Reading the comments I think I’m in the minority but you did ask so I’ll be candid and honest. I’ll also try my best to be respectful.
E-bikes and e-scooters drive me nuts. They can definitely be an annoyance, and sometimes a safety concern in bike lanes due to the fact that most riders of these electric machines are new to riding on the road, but that’s not even what makes me upset.
I just don’t get why people don’t invest in a good, correctly fitted bicycle. They are cheaper (often by an order of magnitude or two), easy to maintain, keep you healthy, use standardized, readily available parts, will never go obsolete, don’t need a charger, don’t contribute to e-waste, and are completely ubiquitous. I just don’t get why people don’t ride bikes. They are so amazing! Ever since I was a kid I have been completely obsessed, and now well into my thirties I am still a total nerd about bikes. I don’t think there is anything better than a good bike ride.
The part that confuses me the most about e-bikes is the serviceability. Who is fixing these things? All of the bike mechanic/nerd friends of mine won’t touch them with a 10 foot pole. Do bike mechanics now have to familiarize themselves with high voltage lithium ion batteries? Is there a standard for these batteries? If a manufacturer decides to go proprietary, and then decide to stop making e-bikes, or goes bankrupt, is your e-bike now e-waste? The whole thing makes me confused as to why we tried to fix a problem that was not a problem. Bikes just work.
I think a lot of people have bad experiences riding bikes because their last experience was with an uncomfortable, poorly sized, heavy bike. But the feeling of riding a light, correctly sized, comfortable bike is truly divine. In my opinion it’s on par with good sex.
BTW - of course there is a good reason for some seniors or people with disabilities to use something like this, but that is not the target that I am referring to.
So when I see an e-bike or an e-scooter I get upset on principle. And then when they do something dangerous like speed past me or ride the wrong direction in a bike lane I become infuriated. But maybe the world is changing and I should to. But I tell you what I am not ready for bikes to be replaced with e-bikes.
Thanks. Can you clarify which part about e-bikes I am wrong about? I mostly just stated that they confuse me.
Would you also mind providing me with some more information about how the manufacturer fixing their own product work? Is it like an iPhone in that only some people with a special license can do it? Are there some parts the user is expected to fix, and others they are meant to send back? What about general tune ups? What happens when the manufacturer goes out of business? What happens if they are not situated in your city? Will they be able to replace a battery in 20 years from now? 50 years from now?
FWIW I live in the prairies so hills don’t exist where I am from. I get why some people would prefer some assistance for a hill. But some wisdom I gained when I lived in a hilly village: what goes up must come down.
As for sweat, I guess if you have a job where you have to present a certain way, I get it. Personally, I just pack an extra shirt and bring deodorant. Sweating is good for you!
You’re right: e-bikes > cars. If every driver got on an e-bike I would be ecstatic. But my point is that if you spent as much on a traditional bike as you did on an e-bike you would have a machine that would outlast your lifetime and be much easier to ride than you may imagine. Riding a good bike isn’t that much harder than an e-bike.
On a side note, I’m a little bummed I got downvoted. Usually a downvote means you are being toxic or are not contributing to the conversation. Am I being rude? I just feel passionate about bikes.