The PROBLEM With E-bikes
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2022
- The electrification of bikes has meant a lot more people are going by two wheels because it’s better for the planet (and it’s easier than pedaling!), but... is it wheelie our best option??
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For further reading, check out the sources for this video here:
docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Jasnik Moreno + Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
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Anytime Im in my car behind a biker, I remember this: do not be frustrated with the biker, be frustrated with the city planners. If only our cities here in the states were more biker and pedestrian oriented as so many european towns seem to be. It would be much more environmentally friendly and lead to a greater quality of life!
100%, unless they are clearly choosing to be annoying 😂😂
Another way to look at it is if city planning weren't car centric. But the car and oil industry will fight those changes all the way.
This is a great outlook!! As we highlighted in the vid, the infrastructure is the biggest obstacle here 🤷♂
@@jdrummerdd Even then! Dangerous infrastructure makes for aggressive and foolhardy cyclists, as those are the cyclists still willing to ride on dangerous infrastructure. Fix your streets, fix your cyclists.
Most of the time those lanes are a waste of space and barely used
I was riding my (non-e) bike to work and found that I drove my car more and more because I was tired in the morning and didn't have the energy to pedal.
I chose to convert my bike into a e-bike and now the problem is gone. On sleepy mornings, I throttle it all of the way. Other days, I just turn the pedal assist on.
The part I didn't expect is that I feel so much more connected to the community on a bike. When I drive in my car, I feel like I am in a weird bubble and removed from the town.
I was tired as well when i first switched to my bike from my car. But as i got more used to i found i actually had more energy during the day after riding my bike than when i drove my car.
I started biking 10km each way to work this year. The first two weeks were an absolute battle to bring myself to do it.. now I have more energy than ever and don't even feel the ride.
Some motorcycle riders call the car a cage for a reason🤣
I converted my bike to e- and this was a second breath for me and the bike. I now cycle more and cycle further, easier and funnier
L
I realize this is geared toward the prospective "green" ebike consumer, but the use of ebikes is why you can get get delivery so fast in large cities like NYC. The guys who do that work, work *hard* and the electric assist/throttle allows them to keep up with the brutal demands of the app based delivery companies. Ebikes aren't just the toys of the upper middle class retiree set.
The video was focused on personal transport. But yea, e-bikes are awesome when it comes to cargo bikes.
The RUclipsr he mentioned, Not Just Bikes, just today put out a video talking about these cargo bikes.
@@MrIzzy5466 I'm familiar with Not Just Bikes, but I'm not speaking of bakfiets. I'm talking about the often Hispanic men and women who ride relatively inexpensive ebikes to deliver food. There was a New York Magazine article about how dangerous and precarious that job is. There are also numerous stories of thinly disguised racism interacting with anti-e-bike sentiment to roll back many of the bike transportation gains that New York City has made.
Cycling advocates need to be much better about advocating for everyone and not just those who daydream about the Netherlands. That's what my comment is attempting to highlight.
@@HarryLovesRuth ok but rthis isnt applicable here? he was literally just talking about the people who might want to switch from a car to bike where doesn;t this whole disguised racism comment apply to this video you got a timestamp?
The exploitation of paperless, struggling people by the gig economy is why you get deliveries so fast.
Here in Montreal I started seeing more and more Uber Eats and Skip delivery workers using ebikes. I used a escooter for awhile before deciding it was the worst possible form of transportation and am aware of hiw much ebikes cost. Even cheap ones are over 1k if you want the range required for a full day of deliveries.
So I was wondering how all those workers could very suddenly afford those bikes. Sure, it's a investment because ultimately they will make more deliveries but I was sceptical.
So I talked with one of the guys. The bikes are not theirs. There's an in between person who facilitates everything specially if you don't have a work permit. That "facilitator" operates out of an apartment in a neighborhood that is filled 2 dozen bikes on charge rotation. They have a bunch of valid accounts with all delivery services as well as dozens of phones and sim cards.
You show up and you get a charged bike, a bag and a couple phones and then you work for 14-16 sometines 20 hours. They take a cut of about 30% and then charge you a rental fee for the bike.
In my neighborhood it's even territorialized. If you try and operate as an independent either by bike, ebike or escooter they will ride you out. They focus on short deliveries by having workers close to the popular spots that way they maximize their chances of getting the delivery.
I'm very very very tempted to buy an ebike and try delivering food. I have the money. I just can't seem to pull the trigger. I don't know if I would like doing food delivery as a job. I don't know what I would do if I gave up riding on the bike. I don't know which bike to get. Or how I would deal with bike maintenance. The danger of other drivers/cyclists, or myself if I do something really dumb. Constant fear and anxiety about bike theft. Bye bye 1800-4000 bike... Uhg. Sorry to ramble here.
Hearing someone describe biking as a "frivolous children's activity" sounds so foreign to me. 😂
In Germany, biking is so ingrained into daily life, frivolous isn't something I'd ever think to attribute to the activity
Even as someone in the United States (who lived for a while in German as well), that part sounded a little tone deaf. There are, and has been for long before the biking boom caused by covid, many MANY adult people who enjoy biking for fun, sport, or "practical" purposes (normally more than one reason). I don't think I have every heard anyone ever describe biking as a children's activity...
@@dylbarton I'm sure he only said it half-jokingly 😉
@@dylbarton Sure. Most won't say that. But I do think many pretty much think that. I assume this based on how I perceive most people spend money on bicycles.
My first thought too
This and talking about Biking Book and "a city with bike infrastructure". Here in Germany the bike is an integral part of transportation, the infrastructure for bikes spreads across the country side so far you can probably cross the whole country on bike paths alone. And for some the question is not if you have a bike but how many.
Genuinely glad you mentioned Not Just Bikes. There needs to be a mindset change and shift in North America to prioritize quality public transit and pedestrians. It makes no sense to do otherwise if you basically are penalized with high risks for no having a car.
I think I got Future Proof suggested from a NJB video 🙂
I'd love to see a video about the rise of E-Scooters....past two years, I'm seeing a lot of them around my City and a rental place just opened. I'm also curious how they compare to E-Bikes from an environmental standpoint.
(My city have been paving a lot of the walking trails around to city which allow for bikers (and E-Scooters) to get around without having to be on the streets.)
@@sillydrizzy2985 omg came here to comment the same. One day I clicked a NJB video about suburbia that was VERY informative and now I am stuck in a urban planning and sustainability rabbit hole between Future Proof, NJB and Adam Something. And its glorious.
Another cultist. Just spend the money and live downtown then walk wherever you want. In Europe the cost of living is very high, you can't compare it to living in the cheap land American suburbs 15 minutes drive from downtown.
@@biggibbs4678 Research WHY suburbs are so cheap. I already live 15 minutes from downtown in a suburb. And if I were to be in the housing market, it is anything but cheap currently.
@@kenim also check out Alan Fisher lol
Something for the writing team to consider for the future is that Stroad has a specific definition: a road too wide and fast to be safe for pedestrians while having too many intersections for efficient movement of cars. It's the grey area between a street and a road, not a short hand for either one ☺️
I’d add onto this by saying it’s trying to be both and failing. It has too many driveways and points of conflict to be a road, but it’s too high-speed and wide to be a street. Everyone ends up uncomfortable and in danger.
This.
Bump
No. It's not. It's a poor concatenation ignoring (ignorant of) limitless, useful, in-use, descriptive words. Roads are rural. Streets are city. Naming a city street anything but a street (or motorway) is as head-in-the-sand as the ubiquitous "Lakeview" with nary a lake in driving distance on the STREET. Your city greed has pushed the idea that naming something cute (like "road") drives the price up. I have yet to see "Squatter's View" or "Homeless Camp Heights" but you (cities) have millions of them. Not offended by your point or your view, Emma, just putting a view out there that is often jumped on... in 3, 2, 1...
@@bob-ny6kn lol what are you even talking about? Are you even familiar with the source material?
Don’t forget e-cargo bikes there are models that definitely rival some small cars in cargo space, it’s pretty wild
I'm of the "Oregon Trail generation," a mom of three, and I've been making an effort to reduce car trips with my bicycle. I have a Shotgun seat in front of me for my pre-K kid and a buddy seat behind me for my older kid. I'm thisclose to ordering a front loading cargo bike to make it more comfortable and safe for my kids. Some pedal assist to help me get the extra 100lb up hills and add the option of carrying some bags? Take my money. BUT I'm proving to myself I can do it with just my leg power before I buy so it doesn't end up sitting unused.
