I had no intention to buy an ebike back then. After all, I was committed to ride my non-electric bike the 26 mile roundtrip (with hills) to OHSU for work. Even if it was exhausting. Even if there was no way I’d have my act together to ride more than two days a week. Even though I’d been passed that one day on a Terwilliger hill by a dapperly dressed much younger person looking as if they had no care in the world. Meanwhile, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and was glad I packed a change of clothes, even if I had to towel off and dress in the shared restroom of OHSU’s Richard Jones Hall.

And then the July 2019 West Linn Old Fashioned Fair and parade theme was “130 Years of Electricity: Powered by the Falls” (celebrating “Powering the Future”). 2019 marked the 130^th anniversary of the Willamette Falls Electric Company first generating and transmitting electricity from the Willamette Falls 14 miles to power downtown Portland streetlights. Did you know that? It’s quite a big deal as it was the first in the world long distance AC (alternating current) power transmission. And parade planners figured it would be great for the mayor and council – rather than walk or ride in the local garbage truck throwing candy and blowing bubbles – to ride pedal assist e-bikes. Oh yeah, that means my spouse, then Mayor Axelrod, hopped onto an e-bike before I did. (Please note it was only this past year that he finally did buy his own e-bike. Yay!)

Later that day at the fair, Cynergy E-bikes invited the public to take their bikes for a spin. That’s all it took. I promise, I was cynical until then. Heck, my bike was keeping me in shape. It was challenging. But then I rode those hills up from West Linn’s Willamette Park and Pete’s Mountain Road. OMG, I thought. This is so so fun! The next week or two I made it over to Cynergy’s shop, tried a few pedal assist bikes and before I knew it was taking my commute by e-bike. And finding, heck – I could ride every day! I could even carry my computer.

And yes, if you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you may recall the other blogs I’ve written about ebikes. It truly has been the best purchase I’ve made in the last decade. Living in the hills of West Linn, I hop on it to go get groceries, drop down the hill to deliver and pick up library books, or head into Portland to enjoy a trip up (or down) Riverview Cemetery, across the Tilikum Bridge or to some stop along the way. Today I met a friend for brunch in Oregon City and later journeyed to my medical appointment in Tualatin. I am a safety conscious rider, following proper road and trail etiquette.

Yes, I’ll officially become a senior citizen this fall, and am quite aware of what a serious fall or crash might do to me. These days I’m also outspoken about tragic accidents, kids too young to be on electric bikes, and folks who dismiss both caution and traffic rules to the wind. It’s more important than ever for those of us cycling to advocate for not just the good that bikes bring (um, non-fossil fuel use, traffic reduction, fitness) but to ensure we are ambassadors for how to do it all so the public doesn’t hate us. Rather than repeat myself, I encourage you to read my blog linked below on E-bikes and Kids, the topic which has sadly become an even more serious issue since posting.

Prior bike blogs:

An Apologetic Cyclist No More (Aug. 14, 2024

Kids and E-bikes (July 12, 2002)

Coming of Age on Two Wheels (Aug. 20, 2022)

Independence by Bicycle: Now and Then (Nov. 21, 2021)

Gloveless and Out of Juice (Aug. 22, 2021)

E-bike: My Two Year Review (July 2, 2021)

About That E-bike… (July 31, 2020)

Ditching the Cross Bar (Dec. 21, 2019)

Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water (Sept. 19, 2019)

And About Safety

As I finished drafting this blog, I read the tragic news of a woman being killed after being hit by a car while cycling in Portland yesterday. Yes, this gives all cyclists pause. I know several people who won’t ride on the road for safety reasons. Perhaps it’s my background in safety and health or my understanding that there are risks in everything. That being said, I do not take chances on my bike. Things we can do besides the basics of wearing helmets and being visible is selecting to the best of our ability, safer roads to cycle. Don’t ride “faster” just because you can, if it is inappropriate for the terrain, street or traffic. Be aware that fast ebikes can surprise drivers and this is not generally a good thing. And, most importantly, ride as defensively as possible. I know there are “cycle hating” drivers on the road. I guess it’s a risk I take. Earlier this month I had my first experience of breaking down in tears and frustration after being passed by one of these motorists. (Yes, I was in the bike lane minding my own business, not even a mile from my house, when a truck crept up to me and then suddenly blasted me with noise and exhaust as it tore in front of me. I yelled at him, clearly inaudible by that time to the driver, but then I pulled over far off the road and broke down. I felt a mixture of anger, fright and I’m not sure what else.)

And so, yes I’m an advocate for cycling, including e-bikes. I still roll my eyes at the “ebikes” that look more like motorcycles. I try to kindly share advice to kids not riding safely or according to the rules of the road, and I’m frustrated by parents who let their too young and inexperienced kids ride electric bikes. But without a doubt, each time I head out on a pedal, I remind myself how much fun it is to travel this way as I pay as much attention as I can to those vehicles and conditions around me.

Oh, and when driving…SLOW DOWN! I know everybody can be frustrated by construction and road conditions. But that doesn’t mean excessive speeds are OK, especially on windy roads.

You know how I feel about synchronicity. And connecting with folks. Yesterday on my ride to and from my medical appointment, I happened to chat with two pedestrians in passing. As we talked, they both told me just that morning they had been thinking about how they were interested in getting an ebike to help them with errands and to get out of their cars. So, I expect you can call me a bit of an ambassador. On wheels. Be safe. Be smart. Be kind.

My first set of (non-electric) wheels.

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