The idea of power-assisted cycling seems to exasperate some people. When I talk about e-bikes, I hear: “It’s cheating!” and “The point of cycling is exercise.” It’s not cheating because we are not racing, life is not a competition and neither is going to the shops. Nor does it mean you don’t exercise on an electric bike – you still have to pedal – it’s just that your pedalling can be assisted when the wind is against you or you need help up a hill. It feels like someone is giving you a push through the difficult bits. The motor can help you on the flat as well, but is legally required to cut out at 15.5mph, making an electric bike no more dangerous than an ordinary one. They are great for long, hilly, blowy jaunts and commutes, and allow people to choose this greener form of getting around over a car or public transport when it would not work for them, for whatever reason, to use an ordinary bicycle.
The legitimate reasons for using an electric bike are many. The first of these, for me, is because I want to, but there are others. Here are some quotes I’ve collected: “Since getting his electric bike my 80-year-old dad has been given a new lease of life”; “I live on the South Downs – I’d have to use my car far more often if I didn’t have one”; “All the rage here in hilly Oslo, especially for hauling kids and bulky goods”; “Perfect for cobbled, windy Edinburgh”; “As an ex-athlete with knackered knees, I need the electric bike for hills I could not otherwise do”; “On my e-bike I can keep up with my fitter friends so we can ride together”; “Good for the days I would’ve opted for the car because too tired to go on my regular bike”; “If we didn’t have one, we’d have to have two cars”; “I’ve got a walking disability and the electric bike means I can get out.”
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