+1

Do not feed trolls.

Are we talking e-bikes or e-assist bikes? They are two different animals with different laws. I'm not sure, but it looks like in Minnesota if it is not an e-assist it is considered a motorized bicycle and you're supposed to have a license. But an e-assist is considered a bicycle.

Some people don't care, if it's an E-Assist or an E-Bike... They both have motors, and thus are NOT bicycles... In their opinion , :rolleyes: Thus the "problem"... They don't seem to understand that assistance is assistance, and a moped that you don't actually need to pedal IS different, It's main power is the motor, BUT, in reality... E-Assist works different. Whether it's a motor that assists/meaning you have to pedal or you get nowhere, and you get some extra torque added to your effort from the motor, or a 3 speed or a 27 speed... It's still "assistance" Unless you are riding a bicycle with a 1; to 1; ratio, pedaling effort, you "are" being "assisted" to get up that hill, the only "real" difference, is whether it's a mechanical type of assistance, or a motor type of assistance... :innocent:


BOTH types "are" assisting you to get up that hill... It's the way things work. ;) and OK, technically, mechanical assistance IS different than motor assistance, but they both have the same "effect" they get you up the hill easier, than without... :innocent:

I was adding you're name so that you would know exactly who it was addressed to. I don't want to get into a pissing match. You just seem to have a certain attitude toward people that ride ebikes... even if they do it legally, safely, and considerately. My point is that a jerk is a jerk, no matter what he/she is riding.

Still one of my favorite bikes in all the forums:

http://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/...ter-build.html

Depends on who's post you're reading, the e-bike that is the subject of my OP before it got derailed is in fact a legal class 2 e-assist bike. The whole point being I was pleasantly surprised they still allow one to get quality exercise rather than being entirely passive like a motorcycle or scooter.
Unfortunately some feel compelled to punish safe, respectful, legal e-cyclists for the misdeeds of a few to protect their delicate sensibilities.

You would think more people would be accepting of e-assist bikes. I mean, they are even (allegedly) being used in the pro peloton! If the pros are doing it, it's good for all of us, right?
Anyway, I don't see how your commute in Washington State hurts others commutes a continent away. People should just do their thing and not worry about what other people are doing

A guy on an e-bike has been passing me safely for years on the biggest hill of my commute without the slightest hint of an issue as the speed differential is about 4 mph. The bike lanes, MUT, and sidewalk I use on my commute get me through areas where riding on the road isn't wise for any type of bike.
Would it really make you happy to force safe, respectful, legal cyclists like myself to ride in dangerous conditions, in pain, or give up bike commuting entirely?

How heavy is that, with the battery and all? Unless you roll it into your garage, seems like it would be too heavy to carry

I wouldn't say the everyone seems to stay to the right on the Minuteman... plenty of bad apples - but they don't come predominantly from the e-bike camp. Biggest offenders, IMHO, are roadies trying to get their workout on the MUP, doing 20mph+. I've done that myself a couple times and always felt like an ass***e even when it wasn't crowded.

70 lbs. We do have a garage but I carry it up 5 steps to park it in the kitchen. All my bikes are heavy, I'm a big guy, and I handle freight all day, it's a non issue for me.

Cheat the system? Yikes. How about one less car and moving in a very green and efficient way? MUPs are for the most part, a Multi Use Path that includes bikes. Most states consider a PAS, 20 mph max, e bike to be a " bike" regardless of your opinion on how the world should be. Have you looked up the rules concerning bikes and e bikes where you ride on your mup? Facts and all, ya know. If I only did 12? I would hang my head. I'm more like 14-16 mph, obviously slowing for peds, kids and I- pod zombies. Do you not see e bikes as a great resource to try to get solitary drivers out of cars? In the next gen or 2 , you won't even know they are an ebike by looking at them. Cheat? How? Same as the stoker on a tandem coasting? Kids on a tag along looking at the scenery? Dogs in trailers? What about those new bikes with motors for shifting with no wires? Maybe you should start a poll to see how many other commuters agree with you? Or just come in the now tech decade and enjoy the ride, and lets others ride how they like. E bikes are here to stay, get used to it.

Familiar at how a pedal electric e assist bike works? Again, maybe some fact checking. The bike only assists the person. No pedaling and the bike does not move. No throttle with the PAS , class one. Several levels of assist, cuts out at 20 mph, max. One does not pedal a car, unless your first name is Fred. And I love bike lanes on the roads, great stuff. Separated bike lanes seem to have some momentum as well. Here in MA, all the new road planning needs to accommodate bikes and peds into the street designs to receive full Federal funding. Awesome. Expense? Did you pay for the MUP? Or did all the taxpayers with state and federal monies as well. Hmmm. Seem to be grasping at straws here. Maybe you should test ride some instead of declaring them the devil. I test rode one at an ADA accessibility event. Quite impressive. Maybe not for all. But for some a good solution. Like in the case of the OP here. Or those with a long way to go, or not quite in peak conditioning. Or some just starting out and attempting to go car light. How long do you think gasoline supplies will last? And plenty of folk might have some physical disability. And lets them get some fresh air with a workout. What a concept.

Feed the troll and the troll gathers energy. :)

Very interesting report! I'd like to add an e-assist cargo bike at some point myself. I don't need one for commuting, but with a capable enough bike I could dramatically reduce the need to use a car for some things and that's a big enough win in my books.

My big problem at present is storage. I really don't have anywhere practical to keep a large, heavy bike.

