Why I ride an electric bike
I have owned and used an electric bike for more than four years – I love it. I primarily use it to cycle around Canberra as my preferred method of transport. Below are some of the reasons I choose to ride an electric bike most days.
It reduces the impact on the environment
Several years ago, we moved from being a two car couple to a one car plus electric bike. This means we are putting less pollution into the atmosphere and thereby helping to address climate change. An electric bike also requires less resources to manufacture than a car which also means less impact on the environment. Getting to net zero emissions is going to depend on more people using bikes for their shorter trips.
It is good for my health
A recently published book ‘The miracle pill: Why a sedentary world is getting it all wrong’ by Peter Walker sets out the research which clearly shows that people who exercise are healthier and reduce the risk of a wide range of lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes. An electric bike requires you to pedal to get it to move resulting in you exercising. You don’t get as much benefit as a conventional bike but research shows that you are getting health benefits from using an electric bike.
It helps get up hills
The major difference between an electric bike and a conventional bike from my point of view is the assistance it gives you when going up hills or when you are tired. Canberra doesn’t have too many hills compared to Brisbane and other capital cities but it is good to have it when riding up from the lake to Deakin or to Red Hill.
Parking is so much easier
With an electric bike, I can go into Civic and generally chain my bike up right in front of where I need to be. It is so much easier than having to find a car park.
It can be quicker than using a car
It is quicker for me to get to the local shops at Dickson (about 1.5 Kms) by bike than by car. This also applies for getting into Civic. It takes me about 35 minutes to get from Ainslie to Deakin on an electric bike which is a lot quicker than using public transport (about 1 hour). The way Canberra roads are becoming congested, it is only a matter of time before I can say that the bike trip to Deakin is quicker than a car during peak periods.
Objections to using an electric bike
Let me also discuss my approach to some of the common objections to using an electric bike.
It isn’t safe
I choose not to ride a bike on the bike lanes on the major roads in Canberra e.g. Adelaide Avenue. I do this because I don’t feel safe on them. I will only consider using them once there are barriers between the cars and bikes, as there is in so many places in the world. In the meantime, I choose to use quiet back streets and bicycle paths. For example, to get from Ainslie to Deakin for work, I ride on the back streets through Ainslie, Braddon and Civic and then join up on the bike paths around the lake and up through Yarralumla. If I am going anywhere else in Canberra, I always plan the route to use the same approach.
You need to shower after using a bike
Whilst this may be true of conventional bikes, this does not have to be true when using an electric bike. On an electric bike, you can choose the amount of assistance you want when riding. For example, on my bike, you can set the assistance level from 1 to 5. If I want to ensure I don’t have to shower when I get to my destination, I choose level 5 – maximum assistance. If I want to maximize my effort and get a workout, then I would choose level 2 or 3.
Electric bikes are expensive
Electric bikes vary widely in price, from $2,000 to $6,000 or even higher. I purchased my bike from Switched on Cycles which offers quality electric bikes in the range of $2,500 to $5,000. This is less than a year of running costs for a car.
It is too cold to ride a bike in a Canberra winter
I make sure I have lots of layers of clothing when using the electric bike. I do find that I need more layers in the morning than in the afternoon in a Canberra winter. Besides, cyclists in Denmark ride their bikes all year round and they have much a cooler climate than Canberra.
For all of the above reasons, I recommend getting an electric bike.
Peter LeCornu
See-Change Member and Volunteer