5 Reasons to Own an Electric Bike
Never in a million years did I expect that I would find myself using an electric bike as my primary mode of transportation. And yet, over the last 7 months, that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. In this article I want to explain the positives of owning an electric bike, and why I think it is a good option for people of all ages.
#1 You Save a S#!% Ton of Money
Not having a vehicle means not paying for gas, car insurance, costs related to maintaining the vehicle, the cost of actually purchasing a vehicle, plus the price of depreciation associated with owning a vehicle. Even if you own a vehicle and only use the electric bike as a supplemental mode of transportation, you’re still saving money on gas and vehicle wear and tear. This allows you to accumulate and save money quicker, and gives you a lot of extra capital that you can use to invest in other things. Overall it gives you a lot of breathing room when it comes to your finances.
#2 You Save a Lot of Time
Driving, commuting to work, and being stuck in traffic eats up a very large portion of most people’s day to day life. The average person spends 8+ hours a day actually doing their job at work, and then in many cases another 1-2 hours just spent driving to and from their workplace. Using an electric bike as your primary mode of transportation implies that you work close enough to be within biking distance. For me personally, that is the case. Thankfully I work close enough to home that I can get there in about 5 minutes on bike, and thankfully there is a sidewalk that I can ride on along the way.
#3 It’s Better for the Environment
My electric bike actually keeps track of how many trees I’ve saved in my travels, and how much carbon emission I’ve reduced as well. The numbers are actually quite astonishing. Along with this information, I’ve found myself feeling inspired to become more “Green” and trying to contribute positively in other ways. I’m now making much more of an effort to recycle and am even considering setting aside time sometime soon to go around and get trash picked up off the side of the roads in my area. Why not make a lifestyle out of it? I’m sure Mother Nature will be appreciative.
#4 You Get to Enjoy Your Travels
Driving can certainly be relaxing and enjoyable in some cases, but more often than not, it’s just a pain in the ass. Stop and go traffic, people riding your tail, honking their horns, driving too fast. When you’re on an electric bike, you don’t really have to deal with a lot of that. You’re in your own lane, and can move at your own pace. This gives you more opportunity to actually enjoy your travels, and appreciate being out in the fresh air. You can also still cruise with music playing like you would while driving, which makes for a nice experience as well. Plus the good thing about owning an electric bike is that your mode of transportation can also double as a toy. There have been many occasions where I’ve taken my bike out to joy ride out through nature trails and neighborhood pathways, and that can be a lot of fun as well.
#5 You Start Becoming More Integrated With Your Community
Back when I was driving, there would be so many days where I would drive far into town when I could have just been doing stuff close to home. Within my community I am blessed to have a public library, community pool, golf course, basketball court, pickleball court, local gym, nature trails/public parks, as well as local bars, restaurants, and churches all within biking distance. It makes me wonder why I wasn’t doing this a long time ago. If I ever want to ride in to town, my electric bike can still get me there, and I do that from time to time as well. I’ve also found that if I order an UberXL I can throw my bike in the back and then bike around in different areas/communities.
Conclusion
When people see me out riding my bike and ask me about it, I always say it’s worth getting one. When I first got it especially, practically every time I went out someone would stop and ask me “How fast does that thing go?”, “How far can you take it?”, “How much did you pay for it?”. When they hear the answers, I’m almost always met with surprise. If you’re a financially savvy person, or someone that’s just looking to get away from the hassle of day-to-day traffic, I would recommend getting an e-bike. There are plenty of good options online. Do your research, and find which one looks most suitable for you. You won’t be disappointed!
