Are you among the estimated 60 percent of Americans whose commute to work is under 10 miles? If so, you may want to consider a slowly growing trend: ditching the car in favor of a battery-assisted or electric bike to get to work.
An electric bike (not to be confused with scooters or electric motorcycles) basically looks a lot like the regular bicycle we all grew up with. The main difference is the addition of a battery pack, often mounted on the bike’s frame like a water bottle, or over the back like a saddle bag. An electric bike’s battery pack provides extra oompf instead of relying only on pedal power. Electric bikes are experiencing a slow but steady increase in popularity as people realize it can be more convenient than a car for short commutes—no parking worries, less traffic congestion—while saving on gas to boot.
Interested in getting an electric bike? You’ve got tons of choices: Schwinn has several models, as do Giant, Optibike, iZip, Trek, and others. Even Lexus and Volkswagen may be getting into the mix. Here’s what to consider first:
- How much do you want to pedal? Your options run the gamut from electric bikes that offer a bit of power assistance but require the rider to keep on pedaling, to those that (blissfully) don’t require any pedaling at all. If showering at the office isn’t an option for you, or you just don’t like to get sweaty, electric bikes can be a good middle road between getting your workout on and chugging down the highway in your car.
- How far is your commute? And is it San Francisco-hilly or Kansas City-flat? Both of these issues will affect the range of any electric bike you choose. Short distances over flat terrain will be a cinch for your new ride, but longer distances with a lot of hills may require you to carefully make sure the battery range is sufficient. You want to avoid the sad realization that your new electric bike will get you to work and halfway home, only to leave you huffing and puffing up that last hill. If range is a concern, look at electric bikes that offer additional batteries; these can double the bike’s go-juice.
- Are there electric bike laws that apply? Laws regarding electric bikes vary widely from state to state. In some, age restrictions and licensing requirements apply, and there may be differences in the types of roads on which electric bikes are allowed to travel. Or there might be restrictions on top speed and the amount of power a bike produces in order to be considered an electric bike. Local bicycle shops may be able to help you navigate some of these issues.
Image: Christopher Thomas via Flickr
Amy Foster Parish is on staff with the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. In her spare time, she enjoys pretending that riding an electric bike counts as cardio.