I looked up ebikes the other day, while watching people park and lock them. And then I looked at the prices. Oh my goodness, far more expensive than I thought they'd be! Missed your posts, Chris. I was away from cross-promotion for a month. Happy to be back.
It's true, e-bikes can get really expensive. You can still sometimes find good deals under $1,000 and the second-hand market can be your friend. But new bikes can really set you back. It's helpful to think of them more as comparison to car prices rather than recreational bikes. That can still be a stretch for some people. The other thing specific to cargo bikes are all the accessory and customization options. Even if the base price seems reasonable, you'll want to really customize the accessories to make it fit your daily needs. At least they take less of a toll on the environment and should require far less maintenance than a car!
I am pro ebike, and I also think a cargo ebike is the best ebike because in spite of its size, it is fun to ride because of the power assist.
But here’s the unfortunate truth about ebike vs cheap car. In big cities, e-bikes are stolen all the time and the police don’t have time to care about bikes thieves. Also, you have the danger of riding in traffic with car drivers who hate you or are looking at their phones. And bad weather.
I am a cyclist who rides 6k miles per year on a regular bike. I have reviewed and owned multiple cargo e-bikes, for a cycling site.
On my regular bike I stick to safer routes where cars aren’t as crazy. Using a cargo bike to run errands puts you right in the scariest situations, and I have lost friends to cars over the years who were riding safely and legally so I am very afraid and careful.
Some areas and many countries are safer than others. I lived in Germany where I felt safe.
But I wanted to just point out these real issues about bikes and cities.
Yes, many cities are still not set up to make cycling as easy, convenient, or safe as it should be. When you are cycling with valuable cargo like kids, dogs, or groceries on board, it can be even scarier.
It's always a better idea to ride on dedicated bike paths or less trafficked streets or "Bicycle Boulevards" as they are often called in the Bay Area. If those alternatives don't exist where you live, then yes maybe an inexpensive small car (preferably electric) is a more viable alternative to an electric cargo bike.
These are important conversations to have! While an electric cargo bike may not work for everyone, it's worth exploring the possibility if it can cut down on automobile trips taken.
And let's hope that cycling conditions improve over the next decade so we can be better equipped to meet some of the lofty carbon emissions goals that many cities (like my own) are trying to achieve.
I looked up ebikes the other day, while watching people park and lock them. And then I looked at the prices. Oh my goodness, far more expensive than I thought they'd be! Missed your posts, Chris. I was away from cross-promotion for a month. Happy to be back.
Thanks Lee! Glad you're back.
It's true, e-bikes can get really expensive. You can still sometimes find good deals under $1,000 and the second-hand market can be your friend. But new bikes can really set you back. It's helpful to think of them more as comparison to car prices rather than recreational bikes. That can still be a stretch for some people. The other thing specific to cargo bikes are all the accessory and customization options. Even if the base price seems reasonable, you'll want to really customize the accessories to make it fit your daily needs. At least they take less of a toll on the environment and should require far less maintenance than a car!
I am pro ebike, and I also think a cargo ebike is the best ebike because in spite of its size, it is fun to ride because of the power assist.
But here’s the unfortunate truth about ebike vs cheap car. In big cities, e-bikes are stolen all the time and the police don’t have time to care about bikes thieves. Also, you have the danger of riding in traffic with car drivers who hate you or are looking at their phones. And bad weather.
I am a cyclist who rides 6k miles per year on a regular bike. I have reviewed and owned multiple cargo e-bikes, for a cycling site.
On my regular bike I stick to safer routes where cars aren’t as crazy. Using a cargo bike to run errands puts you right in the scariest situations, and I have lost friends to cars over the years who were riding safely and legally so I am very afraid and careful.
Some areas and many countries are safer than others. I lived in Germany where I felt safe.
But I wanted to just point out these real issues about bikes and cities.
I really appreciate your insight here!
Yes, many cities are still not set up to make cycling as easy, convenient, or safe as it should be. When you are cycling with valuable cargo like kids, dogs, or groceries on board, it can be even scarier.
It's always a better idea to ride on dedicated bike paths or less trafficked streets or "Bicycle Boulevards" as they are often called in the Bay Area. If those alternatives don't exist where you live, then yes maybe an inexpensive small car (preferably electric) is a more viable alternative to an electric cargo bike.
These are important conversations to have! While an electric cargo bike may not work for everyone, it's worth exploring the possibility if it can cut down on automobile trips taken.
And let's hope that cycling conditions improve over the next decade so we can be better equipped to meet some of the lofty carbon emissions goals that many cities (like my own) are trying to achieve.
Thanks so much for reading!