Ebike counting ... how many today?

[ebikemom]

Thursday I took a pretty long ride and saw eight ebikes. That's my record.

Then, today I ran into a Trek ebike rider, and we chatted. He said he counts ebikes every time he's out. Both of us have noticed a huge increase in how many ebikers we are seeing in the last few days.

I think the waning days of summer are motivating folks to get out there and ride. And, are motivating some purchases--I saw a guy in my town on a Specialised that looked so pretty and clean and complimented him on it--it was his first day out on the bike and he was sparkling with excitement.

Have you guys noticed an uptick in ebikers recently?

 

[AlanDB]

I ride mostly on local trails, and so far this summer I have run across only one other pair of e-bikes that my wife and I met on the trail. Not to say there aren't some we missed, but they were the only "for sure" ones.

Then, there was the couple who rode by my house this summer on Raleigh e-bikes. I just happened to be sitting out on my front porch drinking a beer after mowing, so I yelled out at them with a "Hey ... I like your ebikes!" So they rode back up my drive and asked if I would like to take a spin on one of them (typical ebiker friendliness). I just laughed and told them how much my wife and I enjoy our own ebikes and how glad I was that we invested in them. So we traded a few stories and had a nice chat before they continued on their ride.

 

[larry-new]

Only seen one in the field...many at the LBS.

 

[Cowlitz]

Saw one today. I think it was a Rad Rover. That makes 3 in town that I know of. I suspect there may be a fourth, but have only heard rumors of it. It is a smallish town.

 

[ebikemom]

I think I might live in an ebike mecca--the Seattle area is pretty cycling-crazy as places go, which was such a surprise to me when we moved here ages ago, since it is so HILLY. But, it is so beautiful here, and riding bikes here is a great experience for those who can handle the hills and, um, have EBIKES!!! Maybe that's why I see so many!

 

[Camac]

I'm involved with a group of bikers who ride once or twice a week. About 60 to 70 turn out for each ride and about one third are on Ebikes. Most are retired, or over 65 and some top out at 82. Not all of the oldies are on Ebike.
PS we don't have any of that BS about Class 1,2 or3 or that "can't ride an Ebike in here".

 

[mrgold35]

I got back into cycling in 2014 and purchased my first 2 ebikes in 2016 & a 3rd in 2018 (two Radrovers, Radcity step-thru). I've only seen 2 other ebikes in the last +4 years in Albuquerque. I'm usually work commuting at 5:30am or off the beaten path trail riding. I avoid the normal bike paths during "bike rush hour" of after 5pm on weekdays or mid-mornings to mid-afternoons on Saturday/Sundays. The ebikes I did see were heading towards the popular bike paths during those peak times.

I've noticed there are a lot more regular bikes on the road now compared to 2-4 years ago. The last and current mayors are committed to making the town more bike friendly with more dedicated paths, bike lanes, and loops around the city.

 

[FSRBart]

I've not seen any. During the week I ride around the big reservoir bike path that a lot of people use. I would have thought I'd have seen one by now. But i've not. On the trails (I have an eMTB) I've not seen one either...

 

[rannyv]

Interesting question. I live in Portland, OR, and like Seattle, it's also a bike crazy town. I do see e-bikes, though not as many as I'd expect. I hadn't thought to keep count, but that would be an interesting exercise. I'm pretty sure I see at least 1 or 2 a day. What does surprise me is I've had no 'shade' from regular cyclists (or have been so clueless, I missed it). Not a single 'that's cheating'.

They recently started a trial electric scooter program and those things are everywhere. I think it works out to 9 cents per minute to rent one and they're everywhere. You just hop on a scooter, activate it with your phone and hop off when you reach your destination. When it's time for the return trip, find another scooter and repeat. I'd worry they wouldn't be charged or there would be no scooter when it's needed, but apparently, that's the exception rather than the rule. One great thing about that - you don't have to worry about the scooter or its parts being stolen since you don't own it.

