Originally Posted by
mschwett
everyone's situations are different. why do some traditional cyclists seem to be more offended by ebikes than cars?
A lot of Traditional Cyclists take the act of riding a bicycle very seriously; you have to go and do your miles; “The Work is the Reward” (Puritans, again, lol)
E-bikes get people out riding distances and destinations who otherwise might not have attempted on an bike, “because it’s too much work”
If you are a utility rider, mixing it up with traffic, I get that you have to have a certain physical capacity and attitude that lets you do these kinds of rides comfortably and safely. On a velo, you tend to develop both as you progress; as you get more capable on the bike, you’re more comfortable in those environments.
E-bikes short-circuit that somewhat; they give the neophyte rider more speed and endurance but not the handling skills or situational awareness that you get from putting the miles in.
Right now, you’ve got a boom in new riders who have more capability than skill. It’s also the end of summer, so as the weather cools off, you’re going to see a lot of the casual riders going back inside.