Originally Posted by
ajshine
I guess the electric bike is the result of our instant gratification culture. Someone want to ride their bike, they want to ride it fast but they are in terrible shape and are not willing to spend time training. They want it NOW. So they buy an electric bike.
@ metro2005: I am a lifelong bicycle commuter and have developed a chronic health issue. The only way I can continue to bike commute is with e-assist. So I do. It might be worth fact checking your preconceptions before publishing.
People with health issues have used assisted bikes for ages (look for
solex for example) and thats great but al least 75% of people on electric bikes i see over here in the Netherlands are young and healty people who are too lazy to pedal a bike. The remaining 25% consist of 24% elderly people and 1% people with health issues. And mind you: i see a LOT of electric bikes around here, at least halve of the bikes i see while commuting are e-bikes nowadays so it would be a bad thing if they all had health issues dont you think?
That being said i still prefer people to be on an assisted bike than driving their cars..
Not so. I use a Bionx system pedal assist system that allows me to select an assist/boost mode. I bought it because I can choose an appropriate assist mode. There is also an e-boost mode. Whole system is governed for 20 mph.
Jon in Philadelphia, PA
Rules clearly differ from where you are and here. Here you have to pedal to get the assist and it only may assist up tot 25km/h. Anything else and its considerd a moped which requires insurance, helmet etc.