Can e-bikes transform our cities? | FT Tech

Sales of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, as they’re better known, are booming. At the same time, innovations in battery technology have extended the range that an e-bike can travel. The FT’s Harry Dempsey explores the impact they’re having on commuting, deliveries, and the cities we live in.

#ebike #transport


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[cguyglu]

Can't wait for cities to go the dutch route and become more and more bike and human friendly. Also: it is about pedestrians as well, having a walkable city with great public transport goes hand in hand with good bike infrastructure

[JMsurYT]

FT : Wants to look at the impact of ebikes on urbanism.
Also FT : proceeds to focus on high end moutain bikes and delivery companies.

E-bikes are revolutionary because they reduce the effort needed to cycle, making it accessible to everyone from old people to commuters in business clothes. It's great FT is trying to tackle the question, but this video barely scratches the surface.

[samgrainger]

If there was safe cycle infrastructure i'd swap my car for an ebike in a heartbeat

[andycharlton]

Just to point out that a good commuter e bike can be bought for way less then the 3000 euro quoted here. Also, electric scooters will also have a massive part to play in future urban travel as they can be stored in any apartment and when you get to work they can just be stood in a corner out of the way.

[dlvl]

I live in the US and the roads here are profoundly dangerous. My best friend was just hit on his bike by a drunk driver and put in the ICU with a serious brain injury. I'd love to dump my car for an e-bike, but my god, we need to protect cyclists in this country.

[generativeresearch]

Montréal is getting bike friendly everyday and may become an example for other North American cities to follow suit

[Conservator.]

“We have built a place to park 300 bicycles next to the railway station”

In Utrecht (Netherlands) there’s a parking garage for 12, 000 bikes next to the central station (and it’s full every day)

Making a video about transport on bikes and not including the Netherlands is a bit of a missed opportunity imo.

[davethibault]

I've used my Ebike as my main mode of transportation since the start of the pandemic. I absolutely love it, the best purchase I've ever made.
And living in Montreal, I've even put my ride through the snow. It's great.
It's also a foldable bike, so if something happens where I'm unable to ride like a flat tyre or a broken chain, which has happened. I can put the bike on the subway or in the back of an uber in case of emergency.

[alecbrown]

It may have a certain trendy appeal in cities in the UK. However, this misses the huge demand from rural comunities, where school leavers, unemployed and poor people are getting ebikes conversions (most commonly to mountain bikes) to access shopping, medical services, and even that vital first rung after school or university, where mopeds, cars- even old clunkers are unaffordable even second hand, with totally unaffordable basic insurance, and bus services badly cut back. Ebikes in the uk are providing rural people able to access affordable transport to food, medical, education, and employment.
And the local commute from my village to the nearest town 8 miles away is slashed from around 45 minutes, to around 20 minutes by ebike.
That's where ebikes will continue to have high growth. And current conversions can fit everything from racing and mountain bikes to tricycles etc, also opening independant ecenomical safe travel for the elderly, disabled and retired housewives who may never have had a driving licence.
But it is urgent that the government put a safety framework for them to be road legal, such as the alreadilly available rear lights, with brake lights and indicators & front headlamp/running light with indicators, that are readily available, cheap accessories, that can easilly fit on all current traditional cycles.

[robertlee]

Seeing alot of these E-Bikes. I'm LOVING IT. We have too many noisey ICE Bikes, Scooters, Motorcycles, and all the rest of the LOUD and Polluting modes of transportation.

[dreadfulbodyguard]

Bikes also make public transport more reachable for people reducing need of cars even for mid-distance commute. Public transport + biking infra == ❤

[kantace]

The issue is less about e-bikes and much more about bike friendly infrastructure.

[jessegee]

I rarely use the car since I’ve bought an ebike. You don’t need a brand new top of the range sports bike for daily use, but good quality matters. I took mine to the Netherlands, but found it wasn’t necessary, a standard bike was sufficient in the Utrecht and Delft. Here in the U.K. it’s really helpful.

[olafvonbraun]

Back in 2018 I was one of the few in my hood in San Diego who had a fat tire foldable e-bike. I was stopped so many times to answer questions. Now when I ride it I pass a sea of people - most of them on e-bikes. It’s a revolution alright ))

[torashuPanda]

I've commited to use my bike at least once a week, and this was enough to improve my sedentary life. I put a mirror on my bike and it makes me feel less tense when riding on streets because I can see when there are cars behind me.

[WallaseyanTube]

The sales may be booming now, but due to the relatively high entry point of what is still only a bike, it will likely be prohibitive for the majority to make the transition so at some point we may expect sales to level off. The bike has become a premium product and is another big ticket item just as the costs for family cars are rising - something that most will not willingly give up.

[Moto_Miles]

I commute to London and taking a Lime e-bike is the fastest way for me to get to the office, covering 1.5miles in 9mins. 90% is on dedicated cycle lines separated from vehicles and it's a great experience.

[TheSonicVEVO]

I think nobody is mentioning how helpful e-bikes and e-scooters can be in a hilly city. If you buy a normal bicycle in my city and want to get around everywhere with it good luck.

[theepimountainbiker]

I love my ebike. Not quite to the point Ive sold my car but any trip within the city I use the bike. Even use it for Uber Eats, its so much more convenient than a car but I do make the odd long trip a ebike cannot do. Sure has saved me a bundle in gas costs in the few months Ive had it so far though, its paying for itself in gas saved alone.

[robertbones]

London in the 1800s: BICYCLES ARE THE FUTURE!

In the 1900s: CARS ARE THE FUTURE!

2022: THIS BICYCLE WITH A BATTERY ATTACHED IS THE FUTURE!