Toronto Uncovered

I was taking a step across the street making my way to St Clair West Subway station when I heard “bring bring”. Thinking it was a bike I turned my head, and sure enough, one was passing me by. At first glance all seemed normal until I noticed that the rider wasn’t peddling. My first thought: “Cool”. Second thought: “I want one!” . Third thought: “where do I get one?” Forth: “ How much would this set me back?”

Popping up all over the city streets of Toronto and Vancouver are electric bicycles, aka ‘E-bikes’. An E-bike is designed to be propelled primarily by muscular power and to travel on no more than three wheels.

This emerging subculture of electric and human powered bikes is gaining in both popularity and controversy. Some say it has added to the overall cycling community, spurring pressure for more bike lanes in  city centers. Others, namely hardcore cyclists and pedestrians, want them off of their bike lanes and sidewalks.  Regardless of which camp you belong to, it seems that these scooting and peddling doodads are becoming increasingly hot-ticket items.

Though all ages can ride E-bikes and no drivers license is required, most of the marketing done by retailers is aimed at the baby-boomer generation who may want an extra push to get over large hills or travel long distances. Since a reliable E-Bike  (and the fuel needed to run it) doesn’t come cheap, marketing  to a financially stable segment seems a likely choice.

There are a few things to consider if you are in the market for an E Bike:

First and foremost, be weary of green-washing, polluting and unethical labor practices! Eric Kamphof, General Manager of Toronto’s On the Fourth thinks very highly of well developed E-bikes but cautions that  “there are a large amount of e-bikes that are unsustainable” explaining that many E-bikes found at major department stores are “reliable for a while but not manufactured very well”. In some instances these bikes will not be accepted for repair by many bike stores because  they are difficult to repair, rust easily and have cheap lead-based batteries. According to Eric, “many people that buy e-bikes come in to our store expecting us to repair them…but, it is very difficult and they usually just end up in landfills after a year”

After speaking with some manufacturers, cyclists and shops, I traveled to my local Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart in search of  E-Bikes that fit this cheaply designed description. A number of models marked at less than $1000 were made of cheap, heavy metal and manufactured in countries with sub par labour practices. I couldn’t picture myself trying to pedal one of these puppies up a hill after my battery died. For a good E-bike you shouldn’t be paying less than $3000 CDN.

Second, include the following items on your list of non-negotiables:

1)    Weather proof
2)    Battery integrated into the frame
3)    Lithium-ion based or similar battery that quickly recharges
4)    Easy to ride with or without peddling
5)    Multiple gears for peddling
6)    Light weight
7)    Integrated software for multiple user settings
8)    Adjustable speed settings and gears
9)    Maintenance friendly

Interested in purchasing an E-Bike? Check this out! After considerable research, these puppies are pretty sweet and the best on the market, though it will cost you a pretty penny:

Tesla Series by Koga-Miyata

The award winning Tesla series has a ground breaking design. Finely detailed, light weight and powerful. Few rival this make and here is why:

•    Bikes are manufactured using 25% green energy
•    Top quality craftsmanship and design
•    Maintenance friendly
•    Shimano 21 Speed gears
•    Light weight aluminum frames (28.5 KG)
•    Adjustable software integrated into the bike to set riding speeds for types of terrain.
•    Batteries are integrated into the frames of the bike, yet easily removable for charging
•    First class Lithium-ion battery, aka ‘ION motor’, that is powerful and that quickly recharges with a simple plug in.
•    Maximum distance is noted at 55-90 km on flat surfaces; 45 to 60 on hilly terrain; and 35 to 50km on steep ascents (these depend on a number of factors).
•    Excellent handling with or without pedal assist
•    Handle bar display settings

In the final words of Eric: “imagine being my parents, they would love it!”. So would mine my friend, but at the moment, I’ll stick to my quads.

Stefan W Piech

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