 

[AHicks]

I enjoy checking out the bikes others are on, and I do see electrics on occasion - something I'd like to see a lot more of now that I've made the "leap of faith" it takes to invest in one - for the knowledge I now have of just what an awesome investment they are.

I also notice when my bike (or the wife's) is being checked out (by finger pointing, or stares) though every attempt possible is being made to "blend in" with others sharing a trail. It doesn't happen every time out, but I am stopped frequently by those that are VERY curious about this e-bike! As a HUGE proponent of this new found hobby, I am happy to share answers as long as they are asking questions. Have met some truly wonderful people this way. Big grin on my face just thinking about it....

 

[Balemonkey]

I live in New York state where according to the DMV you can't own a E-bike. That being said there are about a dozen E-bikes in town I know about, with more coming on the road every week it seems. The city I live in is not huge so the numbers say something about how fast E-bike ownership is growing.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

Three this morning out past Schenectady on the Mohawk River path, a first. A Rad Rover (another one of these!) and two other mid drives that I didn't get the models of. They were traveling together with light panniers, apparently out for a day ride and having a nice time. Chatted very briefly with one of them, a young guy who really likes his. Great to see!

 

[TAZMANIMAN]

We saw the most we've seen in a single trip when we went to Burlington Vt and rode on the bicycle ferry trail across lake Champlain. We saw about 4 or 5 in passing and at the Ferry, one of the ladies selling tickets was very inquisitive and wrote down some notes of exact info on our bikes.

 

[John from Connecticut]

Thursday I took a pretty long ride and saw eight ebikes. That's my record.

Then, today I ran into a Trek ebike rider, and we chatted. He said he counts ebikes every time he's out. Both of us have noticed a huge increase in how many ebikers we are seeing in the last few days.

I think the waning days of summer are motivating folks to get out there and ride. And, are motivating some purchases--I saw a guy in my town on a Specialised that looked so pretty and clean and complimented him on it--it was his first day out on the bike and he was sparkling with excitement.

Have you guys noticed an uptick in ebikers recently?

I live in CT and have ridden 4000 miles since July a year ago. I've seen one eBike on the road, six on the trails.

 

[ebikemom]

WOW! You are really a pioneer in your area.

 

[Dynamo Dan]

Funny, I have been keeping a mental tab on how many ebikes I see everyday. I ride my ebike for an hour every day for a daily commute from home to work and back again, on Vancouver Island, BC. I reckon that 40%-50% of the bikes I see are ebikes. Now assuming that ebikes might make up about 5% of the bikes that are sold, what does that tell you? They are ridden for longer journeys and/or ridden more often.
Anecdotally, LBS tell me that they have seen a huge uptick in the number of ebikes sold. They cannot get their orders filled.

 

[larry-new]

I live in New York state where according to the DMV you can't own a E-bike. That being said there are about a dozen E-bikes in town I know about, with more coming on the road every week it seems. The city I live in is not huge so the numbers say something about how fast E-bike ownership is growing.

I believe that's changed recently for class 2 at least, else Burt's Bikes, which has several stores in Bflo, wouldn't be loaded with them.

So far, in a month of riding, I've only seen one, but the trails and paths might be full of them for all I know, since I bike where the big things are.

 

[pnop]

I've only seen two besides mine ever. I've only seen those two one time. One was last year and the other the year before that.

 

[Balemonkey]

I believe that's changed recently for class 2 at least, else Burt's Bikes, which has several stores in Bflo, wouldn't be loaded with them.

So far, in a month of riding, I've only seen one, but the trails and paths might be full of them for all I know, since I bike where the big things are.

The laws have not changed according to the New York DMV web site. People like ourselves are voting with our wallets and that is changing things. We are creating a demand and Bike stores are filling that demand, legal or illegal. NewYork city stopped its war on E-bikes because people voted with their wallets. It also helps that state lawenforcement and judges will not enforce the DMVs ruling. A state trooper who was looking at my bike told me. We have better things to do then harass a bunch of people doing nothing really wrong.

 

[JimmyJ]

I saw one today only my way to work (it was pedego, I think they are called). We both waved at each other. We were going in opposite directions on the road.