Rethinking motorized and nonmotorized transportation because of electric bicycles

Roger Phillips, 78, uses an electric bicycle in Manhattan, although they are not officially permitted on New York streets.

The general thought about electric bicycles is that they are considered motorized transportation, not nonmotorized transportation, and therefore shouldn't be mixed into traditional bicycle facilities. Beijing is overrun with electric bikes according to "On the Streets of China, Electric Bikes Are Swarming" from Time Magazine.

But a point in this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "GreenSpace: Biking is good for us, good for the Earth, and plain fun," gives me pause:

Out in Mount Airy, a guy who sells only electric bicycles says business is great. Afshin Kaighobady, owner of Philly Electric Wheels, got the idea for the store when his wife, Meenal Raval, had to travel to stores in two states to investigate different models. He has 22 on the floor.

These decisively bring the bike into the realm of commuter transportation. Kaighobady says a typical customer is someone going the 10 or so miles to Center City. The electric assist - you still have to pedal, but you can choose how much of a boost you want, sort of like switching gears - reduces the sweat factor and sure helps on the uphill trip home.

They are absolutely right. (For the same point also see "An Electric Boost for Bicyclists" from the New York Times.)

A lot of people are unwilling to ride more than 3-5 miles on a bicycle trip, reliant solely upon their own energy. But with an electric bicycle, maybe this would extend the range that people are willing to ride on key trips from say 3-5 miles to as much as 15 miles.

That could have tremendous positive impact on mode switching from motorized vehicles.