The process of commuting has changed greatly in recent years. More and more cities are moving toward more sustainable methods of helping people to commute and seeking to cut back on the number of cars that are on the road. Bicycle commuting options have cropped up in many major cities and electric bikes are now joining the traditional bike commuting options.
These bikes are really easy to ride and can make your commute to work really fun and fast. You might have an option to rent these bikes in your city or you might need to look into getting your own electric bike to get started commuting in this fun way. If you are interested in commuting with ease and parting with the cost of your car, an electric bike might be the right choice for your needs.
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Picking an Electric Bike
First things first. You need to pick a bike! You might not have a wide range of choices when you are simply renting a bike from a stand, but if you are looking at investing in your own electric bicycle you can be as picky as you want to be. Just like a regular bike that is pedal-powered, your bike needs to fit you.
Many stores that sell electric bikes can help you to measure yourself and the height of the average bike and find the right fit for your needs. If you have ever been fitted for a spin bike or class, the same rules apply here. You need to be comfortable, be able to reach the handlebars and pedals readily, and not feel like you will fall over if you need to step off the bike.
Make sure that you are looking at features and functions that you really want to have for your bike as well. You should love everything about the bike and shopping around will help you get the bike of your dreams! After all, you need to ride this bike back and forth to work each day, so you should love it!
Know the Rules of the Road
Electric bikes need to be ridden in the road since they can move along at a pretty good clip. This means that you will need to be careful about moving through traffic or being in the blind spots of cars. You could get seriously hurt if vehicles do not see you so make sure that you are not sitting in a position that will block you from the view of the drivers around you.
You will also want to obey all the stoplights and signs that you encounter. You will be moving more slowly than cars but you are still not allowed to just disobey the rules of the road. If you are moving around in traffic you need to follow the flow of traffic correctly.
When riding your electric bike in parks and other locations that might have foot traffic be careful not to go around blind corners fast. You could hit someone and hurt them or hurt yourself. Make sure that you are conscious about the fact that you are moving more rapidly than foot traffic when you think that you might have to share space with pedestrians.
Have a Charging Plan
Your electric bike has to charge to work and you will need to make sure that you have a charging solution in place at your home and access to a place to charge your bike at work as well if you are going to be commuting with your bike. Some businesses in cities have e-bike charging stations these days that are a lot like the charging stations for electric cars.
If this is not an option for your needs when you are away from home, you will need to make sure that you remove the bike battery and take the battery pack off the bike. You will probably be able to charge your battery pack inside your office but if you are not, at least you can keep any charge drain at a minimum each day by removing the battery pack.
Make sure that your bike is off before you take the battery pack out to be charged. You will want to be sure that you can lock your bike safely when it is charging as well. Not every charging station will be in a secure location.
Plan for Weather
Always make sure that you have some extra clothes with you when you are riding a bike to work. if a sudden downpour happens or a car soaks you when they pass you, you might have to spend all day in wet clothes. You should get a waterproof back to wear as you ride that includes your electronics like your laptop and some extra clothes. This can help you out if you run into problems during your commute that you did not expect.
Electric Bikes Are a Great Commute Option
Electric bikes are an increasingly popular commuting option and many people are choosing to invest in these commuting solutions so they can part with their car. If you have been wanting to commute to work but it’s too far to walk and you don’t want to pedal a bike to work, an e-bike might be the perfect solution for your needs. These are becoming increasingly popular for good reason and you will love having the freedom to get places with ease and not have to worry about parking or traffic.
Electric bikes are easy to get started riding and this list will get you on your way with ease! Make sure that you get fitted for your bike carefully and that you are prepared with a charging solution during the hours that you are at work. Everything else about riding an electric bike to work is a piece of cake and you will be so glad that you made the switch to this method of commuting.
About the author:
Trevor James is the founder of Electric Bike Paradise, the #1 online retailer of electric bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, and electric golf caddies. Trevor has been selling bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters online since 2010 and eventually established Electric Bike Paradise in late 2013 when he happened to meet a car enthusiast that introduced him to electric bikes. Trevor spent time searching for electric bikes online but couldn’t find a website that offered a wide selection of electric bikes, scooters, and informational articles. That is why he decided to start a website where everyone can shop conveniently, browse buying guides, and read educational posts. The website is called ElectricBikeParadise.com.