As a kid, my most precious memory was my dad teaching me how to ride the bicycle. I know it’s a bit cliché, but cycling as a kid with my friends, listening to music, and just chatting through the evening, kept me in touch with my childhood. As a matter of fact, even today, when I decide to use the cycle to commute from one place to another, I am hit with a blast of these warm memories. However, as times changed, this source of transportation got replaced by buses, cars, and trains. Now you may wonder, what’s so wrong with these options? They provide comfort and can be faster than a cycle. That is correct, although, what we tend to forget is that these modes of transportation have a negative effect on the environment, especially, due to the large amounts of carbon emissions released by these motor vehicles.
A car released 132 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, while a bus released 89 grams. On the other hand, a bicycle release none. It solely relies on human effort instead of external resources like fossil fuels. Today, there is a slight upgrade in the bikes we find around us, that may still release some amounts of carbon dioxide, but way lesser than these other modes. An E-bike, powered by electricity, released on 12 grams per kilometre. These E-bikes are an excellent option of transportation as not only do they reduce air pollution, but during daily commute, they also help decrease the amount of congestion and noise pollution in cities. The manufacturing of these specific kinds of bikes have also proven to be sustainable. Compared to an automobile, they require much lesser components and materials and can be easily made by using already existing products. Most of the materials used are also eco-friendly and not in the manner that if discarded they wouldn’t harm the planet, but through the perspective that all the products are man-made, reducing the chances of depleting the earth of its natural resources like fossil fuels.
Over the years, several companies have come up with their own versions of E-bikes. Different designs and features have made this particular vehicle more appealing to the people. For instance, REVolve is an E-bike manufacturer that found a way to ride the cycle without actually pedalling and also installed a built-in GPS system. In the UK, E-bikes accounts for 23% of all bicycle sales in 2020. Sales of E-bikes in the UK reached to a whooping 315 million pounds in 2021 as more companies have entered the market. Volt’s London Urban E-bike is the latest released in the industry with a neatly hidden battery and other dazzling features making it cost 2199 pounds. From installing two-tone tyres to effective hydraulic brakes, the brand has left no stone unturned to make this eye-catching.
When I walk around my city in the UK, I see plenty of cyclists around, going back and forth from work. Every time I look at them, I regret not choosing this mode of transportation as an option. Maybe it’s the hilly region that I live in that discourages me but after learning about E-bikes, looks like I am out of excuses. Have you ever used an E-bike in your city? Let me know if you can identify any more perks that come along with it.