NZTA is currently running a survey on what New Zealanders think about e-bikes and e-bike riders (as well as other low-powered vehicles, including Segways and hoverboards). This is partly a response to the recommendations from the Cycle Safety Panel, with government now looking at updating laws and regulations around cycling. At this stage, it’s not clear what regulations are being considered, but general discussion around the subject has homed in on potential restrictions for e-bikes, such as: maximum wattage / torque (i.e. how powerful the motor can be) maximum speed assist (i.e. if the bike is going faster than, say 25 km/h, the motor stops helping) and throttles could be banned (i.e. the motor will only assist when you …
Bike Auckland
This is a guest post by micromobility expert Oliver Bruce, who asks: why does the government fund for innovation in electric vehicles continue to have an e-bike-sized blind spot? A government grant programme aimed at reducing transport emissions by encouraging innovation in the uptake and use of electric vehicles has been running since 2017. So far, e-bikes haven’t been included under under the funding umbrella, but it’s long been hinted that would change. However, the funding criteria for the coming year have just been released – and e-bikes (as vehicles) aren’t included. Only bike storage/parking is eligible for the fund. Which makes no sense, because lack of parking isn’t the main barrier …
We love real stories of everyday bike life! So when we saw Pshem’s delightful string of tweets looking back on his first year of regular cycling for transport around Te Atatu peninsula and to work in the city, we asked if he’d be keen to share them as a guest blog with a few choice photos. Enjoy! It’s been a year since I’ve started biking to work, and this is a summary of my thoughts and observations. I work in Newmarket and live in Te Atatu Peninsula. My one way trip is about 17.5km and it takes me about 35-40 mins. I cycle every workday. I consider myself lucky – the …
I adore travelling on public transport with my bike, and chatting with fellow travellers – almost every trip sends me home with a head full of stories. On Thursday night, returning home from Bike Auckland’s committee meeting, I parked my bike amongst the others on the ferry’s stern deck and looked around for someone to chat to. I was immediately attracted to a man wearing a high-vis rain jacket with a cute little badge… I simply had to know more! What sort of pilot was he? Glen Stanton, the owner of the badge, explained he was the volunteer pilot of an electric tricycle-rickshaw owned by the Aria Retirement Home in Brown’s Bay. Twice a week, …
Nic Smith has been commuting on an e-bike for a few months now, and wouldn’t change a thing. Here’s her story… The best way to illustrate what it’s like to have an e-bike is to tell you that whenever I share the experience with someone who’s never ridden one before, their response is generally ‘Holy shit!!’ and a cackle. People just laugh at how much fun it is to suddenly blast off, with just one turn of the pedals. And I’m still laughing. I’ve had my beast for nearly four months now and I still don’t take for granted the freedom, the mobility and the fun it’s given me. Six months ago …
Emma Coote got an electric cargo bike big enough to carry both kids, and it’s changed her Auckland family-commuting life. She shares her experience with us here… This morning was the first day I have driven to work in around 2 months. I arrived with battle fatigue! Tomorrow I am most definitely back on our bicycle made for 3. Being able to pedal the kids and myself to school and work, almost exclusively on bike tracks and without doing myself an injury, is life changing. They love it, I love it, the roads have one less car and we all arrive happy and invigorated. We have a 4km commute to school …
Thomas Lumley is a statistician at the University of Auckland, and co-edits the StatsChat blog. He also rides an electric bike to work most days. Here, he interviews himself about how it’s going so far. (Reposted with permission from Thomas’s Tumblr). Q: So, it’s been about 11 months since you got your fancy electric-assist bike. A: Yes, that’s right. Q: Have you given up yet? A: No, it’s still fun. Q: Even with the rain? A: Combining Doppler radar and the detailed weather forecasts has mostly kept me dry. Q: And getting killed by cars? A: So far, still at less than 1 event. Q: How do you feel about busy two-lane roundabouts? A: I …
Processing...