Electric Bicycles Surging In Popularity

gollum123 writes "An accidental transportation upheaval began in China, where an estimated 120 million electric bicycles now hum along the roads, up from a few thousand in the 1990s. They are replacing traditional bikes and motorcycles at a rapid clip and, in many cases, allowing people to put off the switch to cars. The booming Chinese electric-bike industry is spurring worldwide interest and impressive sales in India, Europe, and the US. China is exporting many bikes, and Western manufacturers are also copying the Chinese trend to produce models of their own. From virtually nothing a decade ago, electric bikes have become an $11 billion global industry. In the Netherlands, a third of the money spent on bicycles last year went to electric-powered models. Industry experts predict similar growth elsewhere in Europe, especially in Germany, France, and Italy, as rising interest in cycling coincides with an aging population. India had virtually no sales until two years ago, but its nascent market is fast expanding and could eclipse Europe's in the next year. In China, electric bicycles have evolved into bigger machines that resemble Vespa scooters. These larger models are causing headaches for global transportation planners. They cannot decide whether to embrace them as a green form of transportation, or ban them as a safety hazard. Some cities are studying the halfway measure of banning them from bicycle lanes while permitting them on streets."

Comments

Re:reasons this may not catch on in the US

[tverbeek]

You have bike lanes where you live? Lucky.

When I can, I ride a bicycle as a form of transportation. Even though it helps me stay healthy, saves gas, pollutes less, and takes less parking space, I don't expect a medal for it. But it would be nice if I didn't have to face the dangerous neglect and even outright hostility of American motorists for it.

I can see electric bicycles catching on in the US... for recreation. Instead of replacing automobiles with electric mopeds, we'll replace bicycles with electric mopeds, and take them on joy rides in the country on weekends (transporting them there in the SUV). We won't burn any less gas, but we'll use more electricity, and exercise less.

Re:I did, didn't I?

[gmhowell]

I'm amazed you find time to ride a bicycle what with all the time you seem to spend on your high horse.

Re:Nothing glamorous to see

[DNS-and-BIND]

This, sir, is the difference between people who ride bicycles as a lifestyle, and people who ride bicycles as transportation. The "lifestyle" segment is very loud and vocal, and indeed does look down on the "transportation" segment. Heck, looking down on others is half the reason they make themselves highly visible in public - what other group in society would be able to get away with wearing brightly colored tight-fitting spandex? "It's not ME that demands I wear this ridiculous clothing, but I absolutely must be aerodynamic because I'm Lance Armstrong...oh and by the way I have to wear bright, tropical bird-like colors that would be totally unacceptable in any other social situation."

Contrast this to me, who just rides a bike in whatever street clothes he happens to be wearing that day.