@@JKRBW you can do that with just leg power? Color me impressed WOW. Best of wishes in your bike journeys
JKRBW is really impressive with the two kids on her bike.
If anyone deserves an e-bike it's you.
Companies like Tern make really chunky e-bike's with large rear racks that will seat two children or another adult.
Or carry up to 60kg of cargo in very large panniers. Put a large trailer behind one of those and you could have two children and half the supermarket with you and not worry about any hills. Add a bike poncho and bar mits and don't worry about bad weather apart from ice.
Although a new one is probably the same price as a decent second hand car.
And for kids, it's currently the main reason I would choose a cargo bike if I had to.
I was just going to comment before reading that comment that the problem with having an actual a cargo bike, especially if you only need it once or twice a week whether it be prefixed with or without an "e" is that they are horrendously expensive and unless you have other conventional bikes to choose from, it's going to be a pain in the ass going everywhere on a bike that's half the size of a car when you don't need to carry cargo.
I'm still using an ordinary pedal power hybrid bike but when it was clear that there's only so much I could carry in even very large panniers and racks at 30kg+ I bought a large sized best reviewed dog trailer because it's pretty darned big and fully enclosed like the boot/trunk of a car for a week's family shopping or any other cargo. I average 40-50kg per load but I've had over 70kg. My local town and shops is 6.5km from my house. Although I'm going to get another open cargo trailer so I can carry a lawnmower or anything else extra large on too.
Hook on the trailer you've got a cargo-bike when you need it. Hook it off and you've got a bike again.
Of course if budget and space aren't issues then there's no problem spending as much as it takes to have as many bikes as you need.
I'm always thinking of getting the most bang for my buck's on a budget.
The majority of bikes and e-bike's sold are bought for sports and recreation only anyway it seems.
It's only a minority in my empirical experience that are buying bikes to either reduce or replace their current necessary car use.
I still have and need a car particularly because I live in a rural area but instead I'm looking for every opportunity not to use it and I'm intending to continue to maintain it instead of replacing it for the foreseeable future.
@@JKRBW Lots of options. I'm currently working on converting a bike using an older xtraCycle that I've refurbished. I should be working on that right now. Time to go offline.
Coming back to update that I did get myself a cargo bike. My husband loved it so much we sold our car and he got one too. We got our first cold spell this week, each of us commuted in 30 degree weather and lived to tell the tale. 😂
I mean, E-bikes (talking pedal-assist), due to their ease of use, are more likely to be used for longer trips, errands, and daily commutes. The ability to go up hills without straining oneself makes someone more likely to bike over drive. Simon Clark and TechAltar have great videos about that.
I get what you mean by "Don't buy anything new if you don't need it" but I would say if the cards are played right, they are a net positive. Of course, more regulation around the manufacturing and sourcing standards around e-bikes would be best but I'd say it's overall a good thing.
We agree! Our goal here was to show a balanced perspective and present some cons instead of a totally biased video in favour of ebikes (which many of those already exist). Glad we got the conversation rolling though! 😅
This is spot on. I bought one and use it more than I ever would a regular bike. My rides also somehow magically extend themselves because I don't want to stop riding. So the added societal health benefits are there as well.
@@Mandelbomb as a roadie I was initially skeptical/snobby, but the fact one sees so many more people out is great. Could the growth in e-bikes lead to better road design and infrastructure? That would be great!
Yeah. I got an ebike to increase the number of journeys and distance I was doing in my bike before. It’s easier to carry my child and gives me a little more power for when I’m carrying shopping up the hill to home.
It also means I’m slightly less likely to arrive someone hot and sweaty but the racing mentality is still there pushing me to go fast whilst I’m sharing the road with cars. Once on traffic free routes I can slow down and enjoy the ride.
Yeah, if the cards are right, but they aren't, so they're sadly in the range of bandaid to changing nothing. But you're not wrong.
“Frivolous children’s activity” - someone who lives in North America
But AT LEAST it is, still, every single kid in the country.
I suffer from severe anxiety/panic attacks/agoraphobia (I'm a wreck lol). I have struggled with these conditions since I was 16 years old and I recently just turned 40. I have never had a car license because the closest place to go take the written test and driving test is several towns over and thanks to my agoraphobia I just can't make it there without having a severe panic attack. I bought an ebike 2 years ago and it has been life changing for me. I pretty much never leave my town and if I do it's not very far out of town but my ebike has given me more freedom than I've had in the last 24 years of my life. I should probably mention that I can't use a regular bike, well I can just not for long due to a knee injury I had in my early 20's. I don't have to ask friends or family members for rides or have to wait around and for a taxi/uber to pick me if I have to go to a doctors appointment or if I just want to go pick up a few things at the grocery store. The money I've saved from not having to take taxis or ubers has already paid for my bike and then some. It gets me out of the house so much more, I love just going out and riding around town which has really helped with my agoraphobia. I can definitely understand both sides of the ebike debate but mine really has changed my life and I could not be happier with my ebike and the freedom it has given me.
Good for you!! Nice to read a positive result using an ebike. I picked up my first ebike a few months ago my knees are so much better off now. Happy riding!
Sounds awesome (: Happy for you
Try therapy
@@TheTrailRabbit You read that and felt the need to make a smartass comment like that. Between you and I, you need the therapy more than I do.
@@TheTrailRabbitpart of getting over agoraphobia is exposure therapy. riding in a car doesn’t give you that, it’s a private bubble where you get to choose when you interact with the outside. it’s also hard to interact with the outside world when you can only rely on cars to get places. when you don’t have a license, you have to rely on other people to do things. that means you’d need it for therapy… it helps to have a form of individual transportation without having to rely on underfunded public transit or other people who may not be available for the times you’d need them.
ebikes really caught on here in my rural town in germany.
at this point i see WAY MORE elderly people ride their bikes for fun! they still have to take the car to buy groceries, but i feel like ebikes really imrpoved their quality of life.
fit people, young folks and kids still ride their normal bikes
but its apparent that the ebike is really trendy and i wouldnt be surprised if they replace the regular bike for anyone that can afford one since the region i live in has many mountains and hills, getting around on a regular bike is INCREADIBLY HARD unless youre really fit.
Ebikes are very much an upper middleclass kind of item here, but im sure that in one or two years, people that cant buy one new, will get their hands on a second hand ebike (bc like all trends, there will be people that dont use theirs and will get rid of it)
That's where it really shines: overcoming the difficulty of commuting by bike in hilly or mountain regions. There should be a tax incentive to get an e-bike in those regions.
Yep. I live in a bedroom and semi-retirement community in Arizona, Fountain Hills. It's hot in the summer and we have - no surprise - hills. We've always attracted roadies because of our hills and nice desert scenery on some decent roads with wide shoulders. But I see more an more ebikes these days ridden by "regular" folks. They don't have to kill themselves going up the hills and that makes a big difference for our fairly small and semi-bikefriendly community. My homebrew ebike used to routinely get questions and comments at the grocery store. But it is much less novel these days.
"really fit" aka any BMI under 35. Smh.
My parents love them their e-bikes. 😊
To me, the biggest barrier between me and commuting on a bike is theft.
One time, the police even caught the thief and because my bike then was too cheap the thief got away nearly scot-free
Agree! Many times I will not use a bike because I fear it will be stolen. One time I parked it (just for a 5 min purchase) and the bike besides it had no seat. Idk if the owner removed it or someone stole it, but I ended going somewhere else entirely
Indeed! Providing secure places for storing bicycles once destinations are reached needs to be part of a thorough bicycle infrastructure plan.
Use a solid steel U-lock + AirTag, and you’ll be set!
@@tr0nfreak64 nope. My last bike was locked to a bike post with a Krypotonite chain lock (the one that lock picking lawyer uses) in a fob accessed bike cage.
The thief broke into the cage and cut off the bike post.
Same problem for me, plus that my place is really small so I don't have space to keep a bike indoors at night. I'm looking into foldable bikes because of this: they take less space at home and you can take them with you wherever you go instead of leaving them on the street. But man are they pricey!
