The single issue with all those bikes is the Price 😒 Many of them cost more like a car. I ended up designing my own solution, just because it is more affordable to build it up over the years, even though I am not educated in bicycle mechanics, so having to "reinvent the wheel" yet again 🙂
My 85 year old father-in-law lives on the outskirts of a small town. He has some pretty serious knee issues but 3 times a day he gets on his 3-wheel electric bike and takes his small dog for a walk. It gets him outside and seeing his neighbors, and the dog is very happy to trot alongside. There’s no way they could be exercising together without that trike.
@@jeffmpvd7689 Lots of people with mobility issues resort to using special vans that can load up a wheelchair and those are typically really terrible for many reasons and prone to failure.
A few years ago I saw a guy on a bike that was towing a two-wheel cart for his dog. The pup could jump on or off the cart at will, and was having a ball hopping on and off while his owner chugged away at the pedals. An electric assist version of this would be fantastic.
So true! I’m aging and have some knee problems. Getting out on my ebike has widened my horizons and saved me from knee surgery. I still mountain bike and just got back from a solo bike packing trip on the Virginia Capital Trail. Ebikes can literally save our lives or at least give us more years of fun and adventure. Getting out there does a lot for our minds, as well as for our physical well being.
Agreed! Something else to keep in mind while ebiking is to wear the proper helmet, most helmets have an outdated safety standard, the best ones are the ones that pass the nta standard like xnito or bern hudson
YES! Carry specialty bikes! My disabled daughter needed an e-trike for her commute to work and the choices were so limited. Some of the ones featured in your video would be better than what we found. The shortage of safe infrastructure of course is a major limitation to where she can go, which is why I’ve joined my local bike advocacy group to push for infrastructure that supports riding for everyone. Along those lines, I am also looking to start a Cycling Without Age chapter in my community. Started in Copenhagen, it’s all about getting people (mostly elderly) out for social rides. They use trishaws which make for easy loading and an enjoyable scenic riding position. Of course, there are no US-made trishaws.
I love that you are considering adding adaptive cycles to your business, Chris. Getting adaptive technology out of the "medical silos" increases access and lowers both costs and stigma.
I'm a fairly big guy and never a big cyclist, mostly psyching myself out about not being able to climb and make it back home without walking up the hill and feeling ridiculous. I had a rough time this year with long COVID - couldn't get out of the house for 3 months without having to stop to catch my breath and my heart pounding out of my chest. I've been getting better and finally at a point where I feel I can get some cardio in. I got an electric assist bike and can push myself as hard as I can handle without worrying about how I'll get home.
I got to where i could do a 100 mile ride, but just barely. My advice, temperature will mess things up. Go when its a little cold, put on a lite jacket, then peel off when you get riding. Get a real big king size puffy seat. You wont need it later, but for now yes. Stop and walk around in stores, you can do the 40 mile big loops in a few years. Enjoy
Absolutely. You can work as little or as hard as you like. The way I look at it, no matter how I ride it is waaaay more exercise than watching TV...or youtube. I did 5000km in the first 13 months.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, but this video is great, and I love that not only are you thinking about making these sorts of things more accessible, but also that you've provided an educational resource to folks trying to advocate for change in the built environment to support innovations like these.
The Van Raam tandem where you sit next to each other is great for riding with elderly people. The nursing home my mother is in has an electric one and it’s a great way to go out together and enjoy the surroundings (I am living in the Netherlands). I can strap here in and she can have as much exercise as she wants. With the motor it’s no problem if she stops pedaling and I have to move it by myself.
Your compassion and concern for others who are less able is something I often find missing in our present society. As a senior (71) my e-bike has allowed me to continue to enjoy cycling. Interesting to see that other less than fully able riders can benefit from adaptive bikes. Thanks Chris.
Even regular bikes are really changing people's lives. The more people bike in a neighborhood, the more they demand wider, safer bike lanes, better curb cuts and lower vehicle speeds. That in itself makes the lives of people going for a stroll in regular or assisted wheelchairs much better. It also helps people who have visual limitations or hearing problems by just living in a calmer safer neighborhood.
My wife (72 years) needs a throttle assist to start off because of a leg problem. Without this assistance she would not be able to cycle. Thanks for making this and highlighting the difference these cycles are making to peoples lives. Lawmakers need to be aware so that they do not enact legislation that prohibits or limits the use of such machines.
Accessibility at all levels is crucial for everyone. Not just in legislation but also in town planning. I'm using the term town planning because it doesn't matter if you live in a big city or a small village you still need to vet around safely
My wife had circulatory system disease, she basically had half lung capacity, so when I tried to sneak in cycling to her life she just did not have enough stamina, so she did not really liked it. But then I bought her a pedelec bike. That changed everything, it helped just enough to get her riding, and she started to love it, we went for 40-50km tours, what was unimaginable before. She got into cycling that much that she bought an other ebike, a folding one, so she could bring it to the train then commute to work in the city. It was wonderful, so I love ebikes, tho I do not have any at the moment, I sold both bikes, but I am very thankful that they existed.
Ebikes after chronic lung disease let me be the dad I am now - absolutely life altering - I still blast the outdoors every second available in total confidence and enjoyment ❤️ (Edit: Nolte your vids got me onto the load75 in 2019 so a direct thank you)
Thanks for using your channel to raise awareness about accessibility. Around 33% of people will suffer from a disability at some point in their lives and get learn first hand how difficult it is to navigate our cities. Keep up the good work. Love the heartwarming comments to this video, too.
First, thanks for your videos -- always thoughtful and informative. As a 70-something, once-avid road and mountain cyclist with bad knees, can't tell you how much I love my ebike for all the reasons stated here. Seldom use the throttle underway, but the instant power boost offers HUGE comfort and safety advantages that I rarely see mentioned. For starters, my knees really hate the low-speed, high-torque pedaling regime encountered when starting out or getting caught in way too high a gear. Two seconds on the throttle, and bingo -- happy knees! Need a quick burst of speed to enter traffic or avoid a hazard? Two seconds on the throttle, and poof -- out of harm's way! I could go on. Bottom line: A throttle can be invaluable -- especially for this video's intended audience.
I agree with you on the throttle being a real necessity for some people. Plus, those who don't have a medical limitation often benefit from the instant start/stop. My husband's bike has a throttle, mine does not. I do just fine without it, but I have an internally geared hub which lets me downshift while stopped. He can't do that with his traditional cassette/derailleur set up.
@@HarryLovesRuth Thanks! Agree with all of that. Would only add that anyone can benefit from the safety advantages. My throttle's saved my butt several times. In the end, an ebike throttle's just another useful tool. You can use a hammer to crush a skull or build an orphanage. But it's always good to have one around.
My ebike is pedal assist with a thumb throttle as well. Wouldn't have it any other way. So quick to get going before the assist kicks in. I can start from a stand still in top gear. A year and a bit, and I am 6400+ km ridden. I don't like the bikes with pedal assist where the throttle is twist, I like the firm grip on a regular handle bar and a flick with the thumb for the quick boost. - Cheers
Valuable and needed. Whether by birth, injury, illness or years, we’re all going to face mobility issues if we live long enough. How much better with a way to continue favorite activities and experiences.
Dodgy right knee makes walking more than a few hundred yards a pain .The same knee meant giving up my bike because standing on the pedals to climb hills was impossible. Now with ebike I can ride anywhere.
@O Yes, it certainly helps., I've started a ride with a aching knee and it has eased off after a few minutes. However, the problem is primarily with the knee straight and taking weight, so pedaling in the seated position is fine. My kalkhoff is euro spec so only gives about as much assistance as manual effort, and even my 64yo legs can shove me along at 25kmph (17mph).
I have studied orthotics and now servicing wheelchairs etc. Did couple of recumbents for myself and now having a Surly Big Dummy for bike tours. Electric conversions are getting better and more interesting, so keeping sharp look into your channel! Cheers from Finland!
I love to see so many problems being solved. I've been thinking a lot about how people with mobility issues carry small children around! I take my three yr old to school on my bike but looking around for options for family members who wouldn't cycle there didn't seem to be anything! On the one hand you have mobility scooters (no passengers) and then you have this video with sky's-the-limit thinking, but with the fear of cycling being a barrier for entry.