I never thought of a public domain MUP as a sanctuary. Interesting. Precious 8-10' wide pavement? Hmmmm. I commuted about 2,100 bike miles this last year. More on day trips, mt biking and touring. Sad? Folks who are so narrow minded about the bright future of transportation. That doesn't involve a gas engine. Wait till the regen able motors for bikes get here, just pedaling will charge them up. Whooot. I guess you never pedal on the road? The Fred reference was to Fred Flintstone. Ya know, a pedal car. Use any dyno hubs on your tours? Same thing, no? I don't text and drive or text and pedal, only air guitar. Van Halen, really loud singing off key, every one gets outta my way. Really.

I think the e cargo bikes are great for the shopping, groceries and bulk kind of stuff, kids as well. So no garage? Storage shed? Rent one when needed? Do a bike share with a small group of friends? All kinds of solutions these days.

My Radwagon is rather compact for a cargo bike, it's only 4 inches longer than my classic Dutch bike, and 7 inches longer than my trekking bike. It's an excellent replacement for a car, I only drive my wife's car maybe a dozen times a year, and it will probably be able to eliminate any need to drive it. I've also noticed that motorists seem to be more accommodating when I'm riding it , but I hesitate to speculate why.

Re- gen E-Assist bikes are here, I have had mine for 5 years... People buy E-Bikes to pedal less, not more... ;) While having re-gens IS, worth it if you ride in hilly areas and are willing to pedal a "bit" to keep up the speed going down hills, on flatter roads, not so much, pedaling an E-Bike in re-gen mode on flat roads is not a fun outing I can assure you. JMO.

If you are going uphill at a slower pace you have to recognize that people are coming down hill at a faster pace. I ride uphill on my commute home - railroad grade. Road bike 13mph, e-assist 18mph. However, I frequently ride home with a friend that races... He has no problem staying with me when I'm on the ebike. Thus, he would be passing other riders at the same pace I'm riding. Do you have a problem with the road racer passing you... or just the ebike?

I've never considered that you could "cheat" at commuting (didn't realize I was in a competition.)

Per the laws in my State and community, riding an ebike on the MUP is within the intent. An ebike such as mine is classified as a bicycle, not a motor vehicle per State law.

The basic problem is speed differential. It doesn’t matter whether the faster MUP traveler is running or riding a bike; if the speed difference it too great (whatever that might mean) --- there will be conflict.

When I ride on a MUP, I consider everyone I approach from behind to be completely unaware of me and act accordingly (i.e. I go slow and announce my presence). I also act as though some of them are self-involved folks who are at least one standard deviation down on the IQ scale. ;o)

Joe

You're right regarding the solutions. I think I'll need a storage shed for my normal bikes before long anyway so why not get something with room to grow? I really love the idea of being able to handle larger shopping runs and the like without involving a car.

e-bikes are legal on our local MUPs as well, and I see quite a number of them while I'm out riding. As far as I can tell they haven't presented any problems or issues and I applaud anyone taking steps to get out and around without using a car regardless of what mode they chose.

No question that the e-bikes tend to go much faster than I'm capable of, but then again a large number of roadies go faster than me as well.

That sounds like an excellent bike and would be very well suited to the kinds of things I'm thinking of. Like you I'm already very car light, but anything to further reduce my dependency on a car is a very good thing.

Would you ride on the MUP if it were explicitly banned?

MUPs in my area are operated by the parks district and the vehicle code doesn't apply. But e-bikes are prohibited by the park rules.

I don't have an e-assist bike but occasionally consider one. Mostly because I would love to do 12 mph up hill. I'm getting tired of getting passed by the joggers when I'm climbing.

A troll is someone who goes into a thread and picks an argument with each and every person who does not agree with their point of view, and just works continuously to create havic in the thread. A troll is someone who goes into a thread and continues to post comments that are not related to the OP. You have done both of these, over and over. I was attempting to get folks to stop feeding you, but I too have fallen into the trap of feeding the troll. I doubt that you will provide a serious answer to my comment. However, if you look at your behavior in this thread, you fit the definition of a troll. Your dislike of ebikes could be your own thread, but instead you are doing everything you can to damage someone else's thread, and have not made a single meaningful comment related to the OP.

Read my responses to the OP, they are on topic. I own an ebike and have the same experience. I am naming your behavior, which is trolling behavior. If the OP was about ehikes and MUPs i would have no issue with your comments. I would just disagree and point out your limited experience. The OP is about ebikes and exercise. Therefore, your behaviors is troll behavior. Do what you like, and I will do the same

I started this thread to highlight a benefit of commuting on an E-bike, NOT TO DEBATE WHERE THEY MAY BE ALLOWED. You're being a self centered, disrespectful troll, If you can't show some common courtesy by staying on topic, start your own thread.

As you know, I live on the other hill and come your direction in the morning. I have had one negative comment during my commute. Otherwise, just some curiosity. The one negative comment was someone I passed, after multiple rings of my bell and way away from the person I was going 16 mph when I passed him. People do not like being passed, yet on the flat I would have done the same on my non-ebike. Like you, I have been totally a surprised by the good workout, and needed to do this to save my knees. A friend who raced MTBs on the world circuit level was loaned an emtb, he was surprised by the workout and how fun it is I got to ride that bike, and agreed with him. Being able to use 4 levels of assist make it possible and practical.

This thread is about the unexpected benefits of commuting by e-bike. It is not an appropriate thread to debate the use of bikes on MUPs. If you would like to debate that, start your own thread.

alan s, please leave this thread.

The issue with my knees had gotten so bad I actually laid off from bike commuting for several months, and I started gaining weight because only doing recreational riding on weekends was insufficient.

The decision the get an e-bike was difficult for me. Besides being a major purchase for our budget, I was really concerned I would still be getting less exercise than I need, but I really didn't want to give up bike commuting completely so I took the leap.

It was a real revelation that not only was that concern unfounded, it was 180 degrees off. Getting an e-bike has been one of the best transportation choices I have ever made, and feel a little bit foolish that I let misinformation and peer pressure put it off so long.