so i have a real love-hate relationship with electric bicycles. on the one hand, as a cyclist, i loathe them. they represent to me the epitome of laziness so apparent in our (american) society. take all the health benefits and joy of accomplishment inherent in cycling and throw it out the window in lieu of motoring your self around town on a powered vehicle.

but on the other hand, as an environmentally-conscious individual, i tend to feel that they also represent the "one less car" sentiment pretty fully. electric vehicles are zero-emissions, and that’s a good thing. and an electric bicycle is much more attainable to the average joe than an electric car. and also much less of a seeming inconvenience. AND it ties directly into the sick american need for more than one vehicle.

so in the end, i think i have to give them a thumbs-up. while i may never ride one, i appreciate that they exist. because in the end, cycling isn’t ONLY about the pedaling. it’s also about the consciousness of lessening your impact. and if that’s the thing that people get focused on, then so be it.

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