A letter from an e-biker

Maryann on her e-bike sounds like an ideal rider for the cycling lane and paths, this pedaler has no problem accepting her among our ranks.
I hope, like Yvonne Bambrick of the Toronto Cyclist Union does, that more of these bikes will mean a better infrastructure for us all.
I hope the union will reconsider her membership in the future, I agree that many comments against them are of an elitist nature.

There are a couple of errors in this letter.

Firstly, I'm not a Lance Armstrong wannabe, I'm a Tom Boonen wannabe.

Secondly, the notion that by riding an e-bike "I am emitting no green house gases into the atmosphere". This is simply not true. It is based on the premise that our electricity generation is carbon neutral, which it is anything but. The current stats from the Ontario ministry of Energy and Infrastructure list that our electricity is generated by: 52% Nuclear, 21% Hydro, 18% Coal, 8%Gas, and 1% Wind (http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=english.electricity)

So only 22% of that electricity you're putting into your bike is emissions free (CO2 emissions from Nuclear are from the mining and refinement of Uranium/Plutonium).

In fact, once you start to factor in the overall lower efficiency of our power grid (transmistion line losses, transformer losses etc.) it is entirely possible, that a 2-stroke motor outputting 500W produces less emissions then your e-bike .

Cyclists get used to it: as the economics and ecology of car use becomes increasingly precarious expect that you will have to contend with "alternative" modes of transport be they rollerblades, skateboards, e-bikes, Segways and who knows what else?

It's reasonable that those marginalized by automobility will take to MUPs and bike lanes; do they have to justify to cyclists the reasons, we know them all to well already. Let's not be so doctrinaire as to exclude all but conventional cyclists; let's not subscribe to the exclusionary orthodoxy of motorists which claims roads are the select preserve of cars. The idea is to work toward an inclusive public infrastructure, isn't that what cyclists have been aiming for?

The necessity of change is steamrolling over millions and millions of motorists' customs; expecting cyclists to exist in isolation of its repercussions -- favourable or not -- is unrealistic.

Maryann is justified in taking to bikeways although I find her reasoning specious. She claims her "biggest problem on the road today, is that so many bicyclists do not follow the rules of the road, so drivers are understandably distrusting of anyone on a two-wheeled vehicle."

I don't think so. Her biggest problem? "It is very unsafe riding on the Queensway. The only other way for me to get past the Humber is to take the Lakefront trail." Maryann unwittlingly reveals the real danger posed by lawless cyclists by opting to mingle with them rather than all those, oh, law abiding motorists on the main drag.

She wrote it but she hasn't grasped it: Maryann's real trouble is her " over $14000 in income tax" underwriting infrastructure that prevents her accessing it because it's too dangerous. Maryann, get used to it and welcome to the world that cyclists must navigate everyday.

I don't have the knowledge to do a full audit, but there a few things that assure me that an e-bike is much better vehicle than a car when it comes to emissions. It's less than 1/10th of the weight (or even 1/20th!) of a small car, so the amount of energy needed accelerate is less. It doesn't go that fast so the energy in acceleration is less again. It uses an electric motor which has better energy conversion efficiency than a gas engine.

The result, as Maryann says, is that she spends $0.04 per night recharging. This is probably the same amount of energy as people use watching TV each night. Whether the power comes from hydro, nuclear, gas-fired, or even a home gasoline generator, it's impact on our environment is negligible compared to using a car.

-dj

Maryann, I'd be glad to have you on any road, trail, bike path or multi-use path I'm walking or cycling on. I'd rather see legions like you than the many "ped-cyclists" I encounter each day.

Ped-cyclists are those in-between creatures who take unthinkingly ride on the sidewalk, launch out into crosswalks and ride across them, ride against the traffic flow in bike lanes, and exhibit ongoing disregard for other traffic (whether ped, cyclist or motorist), traffic laws, and common sense.

I'm a committed road & utility cyclist and I cycle as I drive -- with full recognition of the HTA and traffic by-laws, and as much in harmony with the movement around me as possible. The more e-bikes we see on the roads, the more all modes of transport slow down and become more accommodating.

