The Electric Highway Includes Ebikes

[Cowlitz]

Just got this via facebook. I wonder if there will be lots of competition for the plug ins? I can't see myself riding on the interstate either. It would be good to have them on some of their lesser used (by cars) biking highways instead but, it's a start.

Oregon adds plug ins.

 

[JRA]

Article I read said it included the 101 which is a very active bike route considering it is part of the Canada/Mexico route. Still wouldn't be enough to entice me into dicing it up out there with the log trucks, tourist rubber necks and RV traffic that share that route.

 

[Gordon71]

I suppose they're fine if you have a few hours to kill while they are charging.

 

[Cowlitz]

Article I read said it included the 101 which is a very active bike route considering it is part of the Canada/Mexico route. Still wouldn't be enough to entice me into dicing it up out there with the log trucks, tourist rubber necks and RV traffic that share that route.

Yes it is. I wouldn't want to ride on it though. Too many bus sized RVs with amateur drivers.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

There are pretty substantial sections of the OCBR that are off of the 101. There are more alternates you can take that get you off the highway even more.

It isn't until you are south of Newport that you are really committed to riding on 101.

Also, if you ride N to S you get better shoulder and better pullouts.

 

[Cowlitz]

I lived on the Central Oregon Coast for a few years and drove the highway several days a week between Waldport and Florence. I would not be comfortable riding a bike on it. In the Sea Lion Caves area, when driving, one has to be careful of RVs which may be piloted by folks who are inexperienced at driving on the side of a cliff. There are lots of pullouts along it, but not enough for me. One could head inland and go down a forest road to Florence, but there are no ocean views to be had, and no guarantees that the road is open. It's easy to get lost inland, but maybe GPS works there now? I know I headed home via a road that was on my map and found out the last bit had been decommissioned so had to backtrack. It's tricky.

 

[JRA]

I happen to live on one of the sideroutes and with the exception of the bit that is closed to all vehicle traffic for about 2 miles due to land slides affecting the road surface the rest is narrow winding two lane blacktop with aforementioned traffic for the most part between the turn off in Tillamook heading south to past Pacific City which is like 40 miles total or so. I have to use a bit of it in either direction from the house to get to my preferred non traveled gated roads/trails and have been coal rolled and buzzed enough to be nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs and use high assist level as possible and big gearing to get it over with.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Just saying,

Traffic drops off dramatically after Labor Day, and if you are credit card touring your hotel costs will drop off a lot too during shoulder season.

Since the northern part of the coast is so close to the Willametopolis there will likely be a lot of weekender traffic in the north even after Labor Day. You can beat that pretty well by launching from Astoria on Monday and making sure you are well south of Newport by the weekend.

Again judicious routing choices can do much for your sanity and safety.

 

[rich c]

I've read that the biggest hurdle right now is a high percentage of EV chargers on any system in the US don't work. Any improvements are good.

 

[Bill G]

Just heard that the Federal Government will spend 5 Billion (with a B) on car charging stations. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a plug for e-bike chargers on the other side (even if there was a coin slot) and a stanchion to secure an e-bike. Can't imagine adding a 110 v plug on the other side would be difficult or expensive.

 

[Cowlitz]

Just saying,

Traffic drops off dramatically after Labor Day, and if you are credit card touring your hotel costs will drop off a lot too during shoulder season.

Since the northern part of the coast is so close to the Willametopolis there will likely be a lot of weekender traffic in the north even after Labor Day. You can beat that pretty well by launching from Astoria on Monday and making sure you are well south of Newport by the weekend.

Again judicious routing choices can do much for your sanity and safety.

I'm beginning to think that there is no shoulder season anymore for the Oregon Coast. I barely was able to get a campsite in the middle of September before the camping mania got going good. Of course, there is always room for bikes in state parks.

Here is a video series still in progress about an electric car pulling an all electric "caravan" on a trip in Scotland. It gets into the nuts and bolts. I get the idea that Scotland is not quite ready for much of that style of travel.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I think the north coast is still much more densely populated with visitrons than the southern part. Traffic always seems to really drop off south of Newport and then again south of Coos Bay. Like everywhere else, I think the coast has been hit by the "Zoom Town" phenomenon.

 

[rich c]

Just heard that the Federal Government will spend 5 Billion (with a B) on car charging stations. Wouldn't it be nice if they had a plug for e-bike chargers on the other side (even if there was a coin slot) and a stanchion to secure an e-bike. Can't imagine adding a 110 v plug on the other side would be difficult or expensive.

I'd be all for Starbucks putting coin operated charging stations for eBikes compared to something along the interstate! I never ride near Interstates.

 

[Bill G]

I'd be all for Starbucks putting coin operated charging stations for eBikes compared to something along the interstate! I never ride near Interstates.

I agree. But I'm seeing quite a few charging stations on or near bike friendly roads. But Starbuck would be great to kill some time.