Bolt-on electric assist
 

An engineering student in a hilly area of British Columbia has come up with an electric trailer which he says will sell for less than $500 and attach to any bike: https://www.vicnews.com/news/check-o...lectric-motor/

or just get a moped

I'll wait for the price of 'real' ebikes to come down, thanks. That thing is way too cumbersome to lug around.

"'It’s easy to say we should use [alternative transportation] instead of driving but it has to be easier,' Park said. 'Not everyone is ready to get dressed in spandex and break a sweat.'”


There is some rationalization for you. You don't have to wear spandex to ride to work. He needs to HTFU.

I would just invest in a scooter or small motorcycle before strapping that to a bike

already a motorized bike trailer exists.. pushes the bike its attached to..

:popcorn time will tell, the start up loans and manufacturer lined up yet?





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I'm generally on the pro-ebike side when it comes to commuting and increasing opportunity for folks, but in this case I'd rather just spend the exter $200-300 and buy a brand new scooter like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-4...JWOQaz&vxp=mtr

Yeah, I'd think the extra weight of that trailer wouldn't be worth the boost you'd get going up a hill. Sure, it might power you up a hill but it's going to keep dragging behind you the rest of the way. Maybe if he got a decent bike without those big knobby tires he'd have an easier time riding up hills and wouldn't have to bolt on a cumbersome motorized trailer.

At the current price of ebikes, I really don't understand the market they attract. Yeah if your options are car vs bike it may make sense, but there is a lot in between as far as commuting goes.

The big one? While we can get bogged down in the fact they indeed have a motor, GENERALLY pedal assist ebikes are allowed on municipal trails and paths where mopeds are not, they are not legally considered a motor vehicle.

This is the last thing I would want. I don't want a trailer pushing my bike and unless it's pretty heavy, I'd think it would be pretty easy for it to lose traction. If you want to use it as a commuter it takes up too much space both on the street and wherever you park it. Harder to maneuver in tight spaces. Would be a ***** to take on a train or subway. Other than being less expensive than other options (is it really?) I don't see what it has going for it.

I guess I never been in a bike friendly enough area to see advantages of that.

I see them at parks and trails by me occasionally. Generally older folks putzing around who maybe wouldn't be there if not for the motor. No one is going to care or stop them from leisurely riding around an lake on a path that is 8 miles long on an ebike, where a scooter would definitely not be allowed.

But yeah, for daily commuting and such, this contraption is a bit out there and I'd easily go with a scooter over it.