Categories
Ebikes

Senate E-Bike Act?

Ecotric Lark
Ecotric Lark 36V/500W

Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) have introduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (Senate E-BIKE Act), and yeah, I support it, as does the House, where there are 21 co-sponsors of the bill. It offers a tax credit worth 30 percent of a new e-bike’s purchase price, and the credit would also be fully refundable, which would allow lower-income individuals to claim it. E-bikes are definately more expensive from the get-go, so this would be a big help.

“The bill makes a clean alternative more accessible to more people,” Schatz said. “E-bikes make lots of sense for working people, young people, and others who either cannot afford or don’t want a car.”

A recent study found that if 15 percent of car trips were made by e-bike, carbon emissions would drop by 12 percent. I have found my e-bike riding has eliminated at least 80% of my car trips, and made them more pleasant to do in the process!

The E-Bike Potential: Estimating regional e-bike impacts on greenhouse gas emissions

E-bikes are not an entirely new mode of transportation, but they are one of the fastest growing, most practical, and carbon reducing ways of getting around in the city. (Did I mention they are fun too?!)

Ecotric Dolphin
Ecotric Dolphin
Categories
Ebikes

Domino Effect?

Check out this RadCity Step-Thru at Domino’s in Eastland Plaza!

I agree with whoever makes decisions at Domino’s, this RadPower e-bike is a great value. With a 48V/750W rear hub motor, this bike is maxed out power wise (to be legal on our multi-use paths), and can handle a 275 pound load. The step-thru feature is essential for carrying large loads, and front hydraulic forks takes out the bumps. The high handle bars make for a comfort ride, and the rear rack is welded on the body, quite sturdy. I am thinking it would be great for pulling a trailer as well. It is $1600, and not available till this November (unless you are a giant corporation like Dominos!)

RadCity Step-Thru

Categories
Ebikes

Zephyr & Charlie Bird

Charlie Bird of Bloomington came by the Workshop to help build a few new bikes last week, and of course he and Lalo (dog prince of the manor) got along just fine…

BTW, Charlie’s new book is available at Zephyr E-Bike Workshop, or on his website at CharlieBirdBtown.com!

Charlie Bird Loves Bloomington

Categories
Ebikes

Ebikes & Slate

Jamelle Bouie’s Tern cargo e-bike

So I noticed that both Jamelle Bouie and David Plotz seemed to advocate for e-bikes on the latest Slate Political Gabfest! Well known for his writing/commentary for the NYT/CBS News, Jamelle Bouie also spends time riding his Tern GSD , a well outfitted cargo e-bike, which he uses to transport his kids and run errands around town.

Great minds cruise down the same roads…my RadWagon has done the same for several years now! His Tern has bunch of upgrades from mine: mid-drive Bosch motor, suspension fork, hydraulic brakes, and 20″ wheels, and it is somewhat foldable. But to my surprise, no throttle, power assist only! I am not sure that it is worth +$3000 over the Radwagon, at least for me. But he is a young man, I am not, and I rely on the throttle to get me going in tight situations (stop signs and traffic lights are but one example.)

Jamelle gives a good rationale for buying even this well made e-bike: it is cheaper and easier to use than a car for most trips in town!

(I was tempted to edit the grammar, but he writes for the NYT, I figure he wants his tweets informal):

“the reason for this particular bike — an e-assist cargo bike — is that we need a second vehicle but i absolutely do not want to own another car. so for far less than a car (to say nothing of insurance and fees and taxes and such) i get something that i can do 95% of trips with”

IMHO e-bikes are a new catagory of transportation (and recreation): they take the sting (and sweat) out of bike travel, yet massively reduce the carbon footprint of gas powered vehicles like mopeds, scooters, motorcycles and cars. (A charge cycle on an e-bike battery costs less than a dime at today’s electricity rates.)

They are fun to use, so people use them more to do day to day tasks, and thus use their cars/trucks less. Each e-bike in use is one less car on our already overcrowded streets and parking lots, which I see as win/win.

Rad Wagon Venus
Rad Wagon Venus