The Herald - The Herald Magazine
MY FAVOURITE PLACE
PROFESSOR DAME SUE BLACK
DESPITE all the doom and gloom of the last few months, one undeniable benefit of lockdown is that it encouraged many of us to get out and about in a way that we haven’t done previously. And, undoubtably, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of runners and cyclists on our streets, with sales of bikes rising astronomically to the point that many major retailers simply sold out. But for those who want to incorporate a newfound passion for cycling into post-lockdown life, e-bikes could be an excellent means in which to do so.
They offer the chance to go further, and faster, than on a pedal bike, with the ability to put more possessions onto the frame as well.
For Jamie Hellard, co-owner of electronic bike retailer E Movement, that makes them a viable replacement for some car journeys. “E-bikes can 100% be a means to replace car journeys. I think more and more people are getting exposed to the idea of e-bikes, I think they will eventually become a common site on the roads. I believe cycle lanes will become adapted to scooters and electric bikes.”
And in a time of social distancing and concerns about spreading germs in confined situations, they also provide a convenient alternative to public transport.
“We have had a 30% increase in sales over the Covid pandemic,” he explains. “I think that was for two reasons: one that people wanted to get out and about over lockdown and the second was that people wanted a safer method of transport that didn’t expose them to germs on crowded public transport.”
As well as providing a Covid-friendly means of travel, e-bikes are also environmentally-friendly, particularly when compared to cars.
While some people may have concerns about the electricity involved in charging the e-bike battery, Hellard insists it is minimal compared to the energy saved by avoiding cars or other types of transport.
“You are saving drastically on fuel costs in terms of travelling in a vehicle, but also reducing your carbon footprint because the electricity is a lot greener to produce than the fuel.”
And with all of E Movement’s bikes using high-quality batteries, each charge should allow cyclists to travel significant distances before needing to re-charge.
“Our bikes all have branded batteries, we only use LG or Samsung batteries, plus we put hydraulic breaks on them.
“A charge would get you between 35-50