We get this question all the time — “I’m curious about electric bicycles but don’t really know where to start. How do I find the right bike that fits my needs?”

The beauty of an electric bicycle is that it combines the fun and fresh air of riding a traditional bike while also offering the utility of a car. It gives you the ability to carry more things, climb up hills with relative ease and get where you want to go faster and more comfortably.

Perhaps you like to ride with your family on the weekends, you want to combine a little exercise with your weekly grocery run or you’re looking to start commuting by bike. Electric bicycles can help you run errands, carry kids around town, get you to work and much more, but picking the right electric bicycle can be confusing. 

To help make your search for the perfect electric bicycle a little easier, we collected some great resources that give you insight into how to choose the best electric bicycle for your needs.

Here are a few great guides to finding the right electric bicycle for you:

REI: “How to Choose an Electric Bike”

The New Wheel: “Top Ten Tips For Buying An E-Bike”

The Guardian: “How to Buy An Electric Bike”

Momentum Magazine: “The E-Bike Guide: Here’s What You Need to Know”  

One final note we’ll add is that a trip to your local bike shop will offer unmatched guidance from  bike industry professionals on what electric bicycle best fits you and your needs. They can answer all of your questions, help you understand the different technologies and features available and set you up on a test ride before you hit the road on your new electric bicycle. 

Thinking About Buying an Electric Bicycle? We’re Here to Help

In September 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced this year’s awards for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grants (BUILD, formerly TIGER). Of the $1 billion in grants awarded, nearly $300 million focus on or support bicycle infrastructure and active transportation. Ranging from recreational trails to river walks, large interchanges and shoulder expansions, BUILD grants provide the necessary dollars to complete important transportation projects that would otherwise lack sufficient funding from other sources. 

This year, 21 of the 70 total projects include bicycle infrastructure, a significant increase compared to previous years of BUILD grants. Applicants (generally cities, counties and transportation authorities) recognize that adding and improving bike infrastructure not only makes their applications more competitive, but represents their communities’ needs to serve the growing number of people riding bikes for both transportation and recreation.

Jefferson Avenue and 20th Street Revitalization Corridors — St. Louis, MO

SR 96 Improvement Project: Providing the Critical Link Between I-16 and I-75 — Twiggs County, GA

More Americans than ever are relying on bikes as a means for efficient, socially distanced transportation and close-to-home recreation. Trail counters across the U.S. report a 75% increase in ridership compared to 2019, and governments at the local, state and federal levels face increased pressure to support the growing trends in active transportation by advancing infrastructure projects, enhancing safety and expanding mobility options. 

Nearly $300 Million in Federal Infrastructure Grants Include Bikes

As the new year begins, we hope you’re gearing up to take some great rides in 2020. From oceanside coastal rides in the Pacific Northwest to gravel epics in Colorado to country road cruises in New York, we’ve compiled a list of 12 can’t-miss rides for 2020. Our new Ride Spot app will get you to each and guide you to great cycling experiences.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado (August 6, 2020)

While the state of Colorado already hosts dozens of time-tested on and off-road cycling races, the new kid on the block, SBT GRVL, has quickly made a name for itself coming off its 2019 inaugural race. With four different races spanning from 37 miles to 144 miles, SBT GRVL offers fantastic routes for gravel riders of all abilities to enjoy stunning views of the Park Range of the northern Rockies.

This 33-mile tour winding through the streets of Minneapolis highlights the city’s abundant public artwork. Starting at a doughnut shop and ending at a bar, this ride is not meant to be completed as quickly as possible, but rather one that encourages multiple off-bike stops to take in the stunning murals adorning the sides of buildings across one of America’s best cities for biking. 

For those looking to practice their fly fishing cast in addition to enjoying a great multi-day nature ride, head to Hillsboro, Oregon, just 20 minutes west of Portland. This 60-mile (one way) ride sets the table for the perfect bike camping trip through the PNW’s coastal range. Beautiful views of the Willamette Valley along the Nestucca River make this ride one of our favorites for 2020.