As for the ped-cyclists, well, Darwin will take care of them one by one.
...AlanM

As a 30-year, year-round cycling-commuter, I welcome e-bikes on the road. They are far better than cars and trucks, after all. However, it is clear, from my experiences, that those who are using e-bikes want to straddle the line between motorist and cyclist; all the cost-saving a cyclist experiences without the work (and sweat). It's as if they want the superior-minded arrogance some of us have because we ride bikes rather than drive cars, but they'd really rather not have the effort. Sorry. Nothing is free in life. Gotta earn that arrogance (LOL).

And, of course, some ebikers---well, many actually---like to behave like a snob as they point to their helmet---something they must wear, by law, but cyclists are exempt from as some sort of crown of superiority. Um, message to newbies: helmets for adult cyclists are not mandatory, will not protect you from being hit and if one has skill, common-sense, control and the proper safety equipment, one doesn't need a helmet.

I can't help but conclude that the e-bikers I see, for the most part---though not all, are lazy, in spite of the fact that many of the e-bikers I've seen appear to really need the physical exercise a bicycle would provide them with.

While their vehicle is environmentally practical and a terrific choice for those who may be permanently physically challenged, they are not bicycles, thus they do not belong in bike lanes. The City of Toronto website clearly defines bike lanes as being solely for the use of bicycles, not joggers, roller-blades, skateboards, electric medical scooters and wheelchairs or power-assisted bicycles; bicycles and only bicycles; not courier trucks, taxi's and motorists who want a convenient drop-off/pick-up lane or a safe place to make cell-phone calls: bicycles. It is that simple. That is why they are called bike lanes and feature the symbol of a bicycle. Otherwise they'd be called Multi-use paths (MUP's). While e-bikes can be used as a regular bicycle, the vast majority of e-bikers that I see in bike lanes are using their motor all the time. Heck, they even use the motor when going downhill. Sorry, but that makes the e-bike a scooter wannabe and if e-bikers want to run at 32km/h, a speed many cyclists don't or can't attain, then they need to join the rest of the motoring traffic. Until the city widens bike lanes and allows other vehicles to use a widened MUP, e-bikes have no business in bike lanes. It doesn't matter how much we spend in property tax, ebikes are welcome to use regular traffic lanes, not reserved bike lanes. Oh, and on an unrelated side-issue, scooters like Vespas are also NOT permitted to use bicycle ring-posts to lock-up to. Those, too, are for the exclusive use of cyclists.

Sorry, I guess the point I was trying to make in my earlier post was a bit muddled.

It seems to me that Maryann was trying to justify the special privilege given to e-bikes because they are better for the environment. I was just trying to illustrate that isn't necessarily the case, that 2-Stroke scooters have approximately the same footprint as E-bikes. True E-bikes are better than cars, but as the anonymous poster above mentioned we do seem to draw a line between Scooters with electric motors and Scooters with gas motors.

E-bikes ok - 2 Stroke, not ok.

I'm just questioning why we make that distinction. If both Scooters weigh the same amount, both travel at the same speed (I realize gas scooters probably travel faster, but a speed limit is really arbitrary), and both have a similar effect on the environment.

So why do we allow E-bikes in bike lanes and not 2-stroke scooters?

Forget about allowing them on the road, two stroke engines should be banned.

Whether they're on scooters, leaf blowers or lawn mowers, they're extremely dirty.

Maryann, the bike union is a member funded advocacy group that is supposed to speak for ALL cyclists. While some of us -- personally -- may not yet be comfortable with scooter style e-bikes on our park trails, and a few may not be entirely comfortable with them in bike lanes, as a member, the bike union has to be respectful and responsive to your needs.

E-bikes are new; the province has created a pilot period to get an idea of what will work and what might not. Everyone has some learning to do. Not everything is likely to work in the first iteration, some tweaking may be required.

Anything new is scary, and people (including myself) grumble and complain about changes. That, and every onece in a while I have to reminded how lucky I am to have my youth and my health, and that we need to find ways accomodate those who don't.

My mind is changing.... Slowly. We'll figure out how/where e-bikes (scooter style or other) fit in, and we'll figure out how to get along.

But we need to hear from all sides to make this a worthwhile discussion. And the best way is to join the bike union, and to get involved.