Riding bicycles since I was 5 and unicycles since I was 10. Raced mountain bikes for the last 15 years. Fell away from it the last year or so due to other obligations. Just bought a Specialized Turbo Levo Comp eMTB. I freaking love the thing!! Trails that would normally destroy me are a blast to ride and I'm not wasted the next day. I'm 55 and this bike is the fountain of youth. All of us in my mtb group are 55 to 65 and most are on emtb's now. The only people hating on ebikes are the ones that have never ridden one.
Outstanding video! I have dear friends with a 30 yr old special needs son. I love my ebike and you have me think about how an ebike could change their situation.
The thing about the company that is designing for the handicap is that they are designing for the most challenged. This is a common design technique. No matter what you design if you focus on making it easiest for the most challenged user than you end up designing a very superior and innovative product because all the subtle little problems perhaps unnoticed before are amplified in focus, then resolved with solid solutions.
As someone who works in Vocational Rehabilitation and an avid cyclist, I'm really interested in the direction this exact conversation is going. I'm working on my Masters and trying to tie in economic development in relation to infrastructure that is more accessible especially with this type of tech in mind. ADA passes over 30 years ago and not every sidewalk in this country has been updated since then. I wish the Biden infrastructure bill accounted more for this need rather than electric vehicles...
I know the guy who designed and built the Bowhead Reach. We helped do some early prototype testing at an Easter Seals camp I worked at. The vast majority of people thought it was awesome when they saw it, but there was always those who somehow took offense. The early versions were geared for slow speed high torque; so it really served the function of an offroad wheelchair more than an ebike. But there's always those who would rather enforce the letter of the law than the spirit of it. If an electric motor can enable someone to go places and share experiences that their legs would otherwise prevent, it's serving the same functional purpose as other people's legs. That makes it a disability accommodation, which makes it a legal right. But those enforcing rules at local trails and parks aren't necessarily educated about this. Instead, what they're doing when they harass someone like that is the equivalent of a city park putting up a sign that says "no wheelchairs" because they don't want people using electric motors there. My hope is that people can see these devices for what they are, something that unlocks activity and adventure for people who could otherwise not access it.
Thanks for bringing some attention to these cycling options for people who want to ride but need some extra assistance. I own three adult tricycles and they have been absolutely life changing for me! It would be great to see Propel expand into this space a bit.
At 68 I wanted to start an exercise regimen to improve knee and hip movement. I was concerned with biking I might not be able to complete a ride if pain set in. I bought an e bike and have completed 280 miles in the last 60 days. I am loving getting outdoors and seeing nature while getting my body in better shape. I am an e bike believer!!!
Wonderful video! I volunteer with a group in my town called the Wheelers. We have an au pere, a Fun2Go, and a duet. We give rides to anyone with physical disabilities. On my first ride after finishing the training, one of the experienced volunteers told me that she had never heard my passenger talk so much! I so enjoyed just getting to know my passenger, and glad to hear the feedback from a fellow volunteer! I bought an ebike a few years ago because I was tired of having to ride up a steep hill to my home after each ride. Now I ride even more than I did before!
Thanks so much for creating all these informative videos. I love cycling myself, I lived in the Netherlands for 4 years during university, and I’m German myself. I know live in San Diego, CA and I can relate to so many things you talk about. This video specifically is super interesting as I’m a physical therapist and these designs are so cool and well thought of. Unfortunately, as you mentioned before, here in the US biking is mostly for sports, although my wife and I both commute to work and but are seen as the odd balls from all out colleagues. Anyhow, thx so much for these videos I love getting more informed about bicycling and slowly I think the American culture might be shifting?
One aspect typically ignored for bicycle mobility aids is tire size and TIRE WIDTHs ...so important to reduce painful tire shimmy, something FAT tires on NARROW rims helps reduce. ♿🚲
I have scoliosis in my lower back and am looking at a knee replacement next summer. I don't always need the pedal assist on my Townie Go. But when my back or knee - or both - are flaring up, it's a God-send. The E bike let's me get around without worrying about how I'm getting back home.
This is super true and I would like to add mental disabilities. For some reason, an ebike is easier to get out with than just a regular bike and just removes so many of the mental barriers to getting out. I tried to get back into biking for 15 years but after one ride my bikes just sat there. I have gone a full year never driving a car and only using my ebike and now I notice my mental health drops dramatically every day I don't get out. It's a much more human way of transportation.
Physical activity is a huge help for those of us with mental health issues. The ability to incorporate activity into daily life makes getting outdoor physical activity easier for me, too.
Yes, I agree with @HarryLovesRuth and would elaborate to say that physical and mental disabilities are interlinked. Not only does having a physical disability cause mental health problems which people appreciate but mental health problems produce physical disability and few people, even sufferers, realise this. If you manage to get our on an assisted vehicle of some sort, both are improved, I find that magical. It's just that initial motivation that needs help and I think the better the vehicle the easier it is to be motivated.
I use my throttle only in tight spaces or rough patches of road where I feel more stable using the throttle rather than peddling. I sometimes use it if I'm starting on an uphill and can't get the torque sensor to engage fast enough to kick in the power assist. I've never used it on an entire ride or even for longer than 30 seconds to get out of those aforementioned situations. I really like your channel. Cheers!
WOW! Great video. As a disabled e-trike rider in the UK your video has opened up a whole new world of local (ish), resources. Thanks for posting about all the good stuff coming out from manufacturers in Europe. Stateside stuff is completely out of my financial scope, & the UK market is mainly 2 wheels or high end (read, expensive). 3 wheel full suspension is the way i want to go, now i know where to look. 👍
Yeah me too, disabled e-bike rider interested to know there are more possibilities to future-proof my riding in the UK. There's a British company based in York called Jorvik tricycles. They do all sorts if you haven't already found them. Haven't looked at their website for a while so they may have expanded their range. I know they had a jointed trike which leans round corners, looked like fun but not sure if it's electric. 👍
I love this so much! E-bikes are indeed freedom, and I love that there's an increasing variety of them coming out that are adapted to people various abilities. Being disabled myself and with a chronic illness that prevents me from safely taking public transport now that covid protections have been dropped, I can say that getting an ebike completely changed my life for the better. I can now go places again without walking for ages or hurting everywhere like I would with a non-electric bike. Unfortunately, we don't see a lot of those adaptive e-bikes where I live in Europe either (yet), but as it happens I saw two people (a father at the back and his daugther at the front) riding a bike like the one at 17:17 just yesterday hehe. I wanted to ask them about it as it looked super cool, but they cycled past too fast. They had such a happy look on their face, it seemed like they were having a blast :) Thank you for another great video!
I think about ebikes as a range extender for bikers like me who may only go for 10-20 miles at a time. With an ebike, a biker like me can easily go 30-50 miles without having to train up over time and eat more food. I'm very excited that bikeshare companies are also looking into adding ebikes to their fleets: Philly's Indego and NYC's Citi Bike are the latest to add. Boston's BlueBikes is also looking into it.
I'm a 67 year old man with arthritic knees and have been riding electric bikes for several years. I also use a four wheel mobility scooter for close to home errands. I don't know what I would do without them.
Electric bike busses fascinate me as well. A product like Bicco Bike holds 10 kids and an adult driver and everyone paddles along. A great way to allow an group of kids to participate. The Struin after school daycare utilizes these type of vehicles to move hundreds of kids each day. They operate within the Nijmegen area of the Netherlands
Oh I wish the church based after school care program near me had one of these. They send a minibus (which gets used for lots of other trips) to pick up the elementary school kids who are half a mile away. It would be the perfect application.
@@sandrabishop2985 Unfortunately, the bus shortage is actually a bus driver shortage. Switching vehicle mode probably isn't going to fix it. In the long term, increasing fully separated mixed use paths that lead to schools will allow families to walk and ride with their younger kids and send their older kids to school on their own.
i worked in a bike shop during the summer of 2021 and at that point the only thing we really had were ebikes due to them being (generally speaking) more expensive. we often had people coming in who were like "no no no i want to do all the work" and it was always the bike selling itself when we tell them to just give it a test ride. What most people don't realize is that ebikes still use all of the power you give the, they just add to it. the only problem for me is the weight and chunkiness of them. but I'm sure that'll be sorted out over time
I have bad knees and hips and my Aventure helps me get pretty much every where I could want to go. I take it places I used to hike on foot. plus I commute to work every day on it. I actually stopped paying for insurance and registration on my toyota truck for the entire summer. yes I sometime use throttle only but on days when my knees are not grieving me mercilessly I do pedal. So much freedom to be found in the ebike that fits your needs.