I think it’s awesome that a bunch of channels that I’ve been following for a while have recently been getting onto the urban planning side of sustainability and that Not Just Bikes is getting a lot of recognition. The man deserves it. Great video!
We totally agree! Thanks for tuning in 😃
What's nice about Not Just Bikes is how the channel shows how bicycle infrastructure can also benefit car infrastructure.
Being Dutch and having both a bicycle and a car, I can confirm that using both modes of transport in the Netherlands are usually a pleasant experience.
So all y'all car people: it can be done and it can benefit you too ☕️
Arguably, one of the best things about bike infrastructure is fewer cars on the road, which makes cars more efficient and pleasant to drive.
@@QuesoCookies in some situations that can be the case.
In other situations there is the "regular" car infrastructure, and also a separate bicycle infrastructure. Sometimes they run alongside one another, sometimes they barely touch (different routes, including tunnels and bridges where they cross).
Where I grew up (Zoetermeer) cars between neighborhoods had to use longer routes (via arterial), while walkers and cyclists could traverse much more straightforward.
I switched my regular bike to an e-bike and I really enjoy cycling now. I’m always excited to leave the house because cycling is just so much more enjoyable than before. I cycle to work, university and to the city center to run some errands or just hang out so I do cycle pretty much everyday. My e-bike was very expensive for a university student’s budget but I do not regret buying one!
Unrelated but whoever's designing the thumbnails for this channel needs a raise. I have absolutely 0 interest in e-bikes but still clicked because the thumbnail looked too nice not to click. Against my best wishes, I now know the problem with e-bikes so thanks I guess
This is the greatest compliment ever, thanks for tuning in!!! 🤩
There's a further unpleasant problem with e-bikes.
They get stolen. Often.
I currently live in a fairly small, rich town. Not a single day passes without several bikes being stolen (both normal or e-bikes, old or new).
While replacing a 100€ bike might be annoying, having to replace a 1.000€ e-bike gets nasty, even from an environmental point of view.
I was told that the problem has exploded in several parts of Europe, starting with the Netherlands.
E-bikes are hot stuff and that encourages crime, without the authorities being willing and or prepared to tackle it.
Park your bike inside gaurded bike garages if your city have one. In The Netherlands they are everywhere. Most them are also free. Which is nice.
@@tjiddenl there aren't any in Italy that I know of, but it's not just that: if you have to worry about your bike beyond putting a chainlock, it's just too much of a bother.
I used mine to do excursions, always keeping an eye on it even when resting, but I didn't feel comfortable using it in town because if you use it in your everyday life you will need to go inside shops, offices, gyms and leave it unattended.
I ended by reselling it and I now walk everywhere I need to go.
Perhaps in a few years, when they hype will have passed and those good-for-nothing will have set their sights on something else...
One of the biggest factors keeping me hesitant on such a large purchase. If I can only safely use it to commute to work back home vs using it to stop off to get groceries and participate in local events then it becomes an extra thing to keep and maintain. My local university added enclosed bike storage areas with cameras with only other bike users having access and there was still thefts.
@@evaangelofdeath The problem with shared bike parking spaces is that thieves can still purchase access to them. What we really need are individual high security bike lockers.
@@tjiddenl I know quite a few people who's e-bikes go missing in guarded parking spaces (in Belgium) so I think generally its a much bigger issue than simply parking it better. Though I agree that would help, its not a concrete solution
I have an electric scooter and I love riding it, but it sucks where I live in Florida because 1. I never know if I’m supposed to be in a bike lane or sidewalk. 2. Idk about any other place, but a lot of sidewalks here just end out of nowhere.
Been there not knowing if I should be on the road or sidewalk because there's no indicator 🤦 and sidewalks that end abruptly are so annoying.. thanks for sharing, Austin!!
Sidewalks should be exclusive for walking. Bike lane should be for scooters, bikes. The normal road for cars and motorcycles. With a physical barrier between the normal road and the bike lane. So you don't have the fear of being hit.
Same in my city, bike lanes and side walks randomly end with no warning. Sometimes the bike lane or side walk ends and the road is so narrow I have to squeeze between cars. Definitely not the safest thing in the world to do.
Same in my city, bike lanes and side walks randomly end with no warning. Sometimes the bike lane or side walk ends and the road is so narrow I have to squeeze between cars. Definitely not the safest thing in the world to do.
@@tjiddenl Ideally. Never see that where I'm at. I find mixing pedestrians and bikes/scoots to work well as long as the density is low enough.
100% agree to try it out on a regular bike first. I did that with my commute for a year, but I had problems with the range, so I didn't ride very often. The next year I bought an ebike and now I'm hooked! I ride just about every day, sometimes even in the rain
I'm seeing Not just Bikes everywhere nowadays and I absolutely love it
💯💯
So happy Jason's getting more recognition over there, well deserved!!
6:40 You can never consume your way out of an environmental problem. Thank you for addressing that. Also that is why I prefer my old bike!
I feel like consumerism is a thorn in capitalist society. Too many questions are framed around "What should I buy?" instead of "How should I change my spending behavior as a consumer?"
An anti-consumerism ideology poses some criteria for any transaction (even those at the price of "free"). The most important is "Why am I making this purchase?"
"Do I need this?"
"Will I use this?"
"Is there another way to solve my problem without acquiring more stuff or spending money?"
Even when money is not the issue, consuming many products, even if they are free or cheap, contributes to hoarding, waste, and that common feeling of being weighed down by "stuff."
Everybody can start their shift away from consumerism by just getting rid of the "junk" in their life. Go through all of your unneeded stuff and sort out what can be donated (remember to donate things that will find practical use!) or recycled (is it worth recycling?) and toss the rest. That feeling of freedom from "stuff" will affect your spending behavior.
How does this tackle environmental problems? The less unneeded stuff that you introduce into your life means less waste. Removing yourself from consumerism ideology also prevents waste by resorting to useful solutions to environmental problems instead of just buying more stuff in a frivolous attempt to pursue greenness. This way, you are making use of stuff that is actually needed, making the impact of that stuff significantly less compared to unused, unneeded stuff.
On a side note, I believe that biblical communities, as depicted in the Bible, are peak anti-consumerism. Unfortunately, our society is too dependent on money and financial independence to build communities to that extent. Though, many church communities emulate elements of those biblical communities, which really helps dampen consumerism.
In relation to cycling, back(bike)packing is an extremely effective way to distance yourself from consumerism and bring yourself closer to the environment. Spending weeks out on bicycle instead of a car, with just the necessities to operate in and out of society is a great way to free yourself from the expectations of the American consumer. You will also meet many people and experience many things that you would not have otherwise. It exposes your dependence on not only your situational awareness but also the kindness of people.
TL;DR: Buy only what you need and find new ways to interact with people inside or outside your community.
I have been a recreational - if not hard-core - cyclist for a few years and I bought an e-bike in March. I live in a hilly suburb where cycling without assistance means you’re going full bore with several Jill climbs. We have some cycling groups, but not a lot of leisure cycling. I’ve tried to commit myself to using the ebike for all short-distance errands within a 10-mile radius. I use it for grocery runs (I installed panniers and a smaller cooler bag on the back rack) and to pick up takeout. I’ve put 400+ miles on it so far. Some use may wane as we head into the winter months - my town does not have great biking infrastructure to make cycling in the dark seem safe - but so far I’ve really been enjoying it. You still get exercise, you just rather smooth out some of the crazier exertion. I’ve taken my bike to the mountains where there’s better trails and been able to basically avoid using my car for an entire week.
I like to use my regular pedal bike to get groceries and do smaller trips with, but it gets a little tedious and cumbersome to go longer distances. I got an ebike simply to broaden the range of practicality of cycling for me. With a higher average speed it opens the door to be useful in more ways and get further without it being a massive workout. I do have a solar generator as well that can charge it in about 6 hours of good sun. With gas prices where they are I will break even on the cost of the bike in no time at all.
I converted a Craiglist bike to an ebike about four years ago. Even doing it on the cheap and riding over 5000 miles a year, I figured it took me over 10,000 miles and about two years to break even on the cost of the bike through gas savings. It's faster with gas at $5/gal, but it still takes time if you do the math honestly.
