Bicycles touted as ‘first modern post-fossil vehicle’

"There is growing recognition that cycling contributes to tackling obesity, traffic congestion, climate change or even improving quality of life," said Darmon, "but the potential role played by the bicycle for economic development is mainly ignored by decision-makers".

(...)

The Commission is set to present its action plan on urban mobility in a few months' time, said Commissioner Tajani's spokesperson. "After an impasse at the end of December 2008, Vice-President Tajani is now convinced that it is possible to find member states' and local authorities' support," he told EurActiv.

http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/bicycles-touted-modern-post-fossil-vehicle/article-182342

""Peak oil is now," Schindler warned, saying that he expected electric-powered bikes to turn bicycles into "the first modern post-fossil vehicle"."

The best Ebike is the one you create yourself!

My Ebike Kit Page

I guess it would be silly if you never have an issue with speed or range.

People use bikes in general for three reasons: transportation, recreation and fitness. Individual biking activities often combine these reasons.

In this context, we are talking about mostly transportation. Many people are using ebikes to commute to and from work as an alternative to automobiles. Ebikes give a boost to speed which makes the commute faster. Since it helps get you back up to speed quickly after a stop at a traffic light or sign, you don't exert yourself as much, and you are less likely to arrive at work sweaty and in need of a shower. Hills that will slow a casual rider to 5 mph can be climbed at 15 mph with most systems.

It is much easier to flow with traffic if you can accelerate as fast as the cars usually do, and I personally like racing them across the intersection. Since I top out at around 20mph, they soon pass me anyway, but I think they appreciate not being stuck behind a slow moving vehicle.

I know there are lots of bike riders that don't really need electric assist, but in my case, I would not be riding nearly as much or as far without it. I am not athletic, in shape, or young. People over 40 that remember how much fun biking was but find it too much of a strain are often very interested in ebikes.

lights just like the cars........

I am fortunate to have a multi-use path close by that allows me to avoid a lot of stoplights.

You do have to stop like the cars, but with an electric assist, you launch faster and easier. Your acceleration from zero is much faster, meaning that you get to your cruising speed sooner and maintain a higher speed because it takes less energy to launch.

Let me say that again: Launch will be much easier with an ebike!

It is so easy, you may find yourself stopping at stop signs even when there is no one around. That is, assuming you don't do this already. ;)

I guess I would call myself an ebike advocate. I don't have a financial interest at this time, the kit page above is on a free server through my cable provider, so I can't even place adds or associate links to support it. I really just created it myself so I could make an intelligent buying decision.

If ebikes were in wide use I am sure that they would offset a significant amount of auto usage. I like to hear why people are skeptical about them, but I assume that they have never tried one.

I did never thought about Ebiking until I try it, since then, I love it

of stop lights and very heavy car traffic. This is Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles we're talking about. And the only bike path for miles is 2 miles RT out of my way. Frankly, with the insanely aggressive, bike-hating drivers in this city, a bike is just too dangerous on that street.

But just remember, the motor and batteries on an E-bike are probably heavy enough to knock 5mph off your 'normal' bike speeds. Once you get in shape, dump the motor and you'll be surprised how much faster you get off the line.

I'm well over 40 and ride a standard steel road bike, no motors. My top speed in the flats is over 25mph, if I'm in a pack, I can hit mid-30's. I have no problems in traffic.

It wasn't always that way. I'm at least 10mph faster and 30-40 pounds lighter than when I started seriously riding 5 years ago. So ride and get in shape, dump the motor, and you'll be amazed what a middle aged body can do...

An ebike can be inexpensive, it can have a high level of performance and it can be light. It cannot be all three.

The lightest motor on the kit page is 7 pounds, and you can get a Li-poly battery as small as 5 pounds or so I think.

After I started ridding my ebike more often, I started using my Trek hybrid for short trips. It was a lot easier than I recalled. I also have a Harro with front shocks that I put hybrid tires on. It is real good for walking the dog. My ebike has big funky pannier baskets that are perfect for grocery shopping. The assists helps deal with the squirrellyness induced by 40 pounds of groceries.

I don't think I can drop 30 pounds, I am 5'10" and 165# now, and five years is a long time to wait for a performance upgrade. I am also well over 50.

Soon after my wife got her ebike, we took a trip to a local festival. It was about 30 miles total, and we were not in any kind of shape.

Wow, my entire bike is only 18 pounds. But that's just my preference.... as long as you're getting out in the sun and doing some exercise, it's all good.

Ms Bigmack and I do about 3500 miles a year. We're not the "century on a weekend" people... we bike just about every day, tho. In hilly country.

We're fine right now.. 65 years old and in pretty good shape, but we're looking forward to the time when we can't do those looooooong pulls.
We're thinking maybe a bolt-on assist for the steep hills. Our bikes weigh a ton right now, so weight is not really an issue.