The side by side trike...seriously have to look into. I have on old home made tandem, I was considering putting a kit on, but that trike looks so sweet. Way easier to have a chat while one checks out the sights and sounds. I love riding, but my favourite saying in the last year is 'ebikes rule!'
on a more real note what i love is that i almost daily during my rides see couples 'match' their ride using ebikes where one is disabled and one not (using a trike for example) or a lady next to a male runner. its wonderful we can add a battery and a motor to any shape of transport to allow this matching of capabilities. i am amazed even in our country (netherlands) how quickly this is changing. on avg age it was asked in a local R&M group and it was mostly 45 - 75 ...
Disabled, I've been running #ebikes for two decades, and mine are prescribed and covered by my health care plan, but it saves society a fortune in reduced surgeries. Before i built my #ebike mobility aids, I needed more than one surgery per year; my #eChoppers eliminated my need for surgeries. Pedal Assist is CRUEL for many disabilities, a sorta forced torture.
My wife has MS and I've look at a number of mobility focused bikes. The two that I settled on are the Liberty Trike for around town use, and a Ti-Trike for longer rides. Both are great and have their uses.
Excellent Chris! Having been involved in assisting injured veterans and first responders many of whom are also dealing with the effects of traumatic injury and stress and seeing the often profound benefits of exercise, mobility and social interaction, as well as personally benefiting physically and mentally from e-biking, I believe your points and concepts are very important for all to consider and many to practice and help promote, and I'd be interested in exploring possible strategies and venues where that could be done. If you or anyone else is likewise interested please feel free to reply.
I am amazed by the variety and creativity of the german and dutch engineering in adaptive bikes. That passage from 6:15 through 9:44 is just jaw-dropping. I think the more and the sooner the US market can broaden its its focus from "sport cycling" to transportation, the better.
Love this video and subject ❤ Have you checked out copilot tandems? They can be used for therapeutic purposes. The person in the back has the control to steer and break and the person in the front can paddle along. Like a cargo bike but with an extra seat instead of a box.
I live in Pisgah Natl Forest and near DuPont State Forest in Western NC where ebikes are not allowed on trails or even on gravel roads that are closed to motorized vehicles. Despite the many miles of trails and closed roads here ebike trails are limited to private parks. I’d like to see anyone with a disability get use of trails and roads by being issued a handicap placard similar to those issued to drivers. Of course this idea is opposed by avid mountain bikers because they don’t want to share the trails. It’s true that trails are not maintained very well and are already overused but that is still no excuse to exclude disabled and elderly riders.
I agree that this is fundamentally unfair and a social justice issue. Your idea has merit, and if I were on that side of the mountain, I'd help you pursue it.
thank you so much for this video! Im a wheelchair user who is just starting to learn about adaptive bikes so this is a great resource and something easy for me to share with others as well!
There's something all of these bikes struggle with and that's weight. I like to do all of my groceries on my bike. I currently have a Trek FX3 disc. I had to get thicker tires because the tires that came with it were extremely thin and my back wheel was always going flat over the tiniest of glass shards (NYC streets no matter where you go). But I still run into problems with weight. You see, I'm 6'6" and around 250 pounds. So I'm essentially, with groceries and my work bag, putting 300 to 320 pounds onto this bike. I always wonder about how giant, not so thin people like myself could access bikes like this where the max load is 280 pounds or 260 pounds.
Those of us who are heavier need heavier bikes if we plan to carry anything besides ourselves. Chris has a video about bikes that he carries that are well suited to Fluffy Americans like myself. th-cam.com/video/Kf1-9UJmURA/w-d-xo.html Also, ebikes tend to be more robust to handle the force of the motor. They're heavier and the weight they can carry is heavier. It also makes them kind of a PITA until you get used to picking up a heavy bike. I consider it my strength training. 😁
Thanks Chris for taking the time and investing in this community resource. As TH-cam pushes creators to produce more fickle content I applaud you for going in the opposite direction. 🙏🏼👍🏽❤️🏅😇
The more accessible and accepted e-assist bikes are the better. It's a fundamental human right to be able to get about as easily as able bodied people without stigma. Keep up the good work
Chris, I do think you need to explore this market. Getting people out...on anything is going to help. You are hitting all the highpoints. Physical health, mental health, mobility, independence, community are all huge. Ebikes allow more access. Everyone has to start somewhere. The key is they have to start.
Also my friend who deals with Weight issues and whose wife was left handicap by botched operation. I will be forwarding him This video so he can possibly look forward to getting one of these either tendon bikes or maybe an E bike that his wife can use. Thank you so much for all this information.
If I can anticipate some of the criticisms: 1. "Electric assist and adaptive cycles are too expensive." Yes they are. They rival the initial expense of used automobiles." (Or the pre-pandemic costs of used automobiles.) That makes them difficult for those who are living on SSDI to afford. *That's one of the problems with SSDI, not with electric and adaptive cycles.* 2. "An adaptive cycle cannot replace a car for disabled people." The inability for a cycle to replace a car for most people is a *problem with the built environment.* This is something that the social model of disability addresses. (I'd explain more, but I'm already too long winded. Wikipedia has a decent explanation on medical vs. social models of disability.) 3. "Bike infrastructure creates barriers for wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations." This is absolutely true and something that needs to be proactively addressed by cycling advocates. *We aren't making a better world if our cycle lane obstructs access to transit and private car pick up for people who have mobility limitations.* Are some of the "What about the disabled" objectors to cycling infrastructure being NIMBYs? Maybe. But some of them are people with real needs that are not being addressed. I'd encourage anyone who finds themselves in a conversation with someone who objects to a bike lane to ask their opposite for more information. Disabled people have been hacking their environments for years. They have good ideas.
I love your videos and what you've done to spearhead the growth of e-bikes (especially cargo bikes) in the US. You had some encouraging words for designers to develop more bikes for a consumer with mobility challenges. As a business owner, I hope that you can take a risk on buying a few bikes like this to give people the option. I'm sure it's challenging to offer a new product in your store, but if you don't do it, then nobody might for a long time. Everyone deserves safe access to our streets, not just those born lucky enough to drive a car.
Super video Chris! We are using 2 Vanraam pedal electric assist Trishaws with our local Cycling Without Age programme here in Hamilton Ontario Canada. They are super for allowing seniors to feel the wind in their hair again! Also, my wife got a Pedaleasy light electric bike from PedalEasy in Ottawa. It is unique because the engineer who designed it wanted tokeep riding with the local club. Unlike other bikes, the motor is on the front wheel and thus does not interfere with your pedaling the back wheel. Thus you only get assist when you need it. My wife uses it to crest the hills without turning purple. She now rides more than ever before and is fitter than ever. Boy was she surprised when she got back on a conventional bike and was not winded! Thanks for this great deep dive into the full spectrum of possibilities!
I noticed that when I was gathering signatures from the public for a protected bike lane in Harlem that many of the people used electric wheel chairs or electric tricycles to get around rather than the sidewalk because it was easier for them.
I would love to see a video of converting disc brakes to pass. I'm disabled w/ arthritis but love doing my own maintenance. That tiny spring is difficult to install & remove. I rode mountainous hills in NY before disability. Friends got me an inexpensive ebike that gets me out. Living in better terrain area now so bike works well. Put them in shop. Work an affordable price & they will buy.
Thank you for this video! I used to be an avid cyclist and walker, but developed rheumatoid arthritis four years ago, severely limiting my mobility. I recently purchased an electric trike, which I’m hoping will help me see nature occasionally.
Ebikes have changed my perspective on urban planning where i used to blame the government for not fixing pot hole. now i blame them for not fixing pot holes AND not making bike lanes. but really though they have helped me to escape depression, obesity, mobility problems, and when my truck died it's giving me the time to fix it and not forcing me to rush it. I've been commuting to my warehouse job 30-40 miles daily depending on the errands for almost 6 months while i save for my truck repairs. plus I'm not paying for gas at the high prices. in my area it would take me 200$ a month to fuel my truck. it cost me 35$ after 3 months on my ebike. Honestly ebikes have changed my life even if not in the way you detailed here in this video.
