The NYT reported this weekend on the growing trend of electric bicycles in the US. They’re all the rage in China, but have been slow to catch on in the US for a number of reasons. But according to the NYT, “E-bike makers in the United States saw something of a mini-boom in 2008, when gasoline prices spiked and people started looking for eco-friendly alternatives to the automobile.” Stigma associated with not pedaling a bike on American streets seems to be melting away too. The e-bike offer is quite compelling. They’re less expensive and lighter weight than motorbikes and they can legally go 20 miles per hour.
I see a lot of e-bikes on my daily commute in San Francisco. Admittedly I feel a touch of jealously when they effortlessly whiz past me on hills (and flats), but I’m genuinely happy for e-bikers. I’d be happier if they’d offer me a lift.
In any case, it’s exciting to see more folks getting out of their cars (or off the bus?) and onto bikes. If they choose to use an engine, then good for them. Learn more about e-bikes here. And check out the Sausalito-based e-bike company, Pi Mobility. See their Picycle below.
Pi Mobility’s Picycle.Photo courtesy of the Pimobility.com.
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One Comment
Thanks for your comments about electric bicycles. As a manufacturer that has sold close to 1000 electric bikes, I have found that the buyers for these bikes are baby boomers who remember how much fun it was riding a bike as a kid but just do not want to fight the hills or headwinds anymore. And they are really having fun! Thanks for the coverage.