, but they’re also very quiet. Users think of that as an advantage, but when an e-bike comes up beside cyclists, it can scare the shit out of them.
“Couriers hate us,” admits Friedlander, and Hoecke’s received a ton of dirty looks from cyclists who aren’t aware that e-bike riders are actually permitted to use bike trails.
Still in love with your bicycle? Not ready to pay the freight for an e-bike? Consider the e-bike conversion kit. It comes complete with wheel, batteries and brakes and can be scored for anywhere from $200 to $1,200.
But careful. “I gained weight as soon as I started riding my e-bike,” confesses Friedlander. “I just wasn’t putting out the same energy.”
SUSAN G. COLE
Advantages: Pedal-assist mode is a godsend on inclines and can motor you along at, oh, 25 km/h without panting or wheezing. Hardcores can even modify these bikes with chains or snow tires in winter. Then there are E-scooters (often mistakenly called e-bikes), which let you lazily park your butt on an emission-free ride and go a good 32 km/h without a licence or registration.
Disadvantages: Smaller, cheaper motors aren’t great at hills you’ll need a pedalling start. The battery pack also makes an e-bike heavier, so they’re not ideal if you climb three flights to your apartment every day. Dealers don’t generally recommend e-scooters if you don’t have a garage or shed. Hog bike lanes at high speeds and you’ll make lots of enemies.
Eco Footprint: They may be tailpipe-free, but these vehicles do lean on the dirty coal/nuke grid to get you movin’ in the morning. Still, studies in coal-heavy China show e-bikes emit one-third the CO2 of motorbikes. You’ll need to get a new lead acid battery every couple of years, so make sure you recycle the old one.
Costs: You can get a fully loaded e-bike for $600 to $2,000, or convert your existing bike for $400. E-scooters run from about $800 to $3,000, depending on battery/motor.
Body Boost: Except when an SUV cuts you off and gets your heart racing, e-scooters won’t get your blood pumping. Most e-cyclists cop out and flip into electric mode on cardio-heavy hills.
Retail Tip: If you want some exercise, pass on the e-scooter and go for an e-bike. Look for one with a removable battery so you don’t have to lug your wheels to a plug. If you’ve got the budget, invest in a longer-lasting lithium battery.
ADRIA VASIL
