'Boris e-Bikes' set to be trialled in North London

Mendip James wrote:

Hang on, I thought the health benefits of cycling were being championed previously, now they want to take the 'puff and pant' out of it and are putting in place a scheme for people who only want to freewheel downhill?! It's a like a urban uplift, perhaps Boris has drawn inspiration from Cwmcarn MTB centre? Jarred hit the nail on the head.

Some e-bikes give you the option to pedal or use the motor. That has advantages of increasing the range as well. I had an opportunity to ride a couple that were being procured for posties (really good idea in some places where postie has a long delivery round, heavy bags and big hills.)

I don't know if they are that type but I can see e-bikes assisting in getting critical mass on the road. I commute round trip 25 miles. Lots of people at the office think it's a lot. They think of bike rides being a few miles and just quicker than walking. Which it is. They think that maybe the 8 - 10 mile round trip that would have to make is a bit far They also mention hills and distance that make it not so viable for them as people who might like to cycle to work but aren't die in the ditch (not literally ) "cyclists".

My thoughts are that the more of these people use e-bikes then the more of us out there makes infrastructure a higher priority plus all the safety benefits of a certain critical mass as well. We can still peddle if we like while they use the motor but we make cycle commuting more viable for loads more people.

Bring it on I say.

Mendip James wrote:

Hang on, I thought the health benefits of cycling were being championed previously

Sure they're losing out on the exercise, but there's also your health: do you prefer commuters in motorized vehicles spewing out exhaust, crowding the streets and driving into you on your bicycle while they check their texts, or would you rather that they used an e-bike?

Simon_MacMichael wrote:

Northernbike wrote:

I hope these electric bikes have oxygen to help the riders avoid altitude sickness as well. Those London hills sound pretty daunting.

Try Highgate Hill on a 23kg clunker with three gears and an unsuitable riding position and let us know how you get on

23kg? Luxury!

VeloPeo wrote:

That money should be earmarked for (and was originally announced as) putting in a better cycling infrastructure.

There's no point chucking more Boris Bikes in until you provide an environment where people get injured and killed on bikes 'cos we're cramming too many things into too little space

This man speaks sense!

jarredscycling wrote:

I would think the cost of an ebike would make them a common target of theft

Thieves are presumably more interested in the value to them than the cost to the original owner, which is not necessarily the same thing. Dunno how easy it'd be to get rid of a stolen Boris e-Bike.

Chuck wrote:

jarredscycling wrote:

I would think the cost of an ebike would make them a common target of theft

Thieves are presumably more interested in the value to them than the cost to the original owner, which is not necessarily the same thing. Dunno how easy it'd be to get rid of a stolen Boris e-Bike.

Impossible I'd say - you'd need to dock it to charge it so once its charge runs out it's just a normal (albeit very heavy) bike and it's extremely distinctive. I presume that the battery will be firmly bolted into place.
I think the Boris Bike scheme has only lost about 4 bikes to theft - it's a pretty foolproof system. They lose a few to damage every year but there are enough spares (both bikes and parts) to simply keep replacing them.

sm wrote:

Excellent - as a Haringey resident I welcome these - e-bikes will give me something to chase as I do my hill repeats on Muswell Hill!

Surely you get enough sprint training from avoiding the muggers?

(Used to live in Turnpike Lane).