4 ms·

You've got this entirely backwards. E-Bikes are an enabling factor for overweight people to start using bikes more. I know because I am one, my BMI is 33 and it

by meej 7y ago

You've got this entirely backwards. E-Bikes are an enabling factor for overweight people to start using bikes more. I know because I am one, my BMI is 33 and it's one of the main driving factors behind my decision to acquire an e-bike in 2018. (Another driving factor is the fact that my commute home involves an elevation gain of ~550ft, which would be tough even if I was not obese. I had been a bike commuter when I lived in the Bay Area but after moving to Portland I had a longer commute with more hills and I couldn't make it work with my old bike.) The biggest barriers to people in the US riding bikes more are having enough safe bicycling infrastructure to make trips feasible without having to go too far out of their way for a safe trip and having secure parking at their destination. These are solvable problems if we have the will to do so. I admit I'm lucky, I live in Portland where we have a pretty good greenway network -- I encounter very few cars on my commute -- and I work at Oregon Health & Science University, so I get to park my bike at the largest bicycle parking lot in North America before I hop on the Portland Aerial Tram for the last leg of my commute. Plus I get a commute incentive of $1.50 every day I ride. OHSU does have unique incentives to limit employee driving -- the city limits how much employee parking we have, so spots are limited. Daily parking passes are expensive and sell out quickly; you can expect to wait at least seven years for a permanent parking pass. The bus takes 20-40 minutes longer than my bike ride depending on transfer connection timing. The e-bike is my best commute option, hands down. Even in the rain, it's far more enjoyable. I'm actually on my second e-bike; my first one was my old bike converted with a GeoOrbital Wheel. That was great until it started malfunctioning, and it was the second time I sent it back to the company for service that I decided to invest in a new e-bike with a larger battery and more range. Now I not only commute by bike, I've acquired a cheap cargo trailer so I can do my grocery shopping, I ride it to therapy appointments, and I even rode it to a Trail Blazers game once (we have a set of secure BikeLink lockers at the Rose Quarter Transit Center, which I first used in the Bay Area and something Portland needs more of). Portland's climate means I can ride nearly year-round; I won't ride when the streets are icy but that's pretty rare around here. I am really, really close to being car-free and my e-bike is the reason why. I recommend everyone try riding one at least once.

riversflow 7y ago
Nice! I just don’t think you fully appreciate how privileged your position is. Giving up car ownership is extremely privileged. You have a good, salaried job, with I’m assuming flexible and encouraging employers. You have enough money for therapy and urban rent (and Blazers tickets!) and enough free time to bike everywhere, and I’m guessing decent health insurance to boot. You also are completely devoid of responsibilities for others. No kids to take to soccer games, no family members of friends in the hospital or who need taking care of. You can afford to fly/hire a driver to travel. I’d venture a guess that most Americans aren’t in a position like this. It’s a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when most of your needs are met. You most likely have an okay boss and at least somewhat enjoyable work. For a lot of people their commute is one of their only times of respite, and it seems they like to drive a car in comfort during that time, it’s why Americans spend so much money on luxury cars (and as a form conspicuous consumption). People of means are quick to forget how important 10 minutes can be when you’re poor and that a car serves as a backup place to sleep and store your effects. It’s not just a dangerous status symbol for everyone. But back to my main point. I just don’t see Americans as a whole adopting bicycles. Able bodied people will routinely wait in line in for minutes in parking lots to park 100’ closer and wait in line(also for minutes) for the elevator to go up three floors. Not everyone is overweight/obese because they are unmotivated, you obviously aren’t, but I would wager based on my experiences that most Americans aren’t motivated(by much beside sloth), and I don’t see how an elected body is going to change our infrastructure enough to motivate people. AARP is a big lobby, and have 0 interest in cedeing roads or sidewalks to bicyclist.
- meej 7y ago
  While I agree that I am privileged, I disagree that biking, particularly to work, is. The data bears this out: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-o... Some of your arguments ring true for traditional bikes but I think they are less true for e-bikes. They're faster, so you don't need enough free time to bike everywhere, you need 20 minutes instead of 15, and it's often much easier to find parking. It's a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when the bike reduces the amount of exertion. And a bike ride provides just as much, if not more, respite than driving a car -- you're not frustrated stuck in traffic and you get a nice endorphin rush.

by meej 7y ago

riversflow 7y ago

Nice! I just don’t think you fully appreciate how privileged your position is. Giving up car ownership is extremely privileged. You have a good, salaried job, with I’m assuming flexible and encouraging employers. You have enough money for therapy and urban rent (and Blazers tickets!) and enough free time to bike everywhere, and I’m guessing decent health insurance to boot. You also are completely devoid of responsibilities for others. No kids to take to soccer games, no family members of friends in the hospital or who need taking care of. You can afford to fly/hire a driver to travel. I’d venture a guess that most Americans aren’t in a position like this. It’s a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when most of your needs are met. You most likely have an okay boss and at least somewhat enjoyable work. For a lot of people their commute is one of their only times of respite, and it seems they like to drive a car in comfort during that time, it’s why Americans spend so much money on luxury cars (and as a form conspicuous consumption). People of means are quick to forget how important 10 minutes can be when you’re poor and that a car serves as a backup place to sleep and store your effects. It’s not just a dangerous status symbol for everyone. But back to my main point. I just don’t see Americans as a whole adopting bicycles. Able bodied people will routinely wait in line in for minutes in parking lots to park 100’ closer and wait in line(also for minutes) for the elevator to go up three floors. Not everyone is overweight/obese because they are unmotivated, you obviously aren’t, but I would wager based on my experiences that most Americans aren’t motivated(by much beside sloth), and I don’t see how an elected body is going to change our infrastructure enough to motivate people. AARP is a big lobby, and have 0 interest in cedeing roads or sidewalks to bicyclist.

meej 7y ago
While I agree that I am privileged, I disagree that biking, particularly to work, is. The data bears this out: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-o... Some of your arguments ring true for traditional bikes but I think they are less true for e-bikes. They're faster, so you don't need enough free time to bike everywhere, you need 20 minutes instead of 15, and it's often much easier to find parking. It's a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when the bike reduces the amount of exertion. And a bike ride provides just as much, if not more, respite than driving a car -- you're not frustrated stuck in traffic and you get a nice endorphin rush.