@@wturber I think you are correct about the costs! Converting my Trek to an e bike will cost at least $1,000. But, i think of it as a cheap 2nd vehicle - such as when my car is getting repairs. I've encounted some who justified buying a Tesla as saving them money - which it is if they were considering buying a similar priced BMW or SUV, but the math for the e bike is not too bad.
@@wturber my car in city driving gets me around 18MPG, and the price of fuel works out around $6/gal (different currency and in litres instead of gallons).
I can replace about a 1/3 to 1/2 of my regular short city driving (highway will still need to be car) to appointments quite comfortably.
I do a 2-300 miles a week on average. The bike cost me around 900US and I can replace about $20-40 in fuel a week with it, so between 6/12 mths.
And truly I just enjoy and prefer it without cost being an objective. I have a lot of forested shortcuts and sidewalks that cut between oodles of high traffic spots and its super enjoyable. I can generally get around as quick even without a motor
To be clear a stroad is NOT *either* a street or a road, but that awkward in-between that has a slow speed limit, but not a local street, and multiple lanes, but not a highway
I really appreciate this video highlighting the downside of e-bikes because sometimes it does feel like people think we have a battery tree. Also, I’ve been trying to research how to better advocate for protected bike lanes in my city in the U.S. so I’m going to take this as a opportunity to ask if anyone has any good resources for that? I just want to be able to take a safe bike trip to my grocery store lol.
As someone who is fighting for a sidewalk and got... speedbumps, I feel you. In the US we are battling over a century of highway design policy that has influenced the way even the dinkiest of city streets are managed. It's very, very hard to get the Powers that Be to take steps that will reduce the numbers of cars. The way the policy manuals are written seem to act against keeping cars at a reasonable volume on neighborhood streets.
If you have neighborhood groups that are part of the route to the grocery store, try to engage with them. Check out the parent organizations of any nearby schools and see if there's any "safe walk to school" initiatives. A linear park/mixed use path/Greenway adds connectivity and recreation. Parks departments and running clubs are also a places where like minded folks my be.
I have to keep reminding myself that it took the people before me twenty years to get to where we are today. And while I don't want to wait twenty years for my kid to have a safe route to elementary school, patience is a virtue.
Strength to your sword arm.
You can check to see if there’s an advocacy group in your city, county, or state or a city nearby and join in with them. Talk with neighbors and friends and see about group bike rides out on the street(bikes in a group are easier to remember than a lone bicyclist-people casually dressed on a variety of bikes like cargo bikes help differentiate it from sport cyclists) and get a loose group organizing and talking with local government from there. Write to you city council and mayor to talk about an active transportation plan or in support of starting one or adding a route. Look in on things like NACTO, League of American Bicyclists, and People for Bikes for any material you may need.
We had to forge our own bike advocacy group in Brampton. If it doesn't exsist, you might have to go ahead and make one. Fun fact, there's lots of room in most municipal councils (at least in canada) for climate change work to happen. We did, and after 10 years our city is absolutely more cycling friendly :). Bike parking is another thing, but there are lots of avenues to get that happening too!
I realize that telling you to make one isn't very helpful. I suggest going to cycling/bicycle-related events near you and trying to find other folks passionate enough about cycling and connecting with them from there. Heck you can probably just come up with the name for your group and fake your waY till you make a group out of it. Introduce yourself as being from "name of made up group" and that you're looking for other passionate cyclists to join the team. Meet monthly over zoom/in person, create community, and start letter writing. I also suggest joining the future ground network, they have some great resources for enviornmentalists.
There has been some research about how ebikes are more environmentally friendly than conventional bikes due to less calories used on an ebike on a conventional diet. I am not sure of its validity though
Community cycling advocate from Brampton Ontario (the second largest suburb in Canada and 7th largest city). E-bikes for suburban centers actually enable cycling for transportation where a regular bike does not. For cities with density, most destinations are within a 7km (4.3 miles) range, which is about a 15-20 minute bike trip. Ebikes for suburbanites are promising because they make an 18km (11 miles) trip with minimal tree canopy to block the wind and hills by bike more realistic to someone who predominantly uses a car to get around.. This video articulates that fairly well:
ruclips.net/video/IJsincekzX6s/видео.htmly6sE
Brampton put in 50 km of infrastructure in the past 2 years and is hoping to put in another 25 this year. Despite that, it will be decades before we increase density to a point where cars become redundant. Compared to an electric car, ebikes have a much lower barrier to entry and enable multiple trips in a way that bicycles alone can't.
Thanks for the video, and I appreciate your team shining a light on this topic. ✌
Great and encouraging response 😊
real negative title for a video that was actually quite balanced. why?
Agreed. Probably for clicks which is lame
Clickbait
As someone from Denmark where many people use bikes for commuting. Most work places offer bath facilities. So it’s normal to arrive at work 10-15 before work time to take a quick bath.
Sad thing is that the humble bicycle is only taken seriously as a means of transport when it features a motor. It is even more ridiculous that many bike manufacturers now that they build e-bikes start talking about "environmetally friendly transportation" and completely ditch their non-motorized product lines, even though that line did not need energy to charge batteries and produced no hard-to-recycle electronic waste.
So people who aren't athletic and live in an area with hills need not apply.
There is also the conversation to be had about urban design and how its made for the car which can travel 10s of kilometers or miles, where doing the same on a bicycle requires training.
@@DannyTan6675 Also, you have the road where there’s 500 cars per mile and one bicyclist. In that case, the bicyclest is a antisocial narcissist. Vote for change, but don’t screw up everyone else’s day
@@sethtenrec No non-suicidal cyclist would use such a road on free will.
@@harrkev A) you can ride hills with a non-motorized bike. B) Nobody said there is no place for motorized bikes, an e-bike is still more environmetally friendly than a car, but a non-motorized bike is just even more environmentally friendly.
In Belgium, using my e-bike for commuting, rather than bus or car and love it. Infrastructure is amazing here though, all my 10km commute is on bike lanes and it's awesome. Other countries should really invest in more bicycle infrastructures.
I started biking/walking to work in a northern Canadian community; warm and dry bike, -30 & 4 feet of snow walk. Then we move to a small Canadian city which was not only bike unfriendly, it was walking unfriendly. As I've grown older and more handicapped, I became came more trapped in my car. Going back to a bike (trike in my case) would be one of the best things I could do for myself, however I'm afraid it would get me killed.
A great, balanced, honest opinion. Well done. And, this is coming from a car-free person who digs all two-wheeled devices-with or without additional battery-operated power.
Glad you enjoyed this one, Aaron! Thanks for being here 😋
One of the hard things about riding a bike is also the weather....like when it's in the middle of winter, I'm freezing my fingers off and trying to pedal through 30cm of snow. Icey roads/paths are also a hazard (especially going uphill) and all-weather solutions for bikes aren't widely available.
I am an avid bike rider but this doesn't make riding a bike all seasons an appealing choice.
The thing is, with properly maintained infrastructure and the right gear this isn't an issue, even in winter. Unfortunately, the infrastructure is actively dangerous, and this discourages people from investing in proper winter biking gear.
Try handlebar covers from a brand called Bar Mitts. They're insolated neoprene sleeves that slip over the handlebar ends and create an insulated pocket of air for your hands.
Also, regarding the snow and ice, try Schwalbe's studded winter tire. They aren't terribly expensive (I've been told you only really need one,) and a pair of 28mm tires will cut through snow and ice. Plus, they're none too expensive at ~$28 a tire.
In cold weather areas certain things aren't really suitable for every climate that goes for bikes even cars I live in Michigan most ppl have a bike and a winter vehicle sports cars are a no go you either gone get stuck or be stuck spinning out
electric fatbike & snowmobile mittens
There's a great video, also from not just bikes, exploring this exact topic. There's another video from RUclipsr, Path Less Pedaled.
Two months ago i sold my car because it broke and needed a big investment, and at that point I was already playing with the idea of commuting by bike to work (It's a 6 mile commute). After thinking about price of fuel, maintenance and other stuff like car wash, I decided to jump on the e-bike wagon.
I managed to find a cheaper used one and since then I used it everyday. It is awesome, BUT you have to bare in mind the weather (I live in UK), the storage space you have and of course like you mentioned it the infrastructure. I'm not sure how much i'll be doing it when it's pouring rain all day in the autumn season.
