Electric bikes, commonly known as e-bikes, are a game-changing innovation for getting around our towns and cities. They make hills easier, distances shorter. They help you take off at intersections and help you avoid getting up a sweat.
Here are some top tips to help make riding an e-bike fun and comfortable for everyone.
E-bikes are typically heavier than regular bikes which means they handle differently. Like any new bicycle it is best to get used to how the bike handles before heading out on the road. It’s best to start somewhere where you have a bit of space and have a go at:
Adjusting the power settings
Testing how it responds when stopping and starting
Turning, balancing and negotiating obstacles with different levels of power assist
Remember, if the motor is in the front wheel and the bike has a throttle, go gently when cornering.
The NZ Transport Agency suggest buying an e-bike with a motor located in the middle or rear of the bike, rather than the front wheel, as these generally handle much more like non-powered bikes
When riding an e-bike you’ll probably be travelling at higher speeds than a regular bike. Extra caution should be taken at higher speeds. Ensure you scan well ahead, signal your movements and keep an eye out for cars turning in and out of driveways and side roads. Be aware that at intersections drivers might not expect you to be starting off at speed so it’s important to be in a prominent road position, and make eye contact with drivers that may turn across your path.
Because e-bikes are heavier, when taking off at an intersection or up-hill, ensure that you have changed down to a low gear. Pedal assist usually kicks in on the second rotation of the pedals, so if you have it in a high/faster gear you’ll experience a surge in power and will take off quickly, so make sure you allow for this. Use advanced stop boxes where possible to give you a head start.
You might find yourself passing other cyclists on busy routes. When passing other cyclists make sure you pass safely. Look behind you for traffic, and signal before pulling out. Give sufficient space when passing and let the other people know you are passing by calling out, eg 'on your right' or by ringing your bell.
Shared paths are for slower more relaxed travel. On a shared path you should put your e-bike in a low power setting and cycle at a speed consistent with other users so that it does not put others at risk or make them feel uncomfortable when you pass.
For long distances you can extend the battery range by using lower power settings and pedalling more.
E-bikes come in a wide range of styles – commuter, mountain bike or cargo bike – and have a variety of features and top motor-assisted speeds. In 2017, Consumer NZ provided a helpful introduction to e-bikes(external link)
The Transport Agency recommends:
E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular in our urban centres. It is important to remember that people riding them may be travelling faster than you might expect, particularly when going up-hill and when starting out at traffic lights.
Baiskeli za umeme, au e-baiskeli, ni njia mpya ya kusafiri katika miji na vijiji. Wao hufanya milima iwe rahisi, umbali uwe mfupi. Husaidia kuondoa kwenye makutano na kuepuka kupata jasho. Hapa kuna vidokezo kadhaa vya kufurahisha na kufurahisha kwa kila mtu. Baiskeli za umeme kwa kawaida ni nzito kuliko baiskeli za kawaida ambayo inamaanisha hushughulikia tofauti. Kama baiskeli yoyote mpya ni bora kupata kutumika kwa jinsi baiskeli hushughulikia kabla ya kichwa nje kwenye barabara. Ni bora kuanza mahali ambapo una nafasi kidogo na kujaribu: kurekebisha mipangilio ya nguvu, kupima jinsi inavyoitikia wakati wa kuacha na kuanza, kugeuka, kusawazisha na kujadili vikwazo na viwango tofauti vya msaada wa nguvu, kumbuka, ikiwa injini iko kwenye gurudumu la mbele na baiskeli ina throttle, nenda polepole wakati wa kugeuka. Kampuni ya Usafiri ya NZ inapendekeza kununua baiskeli ya umeme na injini iliyoko katikati au nyuma ya baiskeli, badala ya gurudumu la mbele, kwani hizi kwa ujumla hushughulikia zaidi kama baiskeli zisizo na nguvu. Tahadhari ya ziada inapaswa kuchukuliwa kwa kasi ya juu. Hakikisha unaangalia mbele, ishara harakati zako na kuweka jicho nje kwa magari kugeuka katika na nje ya driveways na barabara za upande. Kuwa na ufahamu kwamba katika makutano madereva inaweza si kutarajia wewe kuwa kuanzia mbali kwa kasi hivyo ni muhimu kuwa katika nafasi ya barabara mashuhuri, na kufanya mawasiliano ya macho na madereva ambayo inaweza kugeuka katika njia yako. Kwa sababu baiskeli za umeme ni nzito zaidi, wakati wa kuondoka kwenye makutano au mteremko, hakikisha umebadilisha gear ya chini. Pedal kusaidia kawaida kicks katika juu ya mzunguko wa pili wa pedals, hivyo kama una ni katika gear juu / kasi utapata kuongezeka kwa nguvu na itaondoka haraka, hivyo kuhakikisha kuruhusu kwa ajili ya hii. Tumia masanduku ya kuacha ya hali ya juu inapowezekana kukupa mwanzo wa kichwa. Huenda ukajikuta ukipita waendesha-baiskeli wengine kwenye njia zenye shughuli nyingi. Unapopita wanariadha wengine hakikisha unapita kwa usalama. Angalia nyuma yako kwa ajili ya trafiki, na ishara kabla ya kuvuta nje. Kutoa nafasi ya kutosha wakati wa kupita na basi watu wengine kujua wewe ni kupita kwa kupiga kelele, kwa mfano 'kwenye haki yako' au kwa kupiga kengele yako. Njia zinazoshirikiwa ni za kusafiri polepole na kwa utulivu zaidi. Katika njia ya pamoja unapaswa kuweka e-baiskeli yako katika hali ya nguvu ya chini na baiskeli kwa kasi sawa na watumiaji wengine ili isiweke wengine hatarini au kuwafanya wasijihisi vizuri wakati unapopita. Kwa umbali mrefu unaweza kupanua mbalimbali ya betri kwa kutumia mipangilio ya chini ya nguvu na pedaling zaidi. E-baiskeli kuja katika aina mbalimbali ya mitindo <unk> commuter, baiskeli mlima au baiskeli mizigo <unk> na kuwa na aina mbalimbali ya vipengele na juu ya kasi motor-msaidizi. Katika 2017, Consumer New Zealand ilitoa utangulizi muhimu kwa baiskeli za umeme (kiungo cha nje) Shirika la Usafiri linapendekeza: Baiskeli za umeme zinakuwa maarufu zaidi katika vituo vyetu vya mijini. Ni muhimu kukumbuka kwamba watu wanaopanda magari wanaweza kusafiri kwa kasi zaidi kuliko unavyoweza kutarajia, hasa wakati wa kwenda juu ya kilima na wakati wa kuanza kwenye taa za trafiki.