Hey...I use my electric motor to climb hills....then I turn it off. You don't HAVE to use the motor. It's up to you. But it sure is nice when you get tired and need some assist. My bike is used to go to the store...pull my small trailer....and allow me to admire the woods along the numerous bike paths in my area. A great way to get out without working up a sweat...and seeing things I would NEVER be able to see without my electric bike. What a JOY!
Excellent video - and I love your come-from. Having been a somewhat avid cyclist at one time (chairing and team captaining MS150 rides) I found that my aging knees were leading to a bike hanging from my garage ceiling for the past 20+ years. A greenbelt ride with the son and daughter-in-law led to my wondering if I was going to make it back after what I once would have called a "measly" 19 mile ride. In my 40s at the time, and a grapefruit sized-knee making my last 7 miles a painful journey, I wondered if I would ever be able to ride of any length again. Fast forward to today - Having bought a fat tire ebike last Winter (and city e-bike for the wife) I can say that the assist has gotten me back to being able to ride my 80lb fat-tire back without assist (on flats) for quite a few miles. So if anything, not only as the ebike gotten me back out there an on a bike, but it's helped build my strength back up when I otherwise wouldn't have even gotten on a bike.
Thank you my friend. We all either know someone or like me. Who at 57 cancer survivor of late 4 Burkitt Lymphoma in 2008, and living with HIV/AIDS since 83. Between Chemo Radiation and meds. I’m not as active as before. I have a Single speed power assist Fixie type ebike. Which in my case. Helps me go from East Tremont section of the Bronx across the GWB to ShopRite of Palisades Park NJ to load up on groceries that I load into the front and rear pannier bags I’ve installed on my ebike. Sounds nuts. But just on 3 packages of chicken breast at $2.49lb. I saved $27. Which leaves money to buy better Quality of food and more of it.
That machine in the outro at 20:55, the GMBN Tech looks so cool! These are all amazing options, but the price points really are for replacing cars rather than as supplemental transportation / recreational vehicles, unless you have some serious spare cash lying around. I can understand some of the hesitancy around certain issues, thank you for addressing them briefly instead of glossing over them. Trail access is often predicated upon no use of motorized vehicles, which 4x4s and motocross out of mountain biking areas. ICEs bring a lot of reasonable concerns, like noise, possible high speed collisions up to 80 km/hr+ with a total 200 kg of mass adding to the damage, rather than the 100kg of a squishy rider. Also, the sheer weight and speed leads to wear on the trail and increased maintenance. Electric bikes straddle the line between the two, and sometimes having a rigid rule leads to people coming down too hard on reasonable choices. Some of the electric bikes are only a few kgs heavier, and if they aren't adding that much speed, then getting people outdoors is a good thing. I really appreciate how wholesome the ride with your dad was, I hope to get the chance to do something similar with my folks soon. I really love the point about range anxiety, timing, and practicality as well. Not everyone has unlimited time to get wherever they need to go. Sometimes big hills make certain routes unfeasible, which makes biking it in general unfeasible, which means defaulting to cars. Also, getting errands done takes a big chunk of extra work on a regular bike, but those front load ebikes look amazing for what I would usually do. Thanks for the videos, and I will definitely point to this one for anyone who is worried about ADA compliance and helping folks out.
your work in both storytelling and research is really important to me, seeing things like this that exist give me a lot of hope for aging gracefully and staying active as i age, ESPECIALLY if i end up being physically limited
Some NY geezers must be absolutely hardcore. Finding them and marketing to them though... "Hey I'm cycling here!!!" Had a 'hair flip, look away, look, look away' today because I was on a bike. It's just so much more human. Stock a few even if you don't earn a bundle. You could give a person a decade of freedom.
Those Pfautec and Vanraam bikes look great. I think a lot of able bodied people would enjoy riding them as well. Of course the priority would always be to those who really need them though.
Wanna hear a secret about adapter technology: *wide adoption benefits disabled people.* Popularity brings prices down and reduces the stigma of being "different."
@@HarryLovesRuth My dad has never really cared what people thought of him. In the 80's he had terrible neck pain and bought a "ladies" bike because he couldn't swing his leg high enough for a crossbar. I nearly died with embarrassment haha. He bought an ebike the year before I did. He's always seen the correct tool as the best one, and I wish I'd gotten to that thinking a few decades before I did.
@@HarryLovesRuth yeah I'm ambulatory disabled so people never know when I'm having a bad day but carrying on when I shouldn't. I call my e-bike my SMV stealth mobility vehicle, which amuses me but also means people think I must be better because I'm "cycling". So I get barged out the way and generally am expected to behave like a strong person! If I use my walker I get a little more respect, in that they still barge me but apologise afterwards... people are odd...
I use a class 1 e bike to commute to work 22 miles round trip instead of taking a car - I wouldn’t want to do that in the summer or winter without the battery, and I don’t want to be so tired every day. My resting heart rate has gone down, I’ve lost weight, I feel better able to take on a stressful day as a project manager when I ride to work. I really recommend it. Even if you’re in a spread out city like I am with hills.
Amazing video!! Thanks so much for showing us all the things and talking though your thoughts on things and pointing out the importance of things for example the throttle.
I do not use backpacks on my normal bicycle, but i do use pannierbags for loads and it resulted in using my saddle less and less.. that surely improved my cardio and leg muscles without having a sweaty back. I only use my ebike when i use it with a bicycle trailer because it generally uses less electricity than the front (bakfiets) cargo ones. I do use mirrors bc thats required in the netherlands.
Your so so right I've got a ebike and bad back pain and osteoporosis but I would ride an ebike if i was able-bodied just to connect with other people meet up with friends ebikes are for everyone 🙏👍🏾
When i got my fist e bike recently i was a shut in did not go out and now i go out very day its the best this that has happed to me and i hope that everyone can have or experience a e bike even to rent one cuse you will love them and i feel it will even help are broken world rn i used to sit infont of a pc every day now im riding every day and here in wisconsion its hard to even see a junk car for under 1k a e bike was perfect and i help out small businesses
I'm in my 20s and have struggled with my mental health and as a consequence my physical health has suffered. I've been getting into the idea of an electric bike and hope to get one by the end of the month. I'm looking forward to the freedom it brings.
Excellent and very informative video! Thanks! Looking back in history, we had a lot of adapted 'bicycles' to keep people mobile in the Netherlands. My aunt had braces on one leg and so she had a bicycle with one fixed pedal and the other one continuous, this enabled her to commute to work in the city center, keep her social contacts and be independent up to high age. An uncle used a Solex to get around (bicycle with little gas motor assistance) and he had a successful assurance company in spite of his handicap and limited use of one leg. And there are many who have 'special needs' bicycles, tricycles and wheelchairs to get around and be part of society. At work there are bicycles available for those who commute by public transit but have to go to another building, we have twenty locations spread all over the city, and sometimes you have to go there for work. With electric assist bicycles that's no problem at all, you can go through city center in no time and be faster than by car that has to go around. A lot of wheelchair users (hand and electric powered) use the bicycle infra to travel, no curbs, no obstacles, no steps, and others on the bicycle paths respect them, wait until they can pass without ringing, without shouting, just respectful interhuman contact. While visiting the US I wondered where are the handicapped people? No wheelchairs in public, not on train stations, or metro, nowhere! Looking at the narrow sidewalks, with obstacles like lampposts, traffic sign poles, telephone poles, or no sidewalks at all, it became clear that mobility for handicapped and elders is non-existing. Where are the Americans with mobility problems???
Thanks for watching!
To learn more about these bikes, check out the links in the description.
Thanks 🇨🇦
The single issue with all those bikes is the Price 😒 Many of them cost more like a car.
I ended up designing my own solution, just because it is more affordable to build it up over the years, even though I am not educated in bicycle mechanics, so having to "reinvent the wheel" yet again 🙂
My 85 year old father-in-law lives on the outskirts of a small town. He has some pretty serious knee issues but 3 times a day he gets on his 3-wheel electric bike and takes his small dog for a walk. It gets him outside and seeing his neighbors, and the dog is very happy to trot alongside. There’s no way they could be exercising together without that trike.
Love that example. Riding a bike in your neighborhood connects you to that neighborhood in a way that staying inside or driving a car never does.😊
@@jeffmpvd7689 Lots of people with mobility issues resort to using special vans that can load up a wheelchair and those are typically really terrible for many reasons and prone to failure.
