Article on ETA Web site. Are electric bikes just for lazy people? | ETA Trust
Electric bikes make a mockery of cycling, so many people think. Made for lazy people who can’t handle a proper bike. But David Miall of Wisper argues this isn’t true, and that electric bikes could be the answer to our congested and polluted towns and cities.
Everyone knows the benefits of cycling: outside of walking, they’re as close to carbon neutral transport as you can get; they can aid weight loss and keep you fit; and help save money. Then along comes the electric bike – a carbon powered bicycle that takes all the energy out of cycling.
“I often hear people say that electric bikes are just for lazy people,” says David Miall, Director of Wisper, one the country’s leading electric bike specialists. “However that’s a very broad statement and it ignores all the people who are using bikes to cover long distances usually done by cars. For example, one of our customers cycles almost every day from Dartford to central London. That’s almost 20 miles each way. There are also people who have been keen cyclists, but have reached a certain age and they’re not maybe as fit as they used to be. An electric bike can increase their cycling life by 10-15 years.”
And it’s not just individuals, but whole communities that can benefit from electric bikes. Mial explains:
“We’ve just set up Sussex Police with 17 electric bikes. This means they can cover a much wider beat than they could by foot. They can also interact with the local community more than if they were in a car.”
But although the electric bike community in Britain is growing, we’re still way behind other European countries.
“In Holland more money is spent on electric bikes than any other type of bike,” says Miall. “But that’s because they have the cycling infrastructure in place. Every road has a segregated cycle lane and cyclists always have the right of way. It’s also an ingrained part of their culture – right from a child being taken to school on the back of their parent’s bike.”
Back at home and most people are too terrified to get on a bike at all. And while the Government is heavily pushing electric cars, they’re doing little to promote electric bikes.
“Before we get any kind of mass take up of electric bikes there needs to be much better cycling infrastructure,” continued Miall. “We need to spend much more money so that cycling can be integrated safely with normal traffic. It will cost billions, but that’s what we need to do to make our towns and cities more cycle friendly.
“It would also be good to see the Government offer financial incentives. We have the Cycle to Work scheme, which includes electric bikes. However there’s a limit of ￡1000. If they increased that to ￡2000 you could get yourself a really descent electric bike.”
Don't forget that insurance from ETA is available from our web pages with e 10% discount. (For everyone, not only Wisper riders!) D.
Electric bikes make a mockery of cycling, so many people think. Made for lazy people who can’t handle a proper bike. But David Miall of Wisper argues this isn’t true, and that electric bikes could be the answer to our congested and polluted towns and cities.
Everyone knows the benefits of cycling: outside of walking, they’re as close to carbon neutral transport as you can get; they can aid weight loss and keep you fit; and help save money. Then along comes the electric bike – a carbon powered bicycle that takes all the energy out of cycling.
“I often hear people say that electric bikes are just for lazy people,” says David Miall, Director of Wisper, one the country’s leading electric bike specialists. “However that’s a very broad statement and it ignores all the people who are using bikes to cover long distances usually done by cars. For example, one of our customers cycles almost every day from Dartford to central London. That’s almost 20 miles each way. There are also people who have been keen cyclists, but have reached a certain age and they’re not maybe as fit as they used to be. An electric bike can increase their cycling life by 10-15 years.”
And it’s not just individuals, but whole communities that can benefit from electric bikes. Mial explains:
“We’ve just set up Sussex Police with 17 electric bikes. This means they can cover a much wider beat than they could by foot. They can also interact with the local community more than if they were in a car.”
But although the electric bike community in Britain is growing, we’re still way behind other European countries.
“In Holland more money is spent on electric bikes than any other type of bike,” says Miall. “But that’s because they have the cycling infrastructure in place. Every road has a segregated cycle lane and cyclists always have the right of way. It’s also an ingrained part of their culture – right from a child being taken to school on the back of their parent’s bike.”
Back at home and most people are too terrified to get on a bike at all. And while the Government is heavily pushing electric cars, they’re doing little to promote electric bikes.
“Before we get any kind of mass take up of electric bikes there needs to be much better cycling infrastructure,” continued Miall. “We need to spend much more money so that cycling can be integrated safely with normal traffic. It will cost billions, but that’s what we need to do to make our towns and cities more cycle friendly.
“It would also be good to see the Government offer financial incentives. We have the Cycle to Work scheme, which includes electric bikes. However there’s a limit of ￡1000. If they increased that to ￡2000 you could get yourself a really descent electric bike.”
Don't forget that insurance from ETA is available from our web pages with e 10% discount. (For everyone, not only Wisper riders!) D.
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