For now I would recommend people to either buy a cheap bike and give it a go to see if they enjoy it, or maybe use one of those subscription services for e-bikes.
Correction at 8:52 Jason from Not Just Bikes did *NOT* coin the phrase Stroads. The term Stroads was coined by a guy named *Charles Marohn* who founded the nonprofit *Strong Towns.*
However Jason did coin the term *Bicycle Gutter* to describe awful bike lanes that put people cycling in harms way.
see, the issue with my city New York; it's not made for bikes.
biking is suffering with the head, no bike lanes in many areas, and crazy people park their cars in the bike lane just because
+owning a bike here is asking to be robbed, literally.
I think bike-sharing apps are excellent, I have tried them in Washington as well and it just makes sense.
wish more cities are designed around biking and protecting them
We also think bike-sharing apps are cool, we'd love to see them implemented in more places. Cheers to building more bike infrastructure!
@@FutureProofTV yes to more cities adopting bike-sharing, and having them accessible to everyone🙌🙌
According to the fire department statistics in many states, battery fires affect e-bikes a lot more than the highly publicized electric car and electric bus fires.
Many homes are set ablaze when people store their e-bikes inside their domicile.
Always lock up your bike outside your home and away from combustible material.
This turned out to be really long, so if there's one thing you take away: If you think you might want to ride an ebike in the winter, make sure you get something with a standard bike wheel size so you can easily find off the shelf studded tires (ie. not the 20 inch fat tires that a lot of ebikes seem to use).
I have a plug-in hybrid car, aka PHEV (got it in 2019 before the car market went crazy), and an ebike. The appeal of a PHEV is that it has enough battery power to get you through the typical day of making small trips around town, but can run on gas too to relieve your range anxiety.
In my experience though, most of the trips that would be covered by the electric range of my PHEV would also be easily covered by my ebike. I can get pretty much anywhere in town with the ebike, as long as I stick to the streets that are 30mph or less (preferrably 25mph or less, but if you have no choice to go on a big dangerous stroad, chances are that the sidewalks are abandoned enough that you can just ride carefully on the sidewalk for that stint of your trip). I also don't show up to work sweaty even when it's 90 F outside, because the breeze keeps me cool and I don't have to work that hard. And, they make driving in car traffic, or "vehicular cycling," much easier to do, if you're comfortable with that sort of thing (although again, try to keep to the 25mph or less streets, even if your bike can go faster than that you have to start worrying about more motorcycle-esque crashes at that point)
There are some things that the ebike won't do, such as picking up a friend (unless you have a cargo bike), transporting larger items that can't get too hot or cold, or going out of town. It's also very much up to the individual how willing you are to ride in the rain or snow, although both are possible and not even that bad with fenders, a poncho, and a studded tire. On the flip side though, I get the benefit of combining some light to moderate exercise just by getting around town, depending on how much I want to avoid sweating (although you end up engaging your core more just by balancing the bike, so I still usually feel better after a bike trip than a car trip).
An ebike uses a much smaller battery than a PHEV, let alone an EV (the extra battery in my PHEV sedan takes up about half of what should be my trunk), so if you have a lot of solo or duo trips, an ebike plus a regular gas or hybrid vehicle is arguably better than a PHEV or even EV from a carbon footprint perspective, especially for solo trips, and is probably cheaper too.
I bought an Ebike 10 years ago when my commute involved a 600-ft valley to ride down and up again. When my battery started to age, I began to be obsessed with saving power, to the point I would be pedalling like mad on the way down with maximum regeneration braking just to top it up and it would not die on me halfway up the other side. At some point I was using so little electrical assistance that it was not even sufficient to just move the extra weight of the E part of my bike. I needed a new battery. Then I saw that replacing my battery would cost almost as much as a new (non E-) bike weighing half as much. . I decided to sell the Ebike and for less than the net cost of replacing the battery, got myself a much nicer bike, trading the E for higher-end specs.
I never went back.
Now I just bought myself a new commuter bike, and for less than en entry level Ebike, I could choose a *very* nice bike.
Dropping the E in Ebike gets you all of this : nicer bike, lighter bike (that you can carry up steps), no more hassle about charging the battery, a much more nervous and enjoyable vehicle, especially when riding for fun. A much smaller environmental footprint. In other words: it's an upgrade.
To me, the Ebike was like the training wheels on a kid's bike: just a stepping stone.
thank you for this! i am trying to transition from ebike to normal bike. i am a 3 year ebike everyday user. i am doing the same, dropping the energy less and less until my legs are strong enough
i just a few months ago got myself an e-trike as an accessibility option. as a result of a car accident, and subsequent broken neck, spinal fusion, and traumatic brain injury - i was left disabled. walking, for me, is difficult and extremely uncomfortable. it gives me mobility without actually having to use what you usually think of as "mobility" options for disabled people. i bring this specific point up to say -- anything that has a genuine benefit to your healh/safety/mobility will always be worth the environmental concern. just like the video said -- just make sure you're actually going to use the dang thing.
that said, i don't know this is true of all e-bikes, but the literature that came with my bike is that i should limit use in temperatures over 90°F. this means that in july of 2022 there were more than 10 days in the month that riding my e-trike between 11AM and 7PM would not have even been an option where i live and probably restricted my riding more than anything else. i like me some night riding as much as the next person -- but if there were any trips i actually *needed* to make - it would have to either be done before the heat of the day really set in or long after - making scheduling an arduous feat. i live in michigan so that means the snowy months will be out for me as well. i guess spring and fall are really gonna be the sweet spots for this thing.
i really do love my e-trike -- but there are some serious limitations to consider and you should do some serious research before investing in one.
You don't have to worry too much about using it when the temp is above 90. Just don't blast along at full power for a very long time. Cruising will be fine. I hope with that in mind that you'll be able to get much more use out of your bike in the summer!
@@eschlerc it's really not worth it to defy explicit instructions from the user manual lmfao
@@pedanthicc What make and model is your bike?
It sounds like you got a bad deal. 😟
@@eschlerc exactly right
@@pedanthicc instructions were written by attorneys covering their ass. Christopher is correct, but if you wanna cry about it anyway go ahead.
I've been riding bikes all my life, as of 7 to 8 years ago I had to stop because of knee problems. In 2020, I got my first e-bike, and with the first ride had my first fall. I didn't take into consideration that the bike is heavy and I had to get used to the weight. It took me a day or two to get to know my bike well enough that I can ride her safely. Once I was good with my e-bike, I was able to get around on her like I wasn't able to do with my mountain bike. It's giving me the freedom to go ride places that I used to once again. The freedom I get with my e-bike I would like to say is the same as riding my old bike. I love it.
Important note about bike safety, step through bikes are safer to ride than road bikes, and are more comfortable for people to ride. Step through bikes and a tad bit less efficiency would really help more people consider biking (e bike or old fashioned bike).
That's a good point. When you have electric assist, you can design and configure a bike without as much concern for weight as well as ride in a more upright position where you can see traffic more easily. You can also get a really serious light system that helps you to be seen by motorists. I run a Harley Davidson LED headlight on my ebike. :^)
FOR WOMEN ONLY!! step thru bikes are for girls. If you are a man on a girl's bike, might as well make it pink with white tires and purple streamers.
@@paulblichmann2791 If you're version of masculinity relies on the "correct" bike, then yes, but in bike heavy nations both genders use them with no issue and far more comfort and ease of riding. Also, as a man step through bikes are better if you get bumped off the seat, as there isn't a bar to hit you between the legs.
@@paulblichmann2791 you seem very uncomfortable with your sense of masculinity
I live on a hill between two rivers so there is a lot of elevation change in my journeys. Also I will be 57 in a week so recovery takes longer. I'm thinking of a conversion so I can handle the steep inclines round here.
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....
I was more of a scooter kid growing up. Now I own two E scooters that go 25-30 mph 😤
I have a bike just because I can't afford a car, that's it. Fuel and Insurance is the reason for me to ride a bike, not Climate change (although I do think more should be done by companies/corporations). Getting an E-bike, in particular, is vital because I am overweight and I need to get uphills A LOT.
Be cautious with the use of the battery then , if you have overweight. An experiment by Twente University concluded that cycling with battery would burn less calories than while 'shopping' . So you don't train you leg musclea, condition doesnt improve and problably won't loose a lot of weight ..