A few years ago I saw a guy on a bike that was towing a two-wheel cart for his dog. The pup could jump on or off the cart at will, and was having a ball hopping on and off while his owner chugged away at the pedals. An electric assist version of this would be fantastic.
So true! I’m aging and have some knee problems. Getting out on my ebike has widened my horizons and saved me from knee surgery. I still mountain bike and just got back from a solo bike packing trip on the Virginia Capital Trail. Ebikes can literally save our lives or at least give us more years of fun and adventure. Getting out there does a lot for our minds, as well as for our physical well being.
I'm 35 and also have knee problems, pushing the gas pedal and walking hurts me so I rely on my bike and transit for having a pain free life
Any of us could be a day away from a life altering injury. I'm glad products like this exist.
Agreed! Something else to keep in mind while ebiking is to wear the proper helmet, most helmets have an outdated safety standard, the best ones are the ones that pass the nta standard like xnito or bern hudson
I'd love to see more content related to disability and cycling.
Me too!
And mental health is a disability - would be great to do a video on how biking improves depression, anxiety, and PTSD etc
YES! Carry specialty bikes! My disabled daughter needed an e-trike for her commute to work and the choices were so limited. Some of the ones featured in your video would be better than what we found. The shortage of safe infrastructure of course is a major limitation to where she can go, which is why I’ve joined my local bike advocacy group to push for infrastructure that supports riding for everyone. Along those lines, I am also looking to start a Cycling Without Age chapter in my community. Started in Copenhagen, it’s all about getting people (mostly elderly) out for social rides. They use trishaws which make for easy loading and an enjoyable scenic riding position. Of course, there are no US-made trishaws.
I love that you are considering adding adaptive cycles to your business, Chris. Getting adaptive technology out of the "medical silos" increases access and lowers both costs and stigma.
Well said.
I'm a fairly big guy and never a big cyclist, mostly psyching myself out about not being able to climb and make it back home without walking up the hill and feeling ridiculous. I had a rough time this year with long COVID - couldn't get out of the house for 3 months without having to stop to catch my breath and my heart pounding out of my chest. I've been getting better and finally at a point where I feel I can get some cardio in. I got an electric assist bike and can push myself as hard as I can handle without worrying about how I'll get home.
I got to where i could do a 100 mile ride, but just barely. My advice, temperature will mess things up. Go when its a little cold, put on a lite jacket, then peel off when you get riding. Get a real big king size puffy seat. You wont need it later, but for now yes. Stop and walk around in stores, you can do the 40 mile big loops in a few years. Enjoy
Absolutely. You can work as little or as hard as you like. The way I look at it, no matter how I ride
it is waaaay more exercise than watching TV...or youtube. I did 5000km in the first 13 months.
This video made my eyes tear up multiple times. eBikes are changing the way so many people can live their lives and its incredible to be apart of it.
I don't have anything to say that hasn't already been said, but this video is great, and I love that not only are you thinking about making these sorts of things more accessible, but also that you've provided an educational resource to folks trying to advocate for change in the built environment to support innovations like these.
The Van Raam tandem where you sit next to each other is great for riding with elderly people. The nursing home my mother is in has an electric one and it’s a great way to go out together and enjoy the surroundings (I am living in the Netherlands). I can strap here in and she can have as much exercise as she wants. With the motor it’s no problem if she stops pedaling and I have to move it by myself.
Your compassion and concern for others who are less able is something I often find missing in our present society. As a senior (71) my e-bike has allowed me to continue to enjoy cycling. Interesting to see that other less than fully able riders can benefit from adaptive bikes. Thanks Chris.
Even regular bikes are really changing people's lives. The more people bike in a neighborhood, the more they demand wider, safer bike lanes, better curb cuts and lower vehicle speeds. That in itself makes the lives of people going for a stroll in regular or assisted wheelchairs much better. It also helps people who have visual limitations or hearing problems by just living in a calmer safer neighborhood.
My wife (72 years) needs a throttle assist to start off because of a leg problem. Without this assistance she would not be able to cycle. Thanks for making this and highlighting the difference these cycles are making to peoples lives. Lawmakers need to be aware so that they do not enact legislation that prohibits or limits the use of such machines.
Accessibility at all levels is crucial for everyone. Not just in legislation but also in town planning. I'm using the term town planning because it doesn't matter if you live in a big city or a small village you still need to vet around safely
Mackinac Island has explicit exemptions for people with disabilities for that very reason.
My wife had circulatory system disease, she basically had half lung capacity, so when I tried to sneak in cycling to her life she just did not have enough stamina, so she did not really liked it. But then I bought her a pedelec bike. That changed everything, it helped just enough to get her riding, and she started to love it, we went for 40-50km tours, what was unimaginable before. She got into cycling that much that she bought an other ebike, a folding one, so she could bring it to the train then commute to work in the city. It was wonderful, so I love ebikes, tho I do not have any at the moment, I sold both bikes, but I am very thankful that they existed.
Ebikes after chronic lung disease let me be the dad I am now - absolutely life altering - I still blast the outdoors every second available in total confidence and enjoyment ❤️
(Edit: Nolte your vids got me onto the load75 in 2019 so a direct thank you)
Good to see you didn't give up, I have copd and did the same
@@rotattor ✌️
Thanks for using your channel to raise awareness about accessibility. Around 33% of people will suffer from a disability at some point in their lives and get learn first hand how difficult it is to navigate our cities. Keep up the good work. Love the heartwarming comments to this video, too.
First, thanks for your videos -- always thoughtful and informative.
As a 70-something, once-avid road and mountain cyclist with bad knees, can't tell you how much I love my ebike for all the reasons stated here.
Seldom use the throttle underway, but the instant power boost offers HUGE comfort and safety advantages that I rarely see mentioned.
For starters, my knees really hate the low-speed, high-torque pedaling regime encountered when starting out or getting caught in way too high a gear. Two seconds on the throttle, and bingo -- happy knees!
Need a quick burst of speed to enter traffic or avoid a hazard? Two seconds on the throttle, and poof -- out of harm's way!
I could go on. Bottom line: A throttle can be invaluable -- especially for this video's intended audience.
I agree with you on the throttle being a real necessity for some people. Plus, those who don't have a medical limitation often benefit from the instant start/stop.
My husband's bike has a throttle, mine does not. I do just fine without it, but I have an internally geared hub which lets me downshift while stopped. He can't do that with his traditional cassette/derailleur set up.
@@HarryLovesRuth Thanks! Agree with all of that. Would only add that anyone can benefit from the safety advantages. My throttle's saved my butt several times.
In the end, an ebike throttle's just another useful tool. You can use a hammer to crush a skull or build an orphanage. But it's always good to have one around.
My ebike is pedal assist with a thumb throttle as well. Wouldn't have it any other way. So quick to get going before the assist kicks in. I can start from a stand still in top gear. A year and a bit, and I am 6400+ km ridden. I don't like the bikes with pedal assist where the throttle is twist, I like the firm grip on a regular handle bar and a flick with the thumb for the quick boost.
- Cheers
Valuable and needed. Whether by birth, injury, illness or years, we’re all going to face mobility issues if we live long enough. How much better with a way to continue favorite activities and experiences.
Dodgy right knee makes walking more than a few hundred yards a pain .The same knee meant giving up my bike because standing on the pedals to climb hills was impossible. Now with ebike I can ride anywhere.
@O Yes, it certainly helps., I've started a ride with a aching knee and it has eased off after a few minutes. However, the problem is primarily with the knee straight and taking weight, so pedaling in the seated position is fine.
My kalkhoff is euro spec so only gives about as much assistance as manual effort, and even my 64yo legs can shove me along at 25kmph (17mph).
I have studied orthotics and now servicing wheelchairs etc. Did couple of recumbents for myself and now having a Surly Big Dummy for bike tours. Electric conversions are getting better and more interesting, so keeping sharp look into your channel! Cheers from Finland!
I love to see so many problems being solved. I've been thinking a lot about how people with mobility issues carry small children around! I take my three yr old to school on my bike but looking around for options for family members who wouldn't cycle there didn't seem to be anything! On the one hand you have mobility scooters (no passengers) and then you have this video with sky's-the-limit thinking, but with the fear of cycling being a barrier for entry.
