Login | April 23, 2024
The e-bike storm approaching
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: April 19, 2021
I sense an approaching e-storm in the cycling world.
Some might call it the beginning of a cycling Armageddon while others might call it the genesis of a cycling Renaissance. Whatever we’ll be calling it we’re now experiencing the emergence of what will likely be a supercharged situation, a clash between cycling’s old and new guards. I’m talking of course about the rapid ascension of electric bikes on our offload and recreational trail systems.
In the past several year’s we’ve seen a significant push in e-bike marketing, and it’s a marketing push that’s going toe-to-toe with the old well established non-electrical bicycle icons which makes me wonder is it public demand or a massive marketing push on the public? Whatever the answer is one thing’s for sure, e-bikes sales are going through the roof.
As a result both motorized mountain bikers and motorized road bikers have begun to rub some cycling traditionalists the wrong way.
And that brings us back to my e-stormy premonition, which was catalyzed by my very first negative e-bike encounter. It happened when I was returning from a long ride out on the backroads of Portage County during a beautiful March afternoon. I had popped onto the Portage Bike & Hike Trail for a shortcut when I noticed a rider in front of me constantly looking in the bike’s rearview mirror as I was narrowing the gap between us.
Having ridden amongst e-bike riders on multipurpose trails for the past several years, the individual up ahead of me fit the typical e-biker profile to a tee: super low pedal cadence, moderate to brisk speed, jeans & tennis shoes, and an inability to hold a straight line.
Now what both puzzled and peeved me was the fact that said rider continued to increase speed as if trying not to be passed. This scenario continued for about a half mile until a road crossing, whereupon the e-bike rider had difficulty stopping and starting in the same line of travel. Then after I’d stopped and was about to pass, I proclaimed “on your left,” upon which the e-bike rider awkwardly veered quickly in front of me, darned near running me into some fencing which lined the left side of the trail.
It’s then that I reprimanded this young gentleman, telling him to learn how to ride a real bike before riding a bloody motorized bike on a trail full of pedestrians. Unfortunately, I also had a few colorful expletives intertwined with my admonition.
I thought about that encounter all the way home. I subsequently thought so much about it that I decided to write this column. So here’s my take.
I’ve seen very competent, very responsible e-bike riders on the trails, and conversely I’ve witnessed some speedy/reckless e-bike riders on the trails, one of which damn near ran me into metal fencing.
On the one side are people who are physically unable to pedal traditional bicycles and who have turned to the e-bike as a great way to get in a little exercise with a bit of mechanical help. And generally speaking these are older individuals who ride responsibly, cautiously and with courtesy.
And then on the other side are younger people who could likely ride a real bicycle, but choose instead to ride an e-bike - for whatever reason - and generally speaking operate the e-vehicle irresponsibly by coupling excess speed with an inability to handle the vehicle properly putting pedestrians and fellow cyclists at risk.
Is speed the aphrodisiac with which consumes some of these younger e-bikers? And is it then the speed that makes these e-bikers more reckless? My opinion is yes-squared. Obviously more speed means longer braking times, more handling issues, and an increase in accidents.
Let me tell you how this cyclist views the situation.
1. It takes traditional cyclists years to feel confident in their handling abilities when going fast on a bike.
2. It also takes a lot of TITS (time in the saddle) before a traditional cyclist gets in good enough physical shape to ride fast at a consistent pacing.
3. Learning to become a safe, competent cyclist is a long and slow step-by-step undertaking.
Simply adding a motor to a bike enables anyone––both good and bad intentioned individuals––to ride inappropriately faster, further and riskier.
Like I said, I sense an e-storm approaching.