My suggestions are ride a regular bike and eat less.
you should check out a scooter (50cc / 125 cc / 150cc / 160 cc) These low cc motorbikes are really fuel efficient
@@rafi6618 might be good for people commuting on the street, but I like to ride on bike paths.
I love your channel - the subject matter, your viewpoint and execution. One of my favorites on RUclips.
Wow, thanks so much!! Glad to have you here 😄
I don’t think this video properly weighs the impact of battery production for an ebike vs an electric car. Yes, lithium ion batteries have known environmental impacts, but you have to weigh options to be fair. One electric car battery could make 50+ ebike batteries.
The only thing I found that benefits me while riding an ebike as a very fit cyclist is hills. Otherwise I find no meaningful difference on flat terrain as my speed while slightly slower on a regular bike is not meaningfully faster on an ebike to be worth the hassle of charging every 4 days. Now if there were like 25 start and stops on my trip then maybe there would be a meaningful difference but I live in an area where I don't really have to stop much on my commutes. If the weather is terrible, I'll still take a car, but I can forgo the car I'd say at least 90% of the time.
But it does feel awesome to have an extra ~600W powering you up a 6% gradient at 25 mph.
Then you get to the more serious issue, theft. ebikes aren't cheap and theft is a serious concern with them. Replacing a $300 bike while not fun is at worst a moderate inconvenience. Replacing a $1k+ ebike starts to hurt and the fact that said ebikes are far more likely to be stolen. That's car money territory with almost none of the benefits of having a car.
The root of the problem is infrastructure. Build it and they will use it. Issue is most places besides central cities in the US aren't building bike infrastructure.
I have a slight decline to work. Doesn't use power. But going home... means a 18 km slight incline, and usually some head on wind. Some days more than a little. Also, if I go into town for whatever errand or just for fun, I have to get home. After 2000 it's not that fun to have 23 km with a slight incline and usually some head on wind. Sure sometimes I have a hard back wind. But it's still 50-60 minutes just. Getting. Home. It's not really fun at that point, it's just a means of transportation. That is when I use maximum assist and get a steady 25 km/h.
You are very lucky to be so fit. It's only a minority of people who could use their car's less and cycle more who really have good to very good levels of fitness. The average person who perhaps hasn't ridden a bike in 20 or 30 years will never be like you.
That's why e-bike's are important or the fear of not being judged good enough to take up an ordinary bicycle.
They need to be encouraged, not discouraged.
Speed, performance and fitness shouldn't be issues for people taking up cycling.
It should be fun.
Starting small and building up as confidence and fitness improves.
20km into a strong breeze with moderate hills is a substantial workout for someone who is even moderately fit.
Add rain and bad weather or heat and the vast majority will balk at the very idea.
E-bike's have the potential to get more people traveling more and further than they ever might have considered on an ordinary bicycle.
The biggest deterrent is the very real fear of theft of either the whole bike or parts if bikes are left parked up for hours or the whole day for shopping or work as you can do with a car with infinitely more confidence.
We need to look at the Dutch and their secure bike parking facilities in every town and city.
@@tconnolly9820 I can't see many people around here going longer than 10-12 km on bike when the weather WILL be a factor. Under 10 km within city limits with good infrastructure is perfectly viable, without or with electricity. But even at 7 km it'll take some time for the regular person. Length maybe shouldn't be the metric, but rather time. Bike vs bus vs car. Personally I think a bicycle is best, but any electrified two wheeler is better than a car and should be included (the effect on health in 20 years when today's kids has only used electric vehicles might be.... bad)
@@johanj3674 20km is about 55 minutes for me on a hybrid bike with some moderate hills without trying to prove anything. But like you, with some harder hills on the return journey and typically facing into a headwind it can easily take an extra 15 or 20 minutes. It's definitely a workout for me. And there are only either bike lanes or a hard shoulder for about 3km so safety isn't ideal on a winding country road.
On an e-bike it would be much easier and faster.
But for everything else under 10km I only take the car when I absolutely have to. I pedal my way around and either use panniers for small cargo or use a trailer for weekly shopping or other heavy or bulky cargo up to 70kg (so far)
It's fun and exercise and I'm not competing with anyone else.
7km I would consider very rideable in between 20-30 minutes if the terrain is flat and depending on if it's wet and windy. Strong wind makes for at least 50% extra effort.
The assist from an e-bike would certainly turn 7km for me into an easy ride no matter what the weather.
I'd probably only use any assist when I really needed it or on longer rides. It's still good to get a free cardio exercise.
80-90% of my biking is for commuting or utilitarian transport. I know several people who put up high mileage on all kinds of bikes and it's only exclusively for recreation or sport.
If the road's are safe then almost everyone should have no problems over 7km each way on an e-bike.
So you have no wind either? Ebikes are wonderful for fighting headwinds and for getting home quickly after a long day at work that has left you exhausted.
100% correct on the theft issue. I was able to bring my ebike inside at work. Otherwise, I may not have given it a go.
I tried an e-bike few times for commuting and it is awesome, especially up hill. It also feels safer when driving next to cars, as then they don't need to drive by if I go the same speed as they do.
I am considering buying one. For me, two factors are health and eyes. I work in front of a computer so driving (vs metro) is a good workout for both my legs and eyes.
I feel like the hardest thing about biking for me is even if I had an e-bike it gets so hot most months that I'd be a puddle of sweat just sitting on my bike and I can't exactly show up to work smelling like I just worked out 🤣
Thats my problem. If there was a locker room then i would be more willing to bike.
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ...
I’m a 70 year old who rides a recumbent trike with e-assist. They are just plain fun and I do use for most of my short (up to 20+ miles) trips such as shopping and even doctor appointments
Excellent video. I think for many people, if they aren't using their pedal bike, there's a good chance they won't use an EBike either. However, if your reason for not cycling is that one hill that's a little too steep on your commute, an EBike may make the trip practical by bike. If the reason is because there isn't a safe cycle route, an EBike isn't going to change that.
Another major benefit of e-bikes that you didn’t mention is that they take up way less space than cars and so if they replace cars, we can free up lots of parking lots for more interesting things like housing or pickle-ball courts. Two years ago my wife sold her car and got an e-bike and now we have personal gym in our garage.
This is classic gatekeeping. I am an Ebike delivery driver in Europe. Bike gets up to 40mph. Cost is low, income is high. Passing all traffic is awesome.
It’s a North American biased focused experience. In Europe those things just crush, if you commute everyday with it it just obliterates the idea of a subway (because cars were never an option in major cities). And if weather is shit you can just take the bus/train/metro. The amount of people of all styles, from casual to full suit that I see in Paris (which is not an example of a bike focused city) is just impressive.
Long story short, big North Americans cities need to amp up their alternatives to cars urgently
@@andrezanella9641 in Paris they just bike through traffic with the cars and don't give a fuck. They're not scared like Americans whining about bike lanes.
@@biggibbs4678Not comparable at all. Infrastructure is completely different and the drivers aren’t used to seeing bikers everyday
I ride roughly 90 miles per week on my old school 2019 Specialized Diverge. Unfortunately, none of that mileage is for actual commuting, all of it is exercise/leisure!
My office is literally less than 4 miles away from my home, but there is no way to get there and back safely.
The city I live in is building a Bike/pedestrian loop around the city, but they don’t seem to be concerned with connecting points of interest and areas people live/work.
It is very frustrating because we get great riding weather almost all year long.
Great video!
Hey Good video Bro 👍. I was born and live in Victoria BC. I have Severe Graves Disease with osteoporosis. I also broke my back two summers ago. I bought an e-bike a little over 6 months ago and I already rode over 6100 km. It has changed my life completely. 😎
Video: “Most of you learned to ride a bike as a kid”
Me: * looks around nervously*
It's never too late!
My organization has instructors that teach adults to ride. There are likely CAN-BIKE instructors near you :)
Get a bike and take off the pedals.
Have the seat low enough so you can put your feet firmly on the ground.
Find a quiet road or carpark and spend as much time as you need scooting yourself around and steering until you are confident with your balance and coordination.
Spend days or weeks at this if you need to.
Then put the pedals back on and start pedalling slowly until you get confident and practice manoeuvring. When you are confident then take it out onto a road or preferably a cycle pathway.
Then keep practicing.
