E-Bikes thoughts, comments?

[Eden]

Don't get me wrong - I use my bicycle for transportation often (I nearly exclusively bicycle commute), but I still view it as multi-tasking… transport that is exercise. If I couldn't use my bike and was given the choice between a scooter and the bus, I'd take the bus - I can't see why I'd choose a more hazardous, less comfortable means of transport if it didn't have the exercise benefits… OK… well I except I suppose that sometimes trips by bus are unreasonably long when you look at the wait/transfer factors and where exactly you can get to is limited… but still if it were my everyday commute, I'd rather ride my bike in the rain than take the bus, but I'd take the bus over riding a scooter.

I also think there are other basic reasons that a lot of people don't view bicycles the same way here as in Europe - we tend to be way less dense here and many if not most people do not live urban areas where walking and cycling are practical. Suburban areas are not set up to be friendly to much else than car transport - houses far away from shops and workplaces with few ways in or out - few sidewalks, few amenities within reach- you have to be intrepid, dedicated or you just get into your car…