Yeah but everyone “needs” an e bike nowadays, which compared to regular bikes is another step back.
If it makes the difference between someone using a bike and not using a bike, it’s still a step forward.
In a way, yea sure. I have a gut feeling that those battery’s will become the next big issue once gasoline has a way lower market share.
eBikes allow older folks and disabled folks to get out.
You guys are truly insufferable. You hate on cars, but then hate on people who rely on eBikes.
I guess we should stop making electronic wheelchairs, too. Quadriplegics should just sit and die.
which compared to regular bikes is another step back.
I initially assumed that too, but it turns out that e-bikes are even more efficient than regular bikes. In other words, holding the total amount of (food calories + electricity kWh) constant, an ebike rider can go farther than a regular bike rider on the same amount of energy.
I also recognize that it’s easy to fall into a gatekeeping attitude of considering e-bikes as “cheating” compared to regular bikes, but us cyclists have really got to work hard to get over it because it’s not helpful.
I think they called it a “step back” in terms of being worse for the environment, because of batteries, etc, while a common bike can be used for years and years without creating additional pollution.
They literally could just support asteroid mining so we could have all of this green tech they want without the surface mining baggage.
I see it as a bridge between cars and bikes, and both have a time and place. My area is pretty flat and I do it partly for the health benefits so I won’t get an e bike. But if you have tons of hills, want to haul cargo or have a longer commute I can see it. It can be a “gateway drug” for people that wouldn’t otherwise buy a bike.
My concern with e anything are the tons of batteries that will need to be properly disposed of in the coming years and how many can’t or won’t be.
