E Bikes are the Cat's Meow!

An e-bike is to cycling and mobility what the vote is to freedom and democracy...they both enable people!

An E-Bike is a  2 or 3- wheeled bike with bike gears and brakes that can be pedaled like a regular cycle but that also provides you with a battery-powered motor that'll help you when you need it. Millions of e-bikes are in operation around the world. They may seem new to us in Canada, but they are firmly entrenched in most European and Asian countries and pretty well every where else in the world. Some are classic bicycles, others look more like a motor scooter; I am opining about the former.

E-bikes are safe; they are accepted by people young and old; their performance is proven on city streets, bike trails and pathways and even in factory settings. They are reliable enough that police and emergency workers ride them in many communities. They are convenient; parking is free in most areas. You can ride them (almost!)* anywhere you can ride a pedal-only bike. You do not need a driver's test or licence to ride. You do not need vehicle registration and plates. You do not need liability insurance. Some models fold up for easy storage in apartments, condos, boats and RVs. Other models fit on a bike rack comfortably so they can go with you to town, or camping or to Florida. With ever-better Lithium batteries they have "legs;' you can get up to 60 kms on one charge. Best of all, they're cleaner and greener than motor scooters. And, they are price competitive with middle to upper end pedal-only bikes. 

* There are in my neck of the woods, some trail snobs who continue to deny e-bike riders (some e-bike needers) the legal permission to ride the extensive trail system around my hometown. They can walk or run their huge dogs, race around on their multi-speed titanium road bikes, but an older person who needs a little lift can't ride their bikes on the trails. Wake up eh.