E-Bikes - are we being taken for a ride?

Cycling to Salzburg through a wood reeking of wild garlic

Cycling along the river bank into the city of Salzburg at this time of year one passes just about every variant of bicycle and rider: creaking uncared-for jalopies with rusty chains and equally rusty riders, sleek racers powered by lycra, sit-up-and-beg continental cruisers with saddles higher than bar stools and enormous handlebars, step-through shoppers sedately pedalled by ladies in Loden coming home from the market, students aboard battered mountain bikes texting as they ride, grandparents shepherding enthusiastic grandchildren.

Meanwhile, shops that a few weeks ago were full of skis, boots and anoraks, are now stacked high with new bikes. But take a careful look – something new is stirring. The trend towards e-bikes (electrically-assisted pedal cycles) has developed from step-through shoppers to electro-bikes of all kinds, especially mountain bikes. These dominate the ranges, knobbly-tyred, with suspension and gaudy with paintwork bling, they are not aimed at those who need help to continue riding, but at a whole new market.

The trend is encouraged by politicians who like to be pictured with “green and clean” transport to boost their environment-friendly cred. However, are e-bikes entirely clean? Are the politicians taking us for a ride? Every e-bike needs to be recharged and given that in Austria most electricity comes from water power, there is a fair case. But the hoo-hah over proposed new power lines is never connected with our increasing demand. The materials used in the batteries and motors and the transport of these and the bikes across the globe is also not considered.

The promotion of e-bikes by politicians has been used by manufacturers as an opportunity to open up a new market. People who already have a perfectly good bike could now spend another €2000 on a power assisted model. Mountain bikes look cool and if they can make riding into the mountains easy, they are bound to sell to those looking for a soft option.

It is hard to believe those that say if e-bikes encourage more people to take to cycling, that they would then buy a traditionally-powered bike - even though they have an expensive electro bike at home. However, it has to be said, that riding an e-bike into the city is better than taking the car.

Just when awareness of the increasing problem of an overweight and under-exercised population is growing, we have come up with a politically-approved way of getting less exercise in a city where every effort has been made to encourage the use of bicycle-power.

The city does not count among the top cycling cities in the world – but it deserves to be. Although not large it has 175km of dedicated bike paths marked by over 900 special bike route signs, offers 5500 bike parking places and even free self service facilities. Where the riverside bike routes reach a road bridge, the path has been constructed to pass beneath the bridge. In summer and even in winter many people travel to work by bike – even when it is -20C and snowing.

In the past 20 years the province of Salzburg has spent €66m and built 660 km of dedicated cycle routes. It is on target to achieve its planned 760 km by 2015. The route from Embach to the city follows the Salzach river crosses one minor pass and meanders through pastures and villages and around towns. At this time of year the spring is at least two weeks further advanced than in the mountains so it is like riding a time machine. And, of course, once in the city, taking bikes in the specially-designated area on the train home is trouble-free.