Good luck ☘️ 👍
If you didn't you are NOT AMERICAN! 🎆🔫🇺🇲🍔🌭🚲
@@paulblichmann2791 lolwut?
I've recently ended up with an e-bike after my dad passed away. I never would have considered one before, but I'm kind of in love with it now. My biggest issue is that my battery wouldn't do me to go a long distance trip (say, across my city to a friend's house), without dying, and then I've got to contend with cycling a heavy bike the rest of the way 😂
Let me help you in simple steps how a Dutch person would do it.
1. Take charger stuff in bag.
2. Put bag on bike
3. Bike to friend
4. Charge the battery while having fun
5. Put back in bag
6. Go home
7. Feel good about yourself you didn't burn alot of gasoline and had a fun trip
Easy as that.
If your friend is like a true Dutchy he will send you a "tikkie" for the power you used after.😅
@@tjiddenl ahaha, I do that when cycling to the climbing centre, or work, but what I meant was it wouldn't last two thirds of the way to the house in the first place 😅 My crowning achievement is that I have so far never charged it at my own expense 😂😂
I think my bike is probably on the more compact end of power levels, it's a wee folding guy 😂
@@Kiroselg I was gonna say, there are E bikes with honestly 10-12 miles of range and there are E bikes with 50-60. And everything in between.
Take a spare battery with you. Problem solved.
@@dtz1000 they are quite expensive and a lot heavier than a charger.
Plus having more batteries ain't that great for the planet.
i got out of the army in spring 71....bought my first bicycle in fall 71....my main means of transport had been a regular bike until spring 20,,,,at 71 years old i was falling apart physically so i bought an e bike....here it is summer 22 and i am still pedaling because of the e bike....the benefits of such are spectacular....i am now 71 and a half and my main means of transport is my e bike.....physically, spiritually, emotionally, environmentally i am totally stoked.....when people say how do you like your rad bike....i say radically....pedaling is one way to help the planet...
I think e-bikes make it easier for folks whose commute is 10+ miles, but their bodies aren't really trained for 10+ miles. If I had a 20 mile commute, I'd get an ebike more than likely, but since my standard daily commute is 3 miles and back, it's way easier for me to continue using the standard bike I rent with the bikeshare in my city.
Great video! I live in San Francisco and we are lucky enough to have pretty phenomenal bike infrastructure here on most roads.
So fortunate!!! The hills must be sorta hard to navigate for some though, yeah?
@@FutureProofTV that's why e-bikes come in handy ;)
This is a great point about how absolutely ATROCIOUS the infrastructure is in America. I know so many people that want so badly to not be car dependant, but they feel like if they ride a bike on the streets even once they'll be killed (which is not that far off) and I live in a relatively bike friendly city. It's so sad because E-bikes and bikes in general are the perfect form of transit for most cities, IF they were actually safe to ride.
My city tried bike lanes for a while. But that meant narrowing the car lanes, which caused traffic to become worse. Sorry, but picking up buildings to move them back a few feet in order to make room for bike lanes is not easy.
@@harrkev You need to take an hour or two and watch a few of the many videos on RUclips about Dutch cycling and how they went about creating their infrastructure.
It was a gradual process over fifty years and more.
The system and process doesn't need to be invented again.
It's been done.
City and urban planners just need to copy what has already been done.
@@tconnolly9820 we're not redesigned entire cities just for bicycles. Car based cities are also already designed more spaced out then old European cities, it can't just be moved closer together. btw those walkable European cities always have far away suburbs for people who can't afford the high cost of living.
For a good 20 years and 3 homes I made it an intentional choice of which apartment or house to move in to based on it being close enough to walk and/or bike to work. On a regular bike. Because sitting in front of a desk all day, it helps to ride 3 miles to work and back again home to keep the body functioning. It made a huge difference in my well being! Carbon footprint? Who cares? You matter! So I applaud anyone who bikes, e or not. As long as it's safe in your area! And as long as they're not dicks about it. And by that I mean, cars exist on roads too. Pedestrians on sidewalks. Etc. Share. There are rules and laws for good reason. Be a good neighbor while taking good care of yourself and saving the planet and all that.
I could not agree more!! I have been watching not just bikes for a while now and I preach that pedestrian safe infrastructure every day!! When frustrated with traffic remember it's not the people stuck in it with you its the lack of good alternative transportation.
Ebikes enabled us to move down to a single car. So the ebike removes the carbon footprint of an entire car. While biking infrastructure is not the best. It's not awful in my section of the city. I am able to shop, and do most things with a bike.
I was also getting fat and this helped me lose weight by encorporsting excersise into my routine sense I don't have a car.
"Should you buy it" "It depends". You know that message goes for everything. Dont just buy the crazy latest hip thing because it claims to be sustainable or because everyone is doing out. Think through if its really the best thing for you and if you really need it. Or if an alternative is maybe a better fit
Hahhaa it really seems like we keep getting to this conclusion left and right because it applies to everything!!
You're exactly right, I live in NYC and the biking infrastructure here is pretty decent but could use a lot more upgrading, as the biking population is increasing, the City does have plans for improvements, so the future of biking in NYC is looking promising.
Glad to see you guys take a step outside the normal topic area with this video! 🎉
Nope, I'm Dutch, so biking being a frivolous children's activity doesn't even make sense to me.
Cmon man you live in Canada use kilometers not miles
People living in the US make up the largest percentage of our viewership so we opted for miles here 🤷♂️ Will do a conversion for the next one to keep everybody happy 😉
I remember watching something on NHK Japan about pedal assist bikes but it wasn't through a battery, the way the wheels moved and when you pedaled, there was like a little rubber cushion that helped propel the bike forward. I thought it was really interesting, I'm not sure if it's something that's become popular in N America (I'm not up to date on biking trends) or not but it seemed like a really cool idea and a good choice if, maybe, you weren't looking to do an E-bike but also weren't sure about a regular bike.
I live in Langford with the galloping goose right outside my apartment - it used to go almost directly all the way to my workplace in Saanich but there are just a few sections where for some reason you have to cross some heavily car populated stroads. Still pretty good!
Great video! I'd never buy an e-bike, because I like cycling so much the old way. I hope this isn't just a passing fad and people are genuinely buy them to abandon driving cars. Otherwise it's just waste and a new form of excess.
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....
eBike + bike trailer means I very rarely have to drive anywhere.
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....
I was on the fence about using alternate transport between home and work (9-12 miles depending on the route) and have tried several options, the OneWheel for a bit, which was super fun, slightly frightening and definitely more useable in the "final mile" scenario often cited by users...pedaled my bike the old fashioned way, which was cool but didn't allow any time flexibility as it was generally an hour to/from work regardless of route which was prohibitive in its own way...then got down to the e-bike business and found that the prices for a decent bike (by my cyclist reckoning) seemed much too high to offset the fuel savings using my big ole pickup truck ('Merica). Settled on a very used (85kish mile) motorcycle that gets 50 mpg, has hard/lockable side bags for cargo and is much more useable for errands, bad weather, etc. than an electric bike. Of course within months of my bike purchase my employer provided me with a vehicle to use to/from work and around town while working....such is life... My buddy at work is always blabbing about this $80k Tesla and how good it is for the environment and how much he is saving in fuel purchase, but I don't think his math will come to fruition until he owns the Tesla for 10-15 years, which seems almost as impossible as an Apple user not upgrading their phone in the same amount of time. Not knocking any decision making, but lets make the right choices for the best reasons, which I think is one of the pillars of this channel. Keep up the good work!
Greetings from Dublin ROI, glad you have mentioned Not just bikes. I myself ride an E-bike for almost two years, and use it every day for commuting, errands and bike touring, on occasion, and battery lasts for 85 km per charge. It's great on hills and on windy days. Turns out, I don't need a car here and bike lanes are showing up everywere, plus almost all delivery guys, in downtown Dublin, ride e-bikes. So, for USA riders, just keep riding and local communities will have to turn arround🚲
This video pointed out the flaw of an ebike having a battery, however it didn't point out that electric cars which are hailed as the green alternative to all of our problems have batteries that are approximately 100-200x larger than an ebike battery, and therefore have a massive climate impact compared to ebikes.
