Now that e-bikes have seemingly become more prevalent than “real,” solely human-powered pedal bicycles, it’s time to respond to the e-bike revolution as recent letter writers have suggested.
The ones I see zooming around are becoming faster and more powerful, often apparently not requiring any pedal assist whatsoever, even going up our steep hills. That’s fine for adults who have driver’s licenses, although we should move to registration, licensing, and insurance requirements for all e-bikes, as relatively low-powered motorcycles, for everyone who rides them.
But, while parking my mountain bike in a rack on a sidewalk in Kimball Junction and getting buzzed inches away by two zooming kids (looked about 12 years old) on e-bikes, I had to wonder. What parents would give their kids a machine like that?
Bad enough is the danger and risk of injury to them and any pedestrians and other users of the roads, trails, and public spaces. But those parents are also depriving their children of the exercise and health benefits of riding a real bicycle.
To me, the essence of a real bike is the fact that it is only human-powered and not motorized.
And beyond the lack of exercise, those parents are also depriving their children of the greatest inspirational lesson bicycle riding can provide — that you have to work hard in this world if you want to make it to the top of the mountain!
Andy Pearlstein
Park City