503-325-8600 JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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1139 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103
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Thank You, Fellow Small-Business Owners!
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Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You! Do You Qualify for a Student Loan Discharge?
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Warmer Days Mean More People Out and About: Stay Alert English Ground Beef Pasties
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Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car?
Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car?
The U.S. has the most extensive road system in the world, so it probably comes as no surprise that U.S. households have two cars (1.88, to be exact) on average. This number has remained relatively steady since 2001, but in the last year, many people began to reconsider their driving habits in light of the pandemic. With professionals working from home and students schooling remotely, many family cars stayed parked in the driveway. While this helped save on fuel costs, car owners still had to pay for insurance, maintenance, and registration, which left some people wondering if owning two vehicles was necessary. Enter the electric bike (e-bike), an eco- friendly alternative, especially for those in two-car households.
Forbes contributor Scott Kramer traded his second family car for an e-bike in late 2019 and says he has no regrets. “I can share our other car with my wife when needed. Or just take an Uber. I love the two electric bikes that I own and ride them religiously to do errands within 5 miles of the house.” What if your trek is longer than 5 miles? It’s tricky to say precisely how far a rider can go on a fully charged battery because an e-bike’s range is affected by speed and terrain. At a minimum, riders can expect to go 30 miles round trip without a problem. Some bikes can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge, and, as with electric cars, the technology improves every year. If range is less of a concern than speed, swapping a car for an e-bike may mean slower speeds and longer travel times, but
not always. Top speeds vary by model
and brand, but many get up to 20–30 mph. Also, you’ll save time by avoiding traffic and having to look for parking. There are, of course, some drawbacks. Highly rated e-bikes come with a hefty price tag — $1,200 at the low end and over $7,000 at the high end — which can be more than a good used car. They’re also heavy, which is bad news for anyone who needs to bring theirs up a flight of stairs. Finally, depending on where you live, e-bikes might not be a viable option for year-round riding. The bottom line is that if you’re looking to decrease your car-ownership costs, an e-bike might be a viable alternative worth looking into.
The Di Bartolomeo Law Office, P.C. 1139 Exchange Street | Astoria, Oregon | 503-325-8600 | www.JoeDiBartolomeo.com
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