Riding bicycles since I was 5 and unicycles since I was 10. Raced mountain bikes for the last 15 years. Fell away from it the last year or so due to other obligations. Just bought a Specialized Turbo Levo Comp eMTB. I freaking love the thing!! Trails that would normally destroy me are a blast to ride and I'm not wasted the next day. I'm 55 and this bike is the fountain of youth. All of us in my mtb group are 55 to 65 and most are on emtb's now. The only people hating on ebikes are the ones that have never ridden one.
Appreciate you using your platform to talk about disability and accessible cycling, my passion!
Honestly, while you may have shared a ton of info, please keep it up! We can always go back and rewatch if there's something we missed. Good stuff! 👍🏾
Outstanding video! I have dear friends with a 30 yr old special needs son. I love my ebike and you have me think about how an ebike could change their situation.
The thing about the company that is designing for the handicap is that they are designing for the most challenged. This is a common design technique. No matter what you design if you focus on making it easiest for the most challenged user than you end up designing a very superior and innovative product because all the subtle little problems perhaps unnoticed before are amplified in focus, then resolved with solid solutions.
As someone who works in Vocational Rehabilitation and an avid cyclist, I'm really interested in the direction this exact conversation is going. I'm working on my Masters and trying to tie in economic development in relation to infrastructure that is more accessible especially with this type of tech in mind. ADA passes over 30 years ago and not every sidewalk in this country has been updated since then. I wish the Biden infrastructure bill accounted more for this need rather than electric vehicles...
I know the guy who designed and built the Bowhead Reach. We helped do some early prototype testing at an Easter Seals camp I worked at. The vast majority of people thought it was awesome when they saw it, but there was always those who somehow took offense. The early versions were geared for slow speed high torque; so it really served the function of an offroad wheelchair more than an ebike. But there's always those who would rather enforce the letter of the law than the spirit of it. If an electric motor can enable someone to go places and share experiences that their legs would otherwise prevent, it's serving the same functional purpose as other people's legs. That makes it a disability accommodation, which makes it a legal right. But those enforcing rules at local trails and parks aren't necessarily educated about this. Instead, what they're doing when they harass someone like that is the equivalent of a city park putting up a sign that says "no wheelchairs" because they don't want people using electric motors there. My hope is that people can see these devices for what they are, something that unlocks activity and adventure for people who could otherwise not access it.
Thanks for bringing some attention to these cycling options for people who want to ride but need some extra assistance. I own three adult tricycles and they have been absolutely life changing for me! It would be great to see Propel expand into this space a bit.
At 68 I wanted to start an exercise regimen to improve knee and hip movement. I was concerned with biking I might not be able to complete a ride if pain set in. I bought an e bike and have completed 280 miles in the last 60 days. I am loving getting outdoors and seeing nature while getting my body in better shape. I am an e bike believer!!!
More cargo electric bike suited to seniors would be awesome!
Wonderful video! I volunteer with a group in my town called the Wheelers. We have an au pere, a Fun2Go, and a duet. We give rides to anyone with physical disabilities. On my first ride after finishing the training, one of the experienced volunteers told me that she had never heard my passenger talk so much! I so enjoyed just getting to know my passenger, and glad to hear the feedback from a fellow volunteer! I bought an ebike a few years ago because I was tired of having to ride up a steep hill to my home after each ride. Now I ride even more than I did before!
Thanks so much for creating all these informative videos. I love cycling myself, I lived in the Netherlands for 4 years during university, and I’m German myself. I know live in San Diego, CA and I can relate to so many things you talk about. This video specifically is super interesting as I’m a physical therapist and these designs are so cool and well thought of. Unfortunately, as you mentioned before, here in the US biking is mostly for sports, although my wife and I both commute to work and but are seen as the odd balls from all out colleagues.
Anyhow, thx so much for these videos I love getting more informed about bicycling and slowly I think the American culture might be shifting?
One aspect typically ignored for bicycle mobility aids is tire size and TIRE WIDTHs ...so important to reduce painful tire shimmy, something FAT tires on NARROW rims helps reduce. ♿🚲
I have scoliosis in my lower back and am looking at a knee replacement next summer. I don't always need the pedal assist on my Townie Go. But when my back or knee - or both - are flaring up, it's a God-send. The E bike let's me get around without worrying about how I'm getting back home.
This is super true and I would like to add mental disabilities. For some reason, an ebike is easier to get out with than just a regular bike and just removes so many of the mental barriers to getting out. I tried to get back into biking for 15 years but after one ride my bikes just sat there. I have gone a full year never driving a car and only using my ebike and now I notice my mental health drops dramatically every day I don't get out. It's a much more human way of transportation.
Physical activity is a huge help for those of us with mental health issues. The ability to incorporate activity into daily life makes getting outdoor physical activity easier for me, too.
Yes, I agree with @HarryLovesRuth and would elaborate to say that physical and mental disabilities are interlinked. Not only does having a physical disability cause mental health problems which people appreciate but mental health problems produce physical disability and few people, even sufferers, realise this. If you manage to get our on an assisted vehicle of some sort, both are improved, I find that magical. It's just that initial motivation that needs help and I think the better the vehicle the easier it is to be motivated.
I use my throttle only in tight spaces or rough patches of road where I feel more stable using the throttle rather than peddling. I sometimes use it if I'm starting on an uphill and can't get the torque sensor to engage fast enough to kick in the power assist. I've never used it on an entire ride or even for longer than 30 seconds to get out of those aforementioned situations. I really like your channel. Cheers!
WOW! Great video.
As a disabled e-trike rider in the UK your video has opened up a whole new world of local (ish), resources.
Thanks for posting about all the good stuff coming out from manufacturers in Europe. Stateside stuff is completely out of my financial scope, & the UK market is mainly 2 wheels or high end (read, expensive).
3 wheel full suspension is the way i want to go, now i know where to look. 👍
@UCtYFs3djr71tYu6ZOkto4JA yeah!!! like i'm gonna do that...
NOT!!!!!!
Scammer. 🤪🤥
Yeah me too, disabled e-bike rider interested to know there are more possibilities to future-proof my riding in the UK. There's a British company based in York called Jorvik tricycles. They do all sorts if you haven't already found them. Haven't looked at their website for a while so they may have expanded their range. I know they had a jointed trike which leans round corners, looked like fun but not sure if it's electric. 👍
I love this so much! E-bikes are indeed freedom, and I love that there's an increasing variety of them coming out that are adapted to people various abilities. Being disabled myself and with a chronic illness that prevents me from safely taking public transport now that covid protections have been dropped, I can say that getting an ebike completely changed my life for the better. I can now go places again without walking for ages or hurting everywhere like I would with a non-electric bike.
Unfortunately, we don't see a lot of those adaptive e-bikes where I live in Europe either (yet), but as it happens I saw two people (a father at the back and his daugther at the front) riding a bike like the one at 17:17 just yesterday hehe. I wanted to ask them about it as it looked super cool, but they cycled past too fast. They had such a happy look on their face, it seemed like they were having a blast :)
Thank you for another great video!
I think about ebikes as a range extender for bikers like me who may only go for 10-20 miles at a time. With an ebike, a biker like me can easily go 30-50 miles without having to train up over time and eat more food. I'm very excited that bikeshare companies are also looking into adding ebikes to their fleets: Philly's Indego and NYC's Citi Bike are the latest to add. Boston's BlueBikes is also looking into it.
I'm a 67 year old man with arthritic knees and have been riding electric bikes for several years. I also use a four wheel mobility scooter for close to home errands. I don't know what I would do without them.
Electric bike busses fascinate me as well. A product like Bicco Bike holds 10 kids and an adult driver and everyone paddles along. A great way to allow an group of kids to participate.
The Struin after school daycare utilizes these type of vehicles to move hundreds of kids each day. They operate within the Nijmegen area of the Netherlands
Oh I wish the church based after school care program near me had one of these. They send a minibus (which gets used for lots of other trips) to pick up the elementary school kids who are half a mile away. It would be the perfect application.
I’ve posted the video of that “bus bike” recently - a healthy and fun alternative/solution to the current school bus shortage in the US.
@@sandrabishop2985 Unfortunately, the bus shortage is actually a bus driver shortage. Switching vehicle mode probably isn't going to fix it.
In the long term, increasing fully separated mixed use paths that lead to schools will allow families to walk and ride with their younger kids and send their older kids to school on their own.