While ebikes might be slightly less environmentally friendly than regular bikes, they are literally thousands of times better than cars, be that either electric or gasoline. Switching from a regular car to an electric car isn't that much better for the environment and it might potentially be even worse when you consider the massive amounts of lithium and cobalt that has to be mined for their gigantic batteries.
Switching from a car to an ebike, however, has great positive impact on the environment. It is better than a gas car for obvious reasons, and it is better than an electric car because far less metal and around 100 times less lithium is used for the same purpose : getting you from one place to another. Accelerating a 2 ton metal box will always use more energy than accelerating a ~20kg bicycle, making them far more efficient in their travel as well. Even if you bought a regular ebike and a cargo ebike to carry heavy things for every person in your family, it will still be far cleaner than even the cleanest of cars.
Could be wrong, but I think ebike batteries are also easier to refurbish than car batteries.
@@Anthropomorphic ppl made them sometimes from old laptops
My biggest gripe with eBikes is that many people who ride them seem to have little bike handling skills. The skill is not how to go fast, that's just cardio and knowing how to shift, it's how do you navigate when you have to slow down?
I had people come at me head on in the bike lane because they hit the "go fast" button and didn't manage to make the turn or wobble all over the road when they have to slow down.
Motorized scooters are the cause of many injuries. I think you need to think safety like a motorcycle rider
I bought a cruiser bike recently to get back into bike transportation and I love it! I am not as strong as I used to be so its a bit tough but I will get stronger as I use it more!
Another thing that could expand the utility of ebikes is battery swap stations. Gogoro in Taiwan has shown a really compelling model for efficient electric transit. I'm not sure if any of these city planner type channels have covered them yet.
I love Gogoro too! I work a lot with city planners and ultimately that kind of model would have to come from a private business or have the full support of a city council/ regional council.
Fortunately it is quite easy to delegate to city council, even if it is just talking about the functionality of such a system. I highly suggest you engage !
yay new video :)
✨✨ Excited for the team to see this one!!
As someone who has been commuting to work for years, I think that the most important thing to do is to make sure you're tires are topped off on air before riding. Most people that think they need an Ebike probably have been riding around on tires that are under pressurized.
I got an ebike as my first bike since I was a kid. I used to bike all the time as a kid, and I forgot how much I loved it. I don’t have a car and just moved to an even more bike-friendly city and now the only time I don’t bike somewhere, it’s because I’m walking there instead. My ebike gets me to and from work without getting sweaty and when I’m tired before or after a shift, I can just use throttle or turn up the pedal assist. I go slow enough to see my neighborhood and everything in it but about 5-6x faster than walking. I have a rear rack and so even getting groceries and stuff is super easy.
as a proud ebike owner, i will say that if you have max 30 kilometers (both ways) of daily commute then its glorious to have a bike, but for rainy days you have to have a good bus or tram line.
In Florida, you don't get bench or even a protection from the rain. You just get a random spot-on Google maps and pray that your bus arrives within an hour.
I'll say it: motorcycles are, speed to speed, safer than e-bikes. In the US, you need a lisence endorsement for a Motorcycle, that you can get from safety courses- making you a smarter rider. Motorcycles are also associated with much safer full face helmets, and DOT approved padding. Many people on e-bikes are wearing less safe clothing, and helmets rated for far lesser impacts despite the fact that they are also traveling at 30mph. Nobody on an ebike is wearing full motorcycle padding, despite them being just as quick in the city (and less visible).
I will say, lots of harley owners are the outliers. They tend to dress up like pirates and are the most likely sub category to be inebriated while riding due to biker bars being geared towards them
The naked Street bike type motorcycles are best suited for city commute
“Every pressing reality of climate change.”
LOL: That’s been massively exaggerated.
I don’t ride my bike to save the planet. I ride to save me from having a heart attack and save some dollars. Also it’s sometimes easier in a big city.
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....
4:02 you only did that joke so you could say "Let's backpedal" which is a joke within a joke. What a good writing HAHAHHA
Not Just Bikes also recently brought up a certain kind of cargo bike that can actually replace a car in terms of cargo space, be it for groceries or bringing kids around in the included seats. The bike itself puts the cargo basket up front so it's easier to keep tabs on whatever might be in there as you go, and it even gives any passengers a full view of what's in front of them.
Another issue wirh ebikes in my opinion is life expectancy: at the end of the day, ebikes are technologies which will evolve and eventually become obsolete (by design or not). On the other hand, the standard average bike hasn't changed much over the last DECADES and are easily repairable. Mine is 30 years old and still going strong, and I see a lot of people with old-looking/slightly worn out bikes around. What other modern objects can you still say as much about nowadays? I'm concerned people will change ebikes every 4-5 years as we do with other battery powered technologies.
Every single electronic part on the ebike is easily replaceable. There is no issue with life expectancy, as the electronics will need to be replace just as any other component on a bike
My favorite e-bike trend is the elderly people that can barely get a bike moving to get their feet on the pedals are hopping on 20+mph machines so they can injure themselves or others.
One thing I love about my city of Abbotsford here in Canada is that walking/cycling is really fun and sometimes faster or more convenient, as there are many sidewalks, wide alley shortcuts with guards to prevent cars, and some bike lanes as well. By the way are you a Sikh or have gone to India? Because that bracelt looks a lot like many karras.
I ride my bicycle to work everyday in a southern state and I own two regular bicycles. I tell all my bike curious friends to get an Lectric XP 2.0 e-bike a lot of people don't wanna ride in this heat.
I love my ebike 💯⚡⚡⚡
You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....
yo
ayo! 😎
I remember the time when people did'nt have speeds on their bikes. They don't shy dance pedaling to climb a hills . They were not ashamed to push it and walk beside. They take their time.
Regarding the last suggestion: No. Don't try out that trip with your rusty many years old bike to see if you would have fun to do those trips regularly. Chances are you would not like it and discard the idea. Bikes have improved a lot over the last years. And it makes a huge difference if they are well maintained or not.
Ask a friend or shop if they would lend or rent you a newish, well maintained bike of about your size to try it out. Especially if you are considering to get an ebike. The experience would be much closer to what you would have to expect.
It's actually what I've done to a lot of friends when they were visiting me. Taken them on trips by bike, that they usually would have done by car. Ensuring that they have a good bike to ride. Most of them were shocked how much fun it was on the good bike. And more than one of may friends then got themselves a new bike and now use them for normal day trips. Replacing at least some car trips if not many. They probably hadn't got there if they only would have tried their old rusty bike.
Oh, that's in Germany, but I guess over there in US or Canada a new bike with good breaks and drive train will make an even bigger difference. Probably a bigger difference then if they are electrified or not.
The case can be made e-bikes are more important in the transportation of food than people. Just like how electric cargo vans is expected to offset way more carbon footprint than electric personal vehicles. I live in Toronto and anytime I am downtown I see bike couriers delivering food on ebikes way more than bicycles these days. Anyways excited for the ebike revolution in the next 10 years.
I am really torn on the topic. When I see people taking an ebike for their long daily commute, I think its great. But too often I see young, fit people riding their ebike along a nearby river without significant elevation changes on the weekend I ask myself if its really necessary for them to ride an ebike.
Sorry for the long convaluted sentence... What I am trying to say is:
Replace your car with an ebike = helpful
Replace your bike with an ebike = not so helpful
Sadly I seem to see more of the latter...
What if they live far away from the area?
@@vvvvvv66666 then maybe just bike in your area 😉
@@felixbechtoldt what if theres no recreational biking areas in your neighborhood you knob
The thing is many disabilities can't be seen, they could have an old knee injury or just about anything. Or they could live far away, further than practical for anything but an avid rider.
@@vvvvvv66666 Oh okay, I was not expecting this kind of personal attack on one of Levi's videos... But maybe here on Future Proof there is a different crowd. That's kind of sad...
As for the content of your comment:
Where I live near Munich in Germany thats just not possible. You are always just a short ride away from nice biking areas.
Just an awesome video and so well put. As someone that is drawn to the shine glowing light of ebikes like moth to the flame, I really appreciate videos like these that are within a greater context and that let us truly sit back and analyze things for what they are. Thank you!
Would appreciate km/hr in text when referencing mileage :)
Will definitely get on that for future videos, thanks for the feedback!!
And I'd appreciate you guys pronouncing _aluminum_ and _beta_ correctly...but we all can't get what we want 😉