With a slogan as simple as “Ride Bikes. Drink Bourbon.” you can’t really go wrong with the Bourbon Country Burn. A three-day casual tour through the rolling pastures surrounding Lexington, Kentucky, the Bourbon Country Burn offers daily rides ranging from 20 to 100 miles. Each ride includes stops at local bourbon distilleries — as many as six per day — and, of course, plenty of taste tests along the way.

We think the best way to see our nation’s capital is on a bike. This loop around Washington developed by PeopleForBikes staff adds an extra element— stops at some of the top breweries in D.C.’s booming craft beer scene. Hitting four different watering holes over a 15-mile ride, this brewery tour combines hops, history and even a short hiatus into Maryland.

A world-class mountain bike park in a town of only 50,000, Slaughter Pen offers a robust singletrack trail network accessible right from downtown Bentonville. Featuring flow sections, major downhills, technical rock gardens and huge berms, Slaughter Pen will excite any level of rider. It is also one of only 15 trail networks worldwide to earn an IMBA Silver Level Ride Center designation.

When was the last time your bike trip included a nautical component? Starting from the heart of downtown Seattle, this route offers an ideal intro to those looking to get their feet wet in the world of bike camping. After a short ferry ride across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island, an easy seven-mile pedal to the Fay Bainbridge Campground gives riders an easy opportunity to get out of the city and into the magnificent Pacific Northwest.

When your friend describes a ride as “so beautiful my eyes hurt,” it’s one you probably don’t want to miss. Located just two hours south of Denver, this all-day ride follows the path of the dismantled Florence and Cripple Creek Railroad that carried gold from mountain mines to the valley floor. From staggering mountain vistas to rolling through an 1800s mining town all with gentle grades and little to no traffic, Phantom Canyon is one of Colorado’s best kept gravel ride secrets.

Usually held in March, Camp Tucson features three self-supported rides of varying length and intensity intended to show off some classic southern Arizona desert trails. It also provides those looking to tackle the infamous 300-mile Arizona Trail Race in April with valuable recon and training.

Take Metro North’s Hudson line from Grand Central Station north for one hour to access this 31-mile route between Peekskill and Cold Spring, New York. This two-county country road ride winds through the Hudson River valley and provides a refreshing break from the big city. Brooklyn-based 718 Cyclery chose this route as the inaugural ride for their Women’s Adventure Cycling Club.

No American must-ride bucket list would be complete without an oceanside ride down the West Coast. This picturesque 111-miler recommended by our friends at Leave It On The Road stretches from Reedsport to Gold Beach, Oregon, with remarkable views of the Pacific over your right shoulder the entire way.

While Stillwater, Oklahoma provides plenty of great options for a decent cup of coffee, our friends at District Bicycles decided to go a little outside the box (well, 35 miles outside the box) for their cup of joe. Located in Guthrie, OK, cyclist-owned Hoboken Coffee Roasters serves as an ideal mid-ride pitstop. Gravel and dirt roads deliver expansive views of the north central Oklahoma countryside.

Are we missing one of your favorite bike routes? Download Ride Spot and share your favorite ride!

Earlier this month, 24 women representing the U.S. bike industry converged in Washington, D.C., for the annual PeopleForBikes women’s fly-in. Our largest fly-in yet presented a valuable opportunity to work with industry peers to promote federal funding for bike infrastructure policies.

Each PeopleForBikes fly-in centers around a full day of meetings with federal lawmakers or their staff, offering bike business leaders the chance to highlight the industry’s contributions to local, state and national economies. Women’s fly-in participants met with 30 offices on Capitol Hill to generate support for the prioritization of bikes in the 2020 reauthorization of the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act.

“Speaking regularly with elected officials helps industry members understand the work we do in support of better bike policies and, more importantly, it transforms individual business owners into some of the nation’s best advocates for bikes,” said Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes’ COO.

Attendees met with legislative staff in teams of three to five, and each meeting was led by an executive from the elected official’s state or district. The format demonstrates the industry’s alignment in driving its policy agenda forward, while also offering participants a front-row seat to lawmakers at work.

