Have you seen someone whizzing down the road on an electric bike? Been reading about electric bikes in the news and wondering what all the fuss is about?
For some, an electric bike means the daily commuter can get to work without finding themselves dripping with sweat once they arrive. For others, it means they can keep up with their all-too-energetic partner while they’re hitting the latest bike trail.
Like it or not, electric bikes look like they’re catching on – and we’ll explore why below:
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You Can Still Get Fit
The world we live in is alarmingly sedentary, which is why we’re constantly being warned that we need to get up and get active.
Cycling is one of the ways we can do this, while completing a journey in the process.
But how do you get fit when you’re sat on a bike with a motor?
Well, many electric bikes still have pedals. So even though you’re getting a little extra help while you’re peddling around, just keeping your feet on the pedals will mean your legs are moving, your joints are mobilized and you’re burning more calories than if you were driving a car.
And if you do suffer from painful or stiff joints in your legs, you’ll no doubt find this gentle exercise gets things moving without working you too hard.
You’ll Save Money on Commuting
Public transport is becoming increasingly expensive, whereas cycling remains a cost-effective way of getting around. In the UK, a study found that it can cost up to £1.70 per mile to run a car, but just 4.2 pence per mile to run a push bike and as little as 5 pence to keep an electric bike going.
You Can Travel Further – Quickly
Even if someone’s a keen cyclist, an electric bike can help them make that extra-long journey. This means more people may hop on and off their bike to do various chores, which they maybe wouldn’t have done before.
For example, have you always wanted to bike to work when it’s nice and sunny but don’t want to arrive in a puddle of sweat? Well, an electric bike allows you to make the trip without putting as much effort in. And compared to buses or cars, this may be an even quicker way of getting there because you can take cycle routes and short cuts, eradicating all that wasted time you spend in traffic jams.
You Can Become “Green”
Finally, there’s the overwhelming benefit of doing your bit for the environment.
But these bikes use electricity, we hear you cry!
Well, yes, they do, but when you factor in how much electricity you’re using to charge the bike compared to what it would take to charge an electric car or motorbike – this is far less. Plus you’re not emitting any harmful fumes into the atmosphere, and there are sustainable companies you could try and get your electricity from.
And if you really want to go the extra mile, you could even generate electricity using your own wind turbine or solar panels.
Ultimately, electric bikes are transforming the way we get around and do our bit for the planet. And with technology continuing to advance at an exponential rate, who knows what’s next for the world of transport?