| When Kawthar Duncan arrived in San Francisco at age 26, she hadn't touched a bicycle in years. "The thought of bikers being in the same area as cars always freaked me out," she says. "So I never looked into it." But years later, with two children and a desperate need for transportation, the family considered other ways to get around. A second car created nearly as many problems — from expenses to parking headaches — as it might solve. So Duncan's husband suggested test-riding an electric bicycle, or e-bike. "If you'd seen me on the first day, you'd think I would never come back" to the bike shop, says Duncan, a third-grade teacher. "I was nervous. The bike was heavy. I couldn't lift it up. I told my husband, 'This is not for me.' " But by the time she brought home a Riese & Müller Nevo electric cargo bike, she was hooked. "Before I know it, I'm riding 20 miles a day," she laughs. "I never thought it was going to be me. … I've been able to go anywhere, anytime. It's the new minivan." What are e-bikes? E-bikes add a battery and an electric motor to the classic bike frame. When riders start pedaling, the motor assist kicks in to climb hills or reach higher speeds, usually between 20 and 28 mph. E-bike models are available as cargo, mountain and even folding bikes. This extra equipment brings weight, usually 10 to 20 pounds, as well as cost, with prices at least two or three times higher than conventional bikes. E-bikes' extra power lets riders cover hills or distances of up to 100 miles with little effort, avoiding sweaty arrivals at work or school. This electric assist makes heavy errands possible as well: Riders can easily load children, groceries and equipment on electric cargo bikes, which can carry nearly 500 pounds. Are many Americans riding them? E-bike sales in the United States surged 269 percent between 2019 and 2022, approaching $1 billion, even as overall bike sales declined, reports market research firm Circana. In the United States, e-bikes now far outsell electric cars and trucks. What are they good for? Commuting, errands, school drop-offs, hauling groceries and other items, and fun. "It's a really fun feeling when the pedal assist kicks off," says Bryn Grunwald, a transportation analyst at the environmental nonprofit RMI, who has commuted more than 11,500 miles on her e-bike in Colorado. "You have a moment you haven't felt since you were 5 years old. Suddenly, a lot of things are a lot more open to you." Why do they matter? E-bikes' popularity among non-bikers may push cities to change their car-centric ways. City officials from New York to Cleveland have already rolled out measures to prod drivers to leave their cars at home, from closing streets to traffic to creating "15-minute cities" where all of life's essentials are just a walk, bike or transit ride away. The measures reinforce themselves. The more people like Duncan ride, the more cities are pressed to build networks of safe bike lanes. These, research shows, prompt even more people to ride, especially women and low-income residents. There's more potential to reimagine our cities and suburbs. How to get started Buying an e-bike is a bit like buying a car: a big purchase you'll probably use in every aspect of your life. See my column for how to get started. | 
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