“Being a part of the PeopleForBikes lobby day reinforced and amplified my desire to continue pushing for policy that supports local infrastructure, recreation access and safer streets. These policies are good for our business, and good for the bike industry as a whole,” said Allison Straub, president of Burley Design in Eugene, Oregon.

This week brings together every sector of the bike industry, from retail to manufacturing to legal and advocacy, and connects individuals from each to their elected representatives, providing the critical opportunity to talk about what matters most to the industry and to riders.

“As someone who represents injured bicyclists, and who is always advocating for safer cycling and better/more infrastructure for cycling, I felt like this trip was my first real opportunity to influence the people in our government who make those decisions,” said Megan Hottman, founder, attorney, and cycling advocate at Hottman Law Office.

To Congress and lawmakers, this week of political advocacy from women executives show the progress being made — and the work still to be done — in diversifying and emboldening the bike industry to make biking more accessible and enjoyable for all Americans. “In an industry that is predominantly white, cisgender men, the women’s fly-in empowers one of the underrepresented populations in this industry to collaborate, make their voice heard and directly influence the funding that is required to provide infrastructure for new and existing bike riders,” said Jessica Grenwis, Quality Bicycle Products’ VP of marketing, attending the women’s fly-in for her second time.

The June fly-in coincided with our largest-ever Congressional Bike Fest on June 5, attracting more than 600 congressional staff interested in bikes, plus two members of Congress who are part of the Bike Caucus. This event is both a fun and casual networking opportunity for the fly-in participants after a long day of meetings and a way for the bike industry to showcase the latest and greatest products to the Hill. Bike Fest is an energizing reminder that people in D.C. working behind the scenes on policy care about bikes, whether from an individual rider perspective, as a business interest or as a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation that can modernize cities and outdoor recreation — provided they work to ensure funding for such projects.

We wrapped up our week in D.C. with an e-bike tour around the National Mall. JUMP provided 30 of their dockless e-bikes for the ride, allowing the group to enjoy a leisurely cruise around various historic monuments.

Interested in learning more about or participating in future PeopleForBikes fly-ins? Please contact Jordan Trout.

Bike Industry Leaders Roll into Washington for Women’s Fly-in

At PeopleForBikes, we believe we can all do more to grow the cycling community. We’ve been doing the work for nearly 20 years and we want to keep the momentum going. We’re committed to improving inclusiveness in our messaging, broadening the audiences we reach, and increasing our staff diversity. Join us as we learn from various voices in the cycling community. Together, we can turn what we learn into action. 

Chantal Hardy is the Director of Outreach and Promotion for WE Bike NYC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in New York City dedicated to women’s empowerment through bicycles. WE Bike NYC is open to all women, female identifying, and gender nonconforming people.

The goal at WE Bike NYC is to provide a safe space for women to ride together, regardless of skill, speed, or riding style. Each month they offer a variety of events to get more women riding, including social rides, training rides, mechanic workshops, happy hours, and field trips.

There are plenty of die-hard riders who go out no matter the weather conditions, but that’s not for everyone. New York City weather isn’t always conducive for riding for several weeks or even months at a time. Still, WE Bike NYC strives to provide consistent community. “Even when we can’t host an on-the-bike event, we organize a monthly happy hour, which is open to anyone. Whether you ride or don’t ride, no matter your gender, we love to have this safe community-building time.” Rotating locations throughout the five boroughs, the happy hours help provide people who are unsure about biking with the opportunity to ask questions, meet fellow newcomers, and toy with the idea of riding. Hardy says there are a lot of people who are bike-curious, but first want a community that they trust, before they get on a bike.

Never underestimate the power of the invitation

WE Bike NYC is a community that encourages people to try new things at their own pace. “Sometimes you just need to see people doing the thing you want to do. And also have them say, ‘You can do this too!’” Hardy says she’s seen numerous women start out at the happy hours just asking questions, and slowly they gain the courage to try a bike event. Many times, those people become bike commuters, or train for the 5 Boro Bike Tour, and eventually pay it forward by teaching a mechanic class or leading a ride.

When thinking about starting something similar to WE Bike, Hardy first recommends just starting. “Just do it: just start, with whatever you have, wherever you are.”