BTW, I'm looking forward to seeing out on the roads of South Etobicoke as I live in Mimico!

Because I'm invloved on the board of the Bike Union, my wife sent me this:

There is an article in there about an e-biker's experiences riding on the Martin Goodman Trail as she commutes from Long Branch to Yonge and Queen(?) to work and back. I can sympathize with many of the points this woman is making. Particularly her points about the bike racers who speed along the path heedless of the other users grumbling and cursing about the erratic paths that inexperienced/learning cyclists take....

Normally I could care less if some one rides an e-bike, a tandem bike or a tricycle but what bothers me is that this woman appears to have tried to join the Toronto Cyclist's union and Yvonne has declined her application because she rides an e-bike! Is this true? Does the union discriminate against e-bike riders because they are assisted? I'd be interested to hear what you have to say and I'd like you to talk to Yvonne about this apparent discrimination...

Talk to you later,

Love you,

Jenny

So I forwarded this to Yvonne who replied directly to Jenny with:

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for your comment and concern regarding the e-biker Maryann.

Please rest assured that we/I at no time have or would refuse a membership to any type of cyclist. Maryanne has never been in touch with us about membership and has not been discriminated against..

I believe her comment about 'not being accepted as on the the ranks' was more to do with her feeling of not being considered a 'real' cyclist based on my comments about scooter like e-bikes having no place in bike lanes or using bike parking. Bicycles and real bicycle e-bikes are the only vehicles I believe have any place using cycling infrastructure.

Respectfully yours,
Y

It pleased, and surprised, my wife that she got a response direct from Yvonne. She was also happy with the answer.

Hi Yvonne,

While I wasn't expecting a response from you personally, I am quite delighted to get your note!! I am also very pleased to hear that it doesn't really matter what kind of a bicycle you ride to be considered for the Union's membership!

I had a gut feeling that Maryann hadn't tried to get membership with the Union and was using this comment as a vehicle (pardon the pun) to vent her frustrations but I wanted to make sure by asking Anthony. I had no idea that he would have forwarded my comments and question to you as well. Thanks for the extremely timely response - if other companies and organizations that I deal with were as quick! Personally, this kind of attention to a simple little question makes the Union look professional and serious - thanks!

I have to agree with you, I don't think scooter-like and motorcycle-like e-bikes really have any place on the bikes lanes and pathways either. It's visually startling to see one of those come at you along the Martin Goodman Trail because you can't tell if it's an e-bike or a motorcycle/scooter. I don't think they even have pedals, do they? On the other hand, they don't exactly belong on the roads either because of how slow they go so I don't know where the safest place for those machines would be.

Regardless, I am pleased to have received your note and look forward to chatting with you again - maybe even in person!

Have a great weekend!

Jenny

The point here is not that we don't want them, but that the scooter style electric vehicles don't seem to fit in with what we already know. Perhaps we'll get used to this, or perhaps we'll find another space for those machines. I don't know what the answer will be -- or what it should be. i just know that I have to start looking at something new, get over my own knee-jerk reaction to it, figure out what the merits and limits of this are, and what it means. The best way is to listen to people who actually use one (or else get one myself and use it, which I'm not going to do at this point) in order to understand the perspective from the other side as well.

I hope that these comments will encourage other e-bike and e-scooter owners to share their stories because we need to learn more about these machines, and about the people who use them. It is my hope that this will lead to a better understanding for everyone.

Of the E-bike users amongst us, how often do you pedal your e-bike? Be honest now.

I, personally, really value scooters and e-bikes and I am happy to share the road with them more than our common enemy; motorists, but they are not bicycles. so the answers to the above question may well determine whether one is a human-powered (with some assistance) cyclist or a primarily motor-powered scooterist and, therefore, a para-motorist..

I remember years ago when training to ride in groups, either touring or racing, one thing that was drilled into us is that when you get off your saddle (ie climbing hills, sprinting), give a little push before you do. The act of getting off your saddle slows the bike down, slightly, but sometimes enough to send your rear tire back into the cyclist tailing you.

While we do not ride in such close quarters commuting I have had several E-bikers try to mix it up with me. Not a problem but please remember, I have to use muscle power to propel, you simply need to throw a switch. If we are close passing a car or some other obstacle you can unintentionally overtake and we can collide.

