What makes your CITY great for being on an e-bike?

[charlesbrenthirak]

I live in Portland near the Clinton 'Greenway' which has diverters for cars but allows bikes a supershot to city center. I have been talking to people when they wait at the light to cross over a through street called Cesar Chavez (39th Ave). People say Pdx is great for biking but haven't been able to determine specifically why. Most people talk about the rain, which in my mind will be a downer once I start biking in ernest. I know Pdx is great for walking: I want to know why so many love it for cycling. Why, specifically, do you love your city, or route?

Brent
artspunctuatedinquiry.org

 

[christob]

My biking so far has been largely confined to my immediate home area (Arlington, VA) -- there are some substantial bike trails in the greater area -- I live a few blocks from the W&OD Trail (the route of a former rail line) that runs for 45 dedicated, paved miles. Another, the 17 mile Mt. Vernon Trail reaches from Arlington down to George Washington's Mt. Vernon estate, riding almost entirely within sight of the Potomac River. Joining the W&OD with the Mt. Vernon is the Custis Trail -- forming a 17 mile roughly triangular loop around Arlington County. Another epic trail (crushed stone) is the C&O Canal towpath trail, running 180 miles from Georgetown in DC clear out to around Hagerstown, MD... (Although I think I read ebikes are prohibited on that There's also a healthy number of dedicated bike lanes on the local roadways, and when not a given lane, the sharrows. All in all, I've found it very easy so far, to fit biking into my days (including using 2 of the trails above to commute to the office.)

 

[Nova Haibike]

In the D.C. area there is also the Capital Crescent, Four Mile Run, Sligo Creek, Anacostia Riverwalk, MacArthur Blvd., and more. The Washington Area Bicyclists Association advocacy group does an amazing job, the Potomac Pedalers touring club (one of the largest in the country) has something for everyone, and there is plenty of great country-road riding close to the metropolitan area.

I don't live in Southern California, but I visit there often, and between Oceanside and San Diego is some great riding there too, and of course the weather is superb.

 

[JRA]

I have a lot of miles mainly in North/Northwest PDX Charles. I live on Sauvies Id. and bike in from there when I can and the scariest part is the road(s) off the island. Nice wide shoulder on 30 helps!


I regularly ride the side roads up on to Skyline and do loops even hitting the fire roads in FP for as long as the battery lasts. In town I use bike lanes MUP’s and greenways as much as possible and there are enough to get about anywhere I have found. I find my wh/mi consumption to be a bit higher in town though due to stops and starts.

Rain is an issue but with the proper setup an eBike is certainly more enjoyable than some of the conventional commuters seem to be experiencing.

 

[charlesbrenthirak]

I have a lot of miles mainly in North/Northwest PDX Charles. I live on Sauvies Id. and bike in from there when I can and the scariest part is the road(s) off the island. Nice wide shoulder on 30 helps!


I regularly ride the side roads up on to Skyline and do loops even hitting the fire roads in FP for as long as the battery lasts. In town I use bike lanes MUP’s and greenways as much as possible and there are enough to get about anywhere I have found. I find my wh/mi consumption to be a bit higher in town though due to stops and starts.

Rain is an issue but with the proper setup an eBike is certainly more enjoyable than some of the conventional commuters seem to be experiencing.

WOW! pray tell: what is your e-bike set up that lets you do all those things?!?

 

[richgee]

I live a mile from the beginning on the Manhan Rail trail in Easthampton, Ma. Connects to two other rail trails. Crosses under an active railroad in Northampton. The tunnel was put in about a year ago.
Another rail trail starts about ten miles south of me in Westfield, Ma. and heads down to New Haven, Ct.
I normally use an eBike though I have a straight bike.

Rich