@@HarryLovesRuth Correct. I should have said driver shortage and yes, infrastructure needs to precede any real change.
i worked in a bike shop during the summer of 2021 and at that point the only thing we really had were ebikes due to them being (generally speaking) more expensive. we often had people coming in who were like "no no no i want to do all the work" and it was always the bike selling itself when we tell them to just give it a test ride. What most people don't realize is that ebikes still use all of the power you give the, they just add to it. the only problem for me is the weight and chunkiness of them. but I'm sure that'll be sorted out over time
I have bad knees and hips and my Aventure helps me get pretty much every where I could want to go. I take it places I used to hike on foot. plus I commute to work every day on it. I actually stopped paying for insurance and registration on my toyota truck for the entire summer. yes I sometime use throttle only but on days when my knees are not grieving me mercilessly I do pedal. So much freedom to be found in the ebike that fits your needs.
The side by side trike...seriously have to look into. I have on old home made tandem, I was considering putting a kit on, but that trike looks so sweet. Way easier to have a chat while one checks out the sights and sounds. I love riding, but my favourite saying in the last year is 'ebikes rule!'
on a more real note what i love is that i almost daily during my rides see couples 'match' their ride using ebikes where one is disabled and one not (using a trike for example) or a lady next to a male runner. its wonderful we can add a battery and a motor to any shape of transport to allow this matching of capabilities. i am amazed even in our country (netherlands) how quickly this is changing. on avg age it was asked in a local R&M group and it was mostly 45 - 75 ...
I broke my neck skiing last March, and after 3 months of total inactivity, I credit my e-bike with my complete recovery.
Disabled, I've been running #ebikes for two decades, and mine are prescribed and covered by my health care plan, but it saves society a fortune in reduced surgeries. Before i built my #ebike mobility aids, I needed more than one surgery per year; my #eChoppers eliminated my need for surgeries.
Pedal Assist is CRUEL for many disabilities, a sorta forced torture.
My wife has MS and I've look at a number of mobility focused bikes. The two that I settled on are the Liberty Trike for around town use, and a Ti-Trike for longer rides. Both are great and have their uses.
Excellent Chris! Having been involved in assisting injured veterans and first responders many of whom are also dealing with the effects of traumatic injury and stress and seeing the often profound benefits of exercise, mobility and social interaction, as well as personally benefiting physically and mentally from e-biking, I believe your points and concepts are very important for all to consider and many to practice and help promote, and I'd be interested in exploring possible strategies and venues where that could be done. If you or anyone else is likewise interested please feel free to reply.
I am amazed by the variety and creativity of the german and dutch engineering in adaptive bikes. That passage from 6:15 through 9:44 is just jaw-dropping. I think the more and the sooner the US market can broaden its its focus from "sport cycling" to transportation, the better.
Love this video and subject ❤
Have you checked out copilot tandems? They can be used for therapeutic purposes. The person in the back has the control to steer and break and the person in the front can paddle along. Like a cargo bike but with an extra seat instead of a box.
bowhead is awesome. love what they're doing for the community
I live in Pisgah Natl Forest and near DuPont State Forest in Western NC where ebikes are not allowed on trails or even on gravel roads that are closed to motorized vehicles. Despite the many miles of trails and closed roads here ebike trails are limited to private parks. I’d like to see anyone with a disability get use of trails and roads by being issued a handicap placard similar to those issued to drivers. Of course this idea is opposed by avid mountain bikers because they don’t want to share the trails. It’s true that trails are not maintained very well and are already overused but that is still no excuse to exclude disabled and elderly riders.
I agree that this is fundamentally unfair and a social justice issue. Your idea has merit, and if I were on that side of the mountain, I'd help you pursue it.
thank you so much for this video! Im a wheelchair user who is just starting to learn about adaptive bikes so this is a great resource and something easy for me to share with others as well!
There's something all of these bikes struggle with and that's weight. I like to do all of my groceries on my bike. I currently have a Trek FX3 disc. I had to get thicker tires because the tires that came with it were extremely thin and my back wheel was always going flat over the tiniest of glass shards (NYC streets no matter where you go). But I still run into problems with weight.
You see, I'm 6'6" and around 250 pounds. So I'm essentially, with groceries and my work bag, putting 300 to 320 pounds onto this bike. I always wonder about how giant, not so thin people like myself could access bikes like this where the max load is 280 pounds or 260 pounds.
Those of us who are heavier need heavier bikes if we plan to carry anything besides ourselves. Chris has a video about bikes that he carries that are well suited to Fluffy Americans like myself.
th-cam.com/video/Kf1-9UJmURA/w-d-xo.html
Also, ebikes tend to be more robust to handle the force of the motor. They're heavier and the weight they can carry is heavier. It also makes them kind of a PITA until you get used to picking up a heavy bike. I consider it my strength training. 😁
Thanks Chris for taking the time and investing in this community resource. As TH-cam pushes creators to produce more fickle content I applaud you for going in the opposite direction. 🙏🏼👍🏽❤️🏅😇
The more accessible and accepted e-assist bikes are the better. It's a fundamental human right to be able to get about as easily as able bodied people without stigma. Keep up the good work
Chris, I do think you need to explore this market. Getting people out...on anything is going to help. You are hitting all the highpoints. Physical health, mental health, mobility, independence, community are all huge. Ebikes allow more access. Everyone has to start somewhere. The key is they have to start.
Also my friend who deals with Weight issues and whose wife was left handicap by botched operation. I will be forwarding him This video so he can possibly look forward to getting one of these either tendon bikes or maybe an E bike that his wife can use. Thank you so much for all this information.
Great video Chris! I love that you are focusing on how e-bikes can provide life changing opportunities for everyone!
I have a ICE trike through the VA and I love it! I’m a disabled veteran and it has greatly improved my life
If I can anticipate some of the criticisms:
1. "Electric assist and adaptive cycles are too expensive."
Yes they are. They rival the initial expense of used automobiles." (Or the pre-pandemic costs of used automobiles.) That makes them difficult for those who are living on SSDI to afford.
*That's one of the problems with SSDI, not with electric and adaptive cycles.*
2. "An adaptive cycle cannot replace a car for disabled people."
The inability for a cycle to replace a car for most people is a *problem with the built environment.* This is something that the social model of disability addresses. (I'd explain more, but I'm already too long winded. Wikipedia has a decent explanation on medical vs. social models of disability.)
3. "Bike infrastructure creates barriers for wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations."
This is absolutely true and something that needs to be proactively addressed by cycling advocates. *We aren't making a better world if our cycle lane obstructs access to transit and private car pick up for people who have mobility limitations.*
Are some of the "What about the disabled" objectors to cycling infrastructure being NIMBYs? Maybe. But some of them are people with real needs that are not being addressed. I'd encourage anyone who finds themselves in a conversation with someone who objects to a bike lane to ask their opposite for more information. Disabled people have been hacking their environments for years. They have good ideas.
I love your videos and what you've done to spearhead the growth of e-bikes (especially cargo bikes) in the US. You had some encouraging words for designers to develop more bikes for a consumer with mobility challenges. As a business owner, I hope that you can take a risk on buying a few bikes like this to give people the option. I'm sure it's challenging to offer a new product in your store, but if you don't do it, then nobody might for a long time. Everyone deserves safe access to our streets, not just those born lucky enough to drive a car.
Super video Chris! We are using 2 Vanraam pedal electric assist Trishaws with our local Cycling Without Age programme here in Hamilton Ontario Canada. They are super for allowing seniors to feel the wind in their hair again! Also, my wife got a Pedaleasy light electric bike from PedalEasy in Ottawa. It is unique because the engineer who designed it wanted tokeep riding with the local club. Unlike other bikes, the motor is on the front wheel and thus does not interfere with your pedaling the back wheel. Thus you only get assist when you need it. My wife uses it to crest the hills without turning purple. She now rides more than ever before and is fitter than ever. Boy was she surprised when she got back on a conventional bike and was not winded! Thanks for this great deep dive into the full spectrum of possibilities!
I have bad knees and throttle is really great for me to get going from a dead stop. Once at speed, I use the regular pedal assist
Same here. Hard to understand why an ebike with both pedal assist and a throttle would be controversial. The throttle's just another tool.