Jarbeau:

...I have taken my [ebike] back and forth to work. (14 km each way)...I leave for work when the birds start chirping and the sun is just rising and it is an incredible way to start the day.

Jarbeau, try the trips by bicycle, it's even better. ;-)

The Enigmaniac:

If an e-bike rider is afraid of busy roads then perhaps they need to choose alternate routes or learn to adapt to the road and traffic conditions. Maybe an e-bike isn't the best choice for them if the roads are dangerous for a slow-moving vehicle. Ultimately, they have the right to ride on any standard road, as every vehicle does, and need to exert their privilege.

Ironic that stance. Substitute 'bicycle' for 'ebike' and it perfectly echoes the maxims of bike lane opponents be they cyclists or not.

Pedaling doesn't make any difference when it comes to how vulnerable those of us not enclosed in metal boxes are in collisions with cars, trucks and buses, and I would think this is the primary reason for bike lanes. To those who think that e-bikes should stay out of bikelanes because their riders don't pedal, do you also think that wheelchairs should stay off sidewalks because their users don't walk???

Lately, I've been thinking that a major problem we face is the high variability of speeds among cyclists. Physical fitness isn't a factor when driving. But cyclists, wow! Some of them putter along so slowly I could keep up with them on foot, while others fly past me on bikes that look as light as air.

The past couple of weeks I've had to take the bike lane on College heading West and what a hair-raising, frustrating experience (so much for the theory that bike lanes make us safer). Riding on the edge to stay out of the door zone with bumper to bumper traffic flying by to my left and cars blocking the lane as they get in and out of parking spaces, it's a crazy game of leapfrog the whole way across.

The frustration that some people have expressed with e-bikes in bike lanes probably reflects an overall frustration with the crowding in bike lanes. But the solution isn't to kick anyone out: the solution is to have wide enough bike lanes to accomodate everyone, with room to pass safely. And the more people out there pressuring the city for this to happen, the better.

Some interesting quotes from the MTO's "Power-Assisted/Electric Bicycles" page:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/index.html#power

An e-bike is a bike that:

• has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals;
• is designed to be propelled primarily by muscular power (emphasis mine) and to travel on not more than three wheels;
• has one or more electric motors that have, singly or in combination, a power output rating of 500W or less. (Note: the motor is electric, and is incapable of propelling the cycle at speed of 32 km/h or greater on level ground, without pedaling.) and
• bears a permanently affixed label by the manufacturer stating in both official languages that the vehicle conforms to the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle.

and....

The ministry has become aware of scooter-style vehicles that technically meet the pilot’s e-bike definition, but not the intent, as they are not primarily operated by muscular power due to their heavy weight. Therefore, in addition to evaluating how safely the e-bike can integrate with other motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians, the emergence of the scooter-style e-bikes requires the ministry to also assess if the pilot’s original intent continues to be appropriate. The ministry may clarify its position on the original intent of the pilot when final legislation is drafted.

Lastly....has anyone else noticed that all of those Eco-Cab drivers are flaunting the E-bike laws by not wearing a helmet?

There is one aspect of ebikes, specifically the scooter models, that's been overlooked and is worrisome to me: it's their weight. I don't know the typical weight range of the scooters but am guessing they're in the 100 LB range (please post e-scooterers).

My concerns revolve around how, if it all, the extra mass will translate into greater injury and damage to a cyclist during an accident. Scooters' fairings will mitigate harm to their riders, but cyclists remain exposed as ever; to them, a mishap with an e-scooter is no different than with a Vespa or motorcycle, which, of course, dedicated bike lanes are intended in part to deter.

The physics of collisions is oblivious to the carbon footprint of the concerned vehicles, the only relevant factors are mass and speed. The alleged powers presiding over the e-scooter/-bike experiment have rightly insisted on capping the wattage of e-twoWheelers. If they've not placed a limit on weight it should be seriously considered.

Because if e-scooters and cyclists are meant to inhabit the same road space, you can bet that when that mandate is taken too seriously and an overly intimate encounter ensues between the two, vulnerable cyclists will definitely come out on the losing end of the F = ma equation.