Her second biggest takeaway as a volunteer with WE Bike is that communication is vital. “As an organization grows and changes, it’s so important to re-evaluate things often. Ask yourself what your needs are, what your goals are, what it takes to sustain things.” Hardy says that bringing in the right people, casting a very wide net, getting awesome volunteers, and flexibility have all helped WE Bike succeed. “Constantly think about bringing in a lot of different voices — not just the ones you think you want to hear. Reach out to communities that you’re aware aren’t represented in what you’re doing.”

WE Bike has recently added programming for women in their 50s and older. Hardy says they realized there’s a huge number of people riding in that age range, but not a lot of programming for them. They also support Moms On Wheels, which hosts rides and events aimed at mothers.

How to Grow the Bike Community: 3 Ideas from Bike Advocate Chantal Hardy

The newly opened Spring Street two-way protected bike lane is the first half of a project that will provide a major north-south connector for downtown Los Angeles this year. Collectively called the Main & Spring Forward Project, both streets will connect to 11th, which has a new green bike lane going east-west. According to LA Department of Transportation Planning Associate Lameese Chang, the Main & Spring Forward project is critical to the downtown network. Where there used to be bike lane fragments, there’s now a complete loop that connects to Figueroa Street — the other major north-south corridor, and allows people on bikes to get throughout downtown and to the University of Southern California.

In addition to the Main & Spring Forward Project, Chang says, “We’ve made improvements to Figueroa Street to prevent vehicles from parking in the bike lanes — by adding additional flexible delineators at key locations.” In any large city, a change in infrastructure is a learning process, and Chang is optimistic about how the new improvements throughout downtown will help the transportation experience for everyone.

Jessica Meaney, Executive Director at Investing in Place, traveled to Spain with a PeopleForBikes study tour in April, 2018. She and a team of city leaders witnessed bi-directional bikeways in Barcelona and Seville, and it really changed how they thought about infrastructure priorities. “We were exposed to such a different way of doing mobility that our chief engineer, Dan Mitchell, came home and implemented what we learned in less than 12 months.” Meaney noticed in Seville that there were numerous women and children on bikes. She’s hoping that can be replicated in LA. “The bi-directional bikeway on Spring slows everyone down and is barrier-protected. Anything we can do to boost the number of people who identify as women getting on a bike, I think that’s a huge win.”

Dan Mitchell, Assistant General Manager of Project Delivery & Operations at LADOT, has been working for the department of transportation for 20 years, but had never experienced what he saw in Spain. “I was skeptical at first, but when I saw how effective the two-way bike lanes were in Barcelona and Seville, I became a believer.” Mitchell says plans were already in place to create one-way protected bike lanes on both Main and Spring, but as soon as they got back from the study tour, they pushed the two-way plan into action. Mitchell says the two-way bike lane is so effective because of the safety factor. “It’s comfortable and it’s low-stress…I brought my 11-year-old son downtown over the weekend to give it a try and he thought it made for much easier riding. It’s just a convenient connection between destinations on that street.”

Other new improvements to Main & Spring will include easier crossings for pedestrians, advanced traffic flow for buses, and better parking options. The area has multiple bikeshare stations, as well as dockless bike and scooter options. Changes and upgrades will continue as more residents in the area take advantage of the infrastructure, and LADOT collects data.

This is a significant step forward for downtown LA. Protected bike lanes are especially powerful because they allow people to not only be safer, but to feel safer. Perceived safety is something we measure in our City Ratings, and we know that more people ride bikes when they feel safe. The Main & Spring Forward Project is a great example of improved safety in action.

Two-Way Protected Bike Lane Critical Link in LA’s Downtown Bike Network

Topics

City Riding

PeopleForBikes at Work on City Riding

News

Thinking About Buying an Electric Bicycle? We’re Here to Help

Nearly $300 Million in Federal Infrastructure Grants Include Bikes

A Dozen Bucket List Rides for 2020

Bike Industry Leaders Roll into Washington for Women’s Fly-in

How to Grow the Bike Community: 3 Ideas from Bike Advocate Chantal Hardy

Two-Way Protected Bike Lane Critical Link in LA’s Downtown Bike Network