How many people use their e-bike as their sole form of transport?

[Ultra Motor]

Like most on here we still run a car and also have a Motorhome. Wife uses car for work and I use a bike for more or less all local journeys. it is my preferred transport as here in sarth London traffic is abysmal.

I love riding in London and my home town of Bristol, I'm a little smug riding round faster than traffic with no issues! Although I get stopped all the time on my bright yellow Metro! A real head turner!

 

[Ultra Motor]

My car will always be my first choice of transport although my yearly mileage has dropped dramatically since stopping work. My motorcycle and ebike's are only for a bit of fun.
I'm pretty much in agreement with Oldtimer Dave on the green issue and am not at all convinced on global warming or if true, our ability to reverse it even if done on a global scale.
It's a fact that one active volcano produce's more carbons than all other sources put together so human efforts to reduce carbons in the atmosphere seem pretty futile to me. Its also been shown that higher levels of carbons in the atmosphere, as around some highly industrial Chinese cities has led to a greater growth of oxygen producing plant life in lake's etc. Which in turn burn off much of the CO2.
I'm all for recycling for the purpose of re-using the various materials and reducing waste, but it does little for the enviroment regarding emission's.
More vehicle's on the road to collect it, more trucks and ships to transport it,
processing plants to process it and factories to remake the end product's and who use's most of it? The Chinese, the biggest coal fire powered industrial nation in the world. Even green waste that's mostly turned into compost produce's more greenhouse gases. So, what is the truth? Recycling is big business and does little if anything to help the enviroment. I still can't understand why they don't burn most of our waste to produce power like one local authority I know of? It supplies hot water to the local community.
Possibly the best way to reduce the use of fossil fuels would be to use them all up so they can't cause any more problems, but aren't fossil fuels lying untapped below ground producing greenhouse gases anyway? Coal almost certainly does.
Trying to save the planet for future generation's is all well and good if we could trust them to follow in our footsteps and not abuse the good we've done. We can't even be sure there will be a human race in another few hundred years, let alone several thousand.
This planet didn't always support human life, there will come a time when it no longer will, like the dinosaurs, something beyond our control may destroy us if we don't do it ourselve's or the sun will eventually burn out and that will be the end of us anyway.
Who will actually benefit from sacrifices we make today? Assuming future generations will also make the same sacrifices? Nobody.
We only get the one crack at life so should make the most of it, if only in celebration of those whom lost their own for us.

Its hard to know whats happening and what isn't. I have been in the 'green sector' for 7 years now and I think a lot of it, as you point out, is about reducing and reusing which makes economical sense. Things like windturbines and other renewable sources of energy also make economical sense, so i see no issue in support these technologies, regardless of belief, as they save you cash!

 

[flecc]

I'm pretty much in agreement with Oldtimer Dave on the green issue and am not at all convinced on global warming or if true, our ability to reverse it even if done on a global scale.

Also in total agreement with every word of your full post on this onmebike.

Re: Car Replacement. I've never been without a car but bikes have been my primary source of transport for all purposes over the near 20 years since I retired. That said, the bike usage was higher when I was on unpowered bikes and has declined as a ratio since going electric, mainly due to increasing age though. At the peak I was cycling over 5000 miles a year and driving less than 400, but these days the car usage has now just overtaken cycling, about 1000 bike and 1300 in two cars annually. Being in a very hilly area that will inevitably become more true as the years pass, and one day I might only carry a bike on the back of the car to pretend I cycle like so many others do.
.

 

[Patrick]

I've never had a car (because I've never had the need and the money for one at the same time) so when I got my e-bike last year my lifestyle was that of a non-car-owner. I live in the centre of a small town with all my day-to-day needs met within walking distance and work in a neighboring town which is a 15 min train journey away.

I switched to commuting by e-bike because I wasn't getting any exercise, my journey to work now takes a little longer and is possibly less green than when I was catching a crowded train each day, but I've regained my fitness.

I wouldn't say I was completely car free, I get lifts from family and friends occasionally and I use public transport.

 

[overlander]

WOW! 40 mile return, thats commitment! I had to pop to a family dinner last night which was 21 miles, and I think thats my limit for a regular journey (!). The roads round here aren't built for bikes...!

NO WAY not that committed, not worded too well thats 20 miles out 20 miles back, total of 40 miles.

 

[eddieo]

I get stopped all the time on my bright yellow Metro! A real head turner!

I am trying to think of something funnier...but for now I can't

 

[z0mb13e]

It's a fact that one active volcano produce's more carbons than all other sources put together

Are you sure? That made me think of this Ted Talk about statistics and visualizations. At around 17:20 he mentions the Icelandic volcano vs the CO2 that would have been produced by the planes that were grounded resulted in a carbon neutral volcano.

I can't comment on the validity of his stats but the comment that this was 'the worlds first carbon neutral volcano' made me chuckle!

 

[daniel.weck]

I saw this TED talk a while ago. Great one !

Regarding using the bike instead of the car:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/6841-fun-little-video-promote-cycling.html#post86793

 

[z0mb13e]

Nice little video!

 

[eddieo]

Yep thats cute...

 

[Ultra Motor]

I am trying to think of something funnier...but for now I can't

You bully!

 

[eddieo]

You bully!

Come on keep it up........ seriously, even funnier!

 

[Ultra Motor]

Come on keep it up........ seriously, even funnier!

you'll have to come and try a Metro- they are always well received! As long as you accept it as a power on demand/scooter style!

 

[eddieo]

you'll have to come and try a Metro- they are always well received! As long as you accept it as a power on demand/scooter style!

See...the truth at last But Mark I am a cyclist, with no interest (while I can still cycle) in electric scooters

the Hybrid maybe.......As long as its not yellow?

 

[Ultra Motor]

See...the truth at last But Mark I am a cyclist, with no interest (while I can still cycle) in electric scooters

the Hybrid maybe.......As long as its not yellow?

We're happy to say it bridges the gap to a scooter! Its still healthier (and more fun!) than a scooter as you can pedal!

You should try the new Hybrid 24, we launch at Cycle show, although 'demo models' will be a month or so. Its a really, really nice bit of kit!

 

[eddieo]

the Hybrid has always been more acceptable and I rather like the look of it...what is different with the new 24 model?

 

[Ultra Motor]

the Hybrid has always been more acceptable and I rather like the look of it...what is different with the new 24 model?

Quite a lot(!)

- CAN bus control
- Wireless key for integrated LCD display
- Digital controller for smoother power delivery
- Smaller frame (current is more European size)
- Basta LED lights

I think it is going to be very popular!

 

[overlander]

Quite a lot(!)


- Smaller frame (current is more European size)

mmm last time i checked we were actually in Europe hence why we find the typical Chinese e-bike too small. If anything the trend is towards larger frames.

 

[Ultra Motor]

mmm last time i checked we were actually in Europe hence why we find the typical Chinese e-bike too small. If anything the trend is towards larger frames.

Hi Overlander

Sorry, by Europe I mean mainland and Germany specifically where people tend to be much taller!! The bike certainly isn't 'Chinese small'!

 

[Caph]

NO WAY not that committed, not worded too well thats 20 miles out 20 miles back, total of 40 miles.

I love your implicit modesty! I believe Loveridgemark meant that we are in awe of your regular 40 mile round trip, I certainly am. That must mean somewhere in the region of 3-4 hours commute every day? I think I'd just move closer to work!