I noticed that when I was gathering signatures from the public for a protected bike lane in Harlem that many of the people used electric wheel chairs or electric tricycles to get around rather than the sidewalk because it was easier for them.
i had a normal hybrid for years, now i have an ebike and i am fully able bodied - i am just loving it. i enjoy my rides so much more
Excellent work, well done!
16:00 These are also available just as a front, a wheel and handpedals, to connect to a wheelchair.
I would love to see a video of converting disc brakes to pass. I'm disabled w/ arthritis but love doing my own maintenance. That tiny spring is difficult to install & remove. I rode mountainous hills in NY before disability. Friends got me an inexpensive ebike that gets me out. Living in better terrain area now so bike works well. Put them in shop. Work an affordable price & they will buy.
SQUIRREL! In all seriousness, we need more and more of this technology getting people out of cars and smiling at the world again. Thanks for this.
Ha ha yes he was distracting me too!🐿️😄
Yes! Yes! I love the idea of more adapted bikes available! Thank you!
Thank you for this video! I used to be an avid cyclist and walker, but developed rheumatoid arthritis four years ago, severely limiting my mobility. I recently purchased an electric trike, which I’m hoping will help me see nature occasionally.
Thank you!
For your service!
Sincerely!
R.S.V.
Thank you!
Elaine was the sweetest to work with :) It is so cool to see their plan in action!
Ebikes have changed my perspective on urban planning where i used to blame the government for not fixing pot hole. now i blame them for not fixing pot holes AND not making bike lanes.
but really though they have helped me to escape depression, obesity, mobility problems, and when my truck died it's giving me the time to fix it and not forcing me to rush it. I've been commuting to my warehouse job 30-40 miles daily depending on the errands for almost 6 months while i save for my truck repairs. plus I'm not paying for gas at the high prices. in my area it would take me 200$ a month to fuel my truck. it cost me 35$ after 3 months on my ebike. Honestly ebikes have changed my life even if not in the way you detailed here in this video.
Hey...I use my electric motor to climb hills....then I turn it off. You don't HAVE to use the motor. It's up to you. But it sure is nice when you get tired and need some assist. My bike is used to go to the store...pull my small trailer....and allow me to admire the woods along the numerous bike paths in my area. A great way to get out without working up a sweat...and seeing things I would NEVER be able to see without my electric bike. What a JOY!
Amazing. Loved the reference to aging in place.
Fascinating! I do wish that I did NOT live in an area with winter though. Bike riding is IN!
The low reverse tilting tryke is awesome
I'm disabled with multiple bones injuries, the ebike is giving me so much more mobility
Excellent video - and I love your come-from. Having been a somewhat avid cyclist at one time (chairing and team captaining MS150 rides) I found that my aging knees were leading to a bike hanging from my garage ceiling for the past 20+ years. A greenbelt ride with the son and daughter-in-law led to my wondering if I was going to make it back after what I once would have called a "measly" 19 mile ride. In my 40s at the time, and a grapefruit sized-knee making my last 7 miles a painful journey, I wondered if I would ever be able to ride of any length again.
Fast forward to today - Having bought a fat tire ebike last Winter (and city e-bike for the wife) I can say that the assist has gotten me back to being able to ride my 80lb fat-tire back without assist (on flats) for quite a few miles. So if anything, not only as the ebike gotten me back out there an on a bike, but it's helped build my strength back up when I otherwise wouldn't have even gotten on a bike.
Thank you my friend. We all either know someone or like me. Who at 57 cancer survivor of late 4 Burkitt Lymphoma in 2008, and living with HIV/AIDS since 83. Between Chemo Radiation and meds. I’m not as active as before. I have a Single speed power assist Fixie type ebike. Which in my case. Helps me go from East Tremont section of the Bronx across the GWB to ShopRite of Palisades Park NJ to load up on groceries that I load into the front and rear pannier bags I’ve installed on my ebike. Sounds nuts. But just on 3 packages of chicken breast at $2.49lb. I saved $27. Which leaves money to buy better Quality of food and more of it.
That machine in the outro at 20:55, the GMBN Tech looks so cool! These are all amazing options, but the price points really are for replacing cars rather than as supplemental transportation / recreational vehicles, unless you have some serious spare cash lying around.
I can understand some of the hesitancy around certain issues, thank you for addressing them briefly instead of glossing over them.
Trail access is often predicated upon no use of motorized vehicles, which 4x4s and motocross out of mountain biking areas. ICEs bring a lot of reasonable concerns, like noise, possible high speed collisions up to 80 km/hr+ with a total 200 kg of mass adding to the damage, rather than the 100kg of a squishy rider. Also, the sheer weight and speed leads to wear on the trail and increased maintenance.
Electric bikes straddle the line between the two, and sometimes having a rigid rule leads to people coming down too hard on reasonable choices. Some of the electric bikes are only a few kgs heavier, and if they aren't adding that much speed, then getting people outdoors is a good thing.
I really appreciate how wholesome the ride with your dad was, I hope to get the chance to do something similar with my folks soon.
I really love the point about range anxiety, timing, and practicality as well. Not everyone has unlimited time to get wherever they need to go. Sometimes big hills make certain routes unfeasible, which makes biking it in general unfeasible, which means defaulting to cars. Also, getting errands done takes a big chunk of extra work on a regular bike, but those front load ebikes look amazing for what I would usually do.
Thanks for the videos, and I will definitely point to this one for anyone who is worried about ADA compliance and helping folks out.
wonderful video. i didn't know half of these things even existed
Great video. I’m 51 and 1 ½ years ago I’ve built my first e-bike. Always enjoyed cycling. But never THAT much 😊😊😊
your work in both storytelling and research is really important to me, seeing things like this that exist give me a lot of hope for aging gracefully and staying active as i age, ESPECIALLY if i end up being physically limited
Some NY geezers must be absolutely hardcore. Finding them and marketing to them though... "Hey I'm cycling here!!!"
Had a 'hair flip, look away, look, look away' today because I was on a bike. It's just so much more human. Stock a few even if you don't earn a bundle. You could give a person a decade of freedom.
You extended my understanding of e-Bike. Thank you
Those Pfautec and Vanraam bikes look great. I think a lot of able bodied people would enjoy riding them as well. Of course the priority would always be to those who really need them though.
Wanna hear a secret about adapter technology: *wide adoption benefits disabled people.* Popularity brings prices down and reduces the stigma of being "different."
@@HarryLovesRuth My dad has never really cared what people thought of him. In the 80's he had terrible neck pain and bought a "ladies" bike because he couldn't swing his leg high enough for a crossbar. I nearly died with embarrassment haha. He bought an ebike the year before I did. He's always seen the correct tool as the best one, and I wish I'd gotten to that thinking a few decades before I did.
@@HarryLovesRuth yeah I'm ambulatory disabled so people never know when I'm having a bad day but carrying on when I shouldn't. I call my e-bike my SMV stealth mobility vehicle, which amuses me but also means people think I must be better because I'm "cycling". So I get barged out the way and generally am expected to behave like a strong person! If I use my walker I get a little more respect, in that they still barge me but apologise afterwards... people are odd...
I use a class 1 e bike to commute to work 22 miles round trip instead of taking a car - I wouldn’t want to do that in the summer or winter without the battery, and I don’t want to be so tired every day. My resting heart rate has gone down, I’ve lost weight, I feel better able to take on a stressful day as a project manager when I ride to work. I really recommend it. Even if you’re in a spread out city like I am with hills.
Amazing video!! Thanks so much for showing us all the things and talking though your thoughts on things and pointing out the importance of things for example the throttle.
An ebike also helped me go outside again when I was depressed. Not having to worry about using energy makes it so much easier to hop on a bike.
I do not use backpacks on my normal bicycle, but i do use pannierbags for loads and it resulted in using my saddle less and less.. that surely improved my cardio and leg muscles without having a sweaty back. I only use my ebike when i use it with a bicycle trailer because it generally uses less electricity than the front (bakfiets) cargo ones. I do use mirrors bc thats required in the netherlands.
Your so so right I've got a ebike and bad back pain and osteoporosis but I would ride an ebike if i was able-bodied just to connect with other people meet up with friends ebikes are for everyone 🙏👍🏾
good info for all… thanks 😊
When i got my fist e bike recently i was a shut in did not go out and now i go out very day its the best this that has happed to me and i hope that everyone can have or experience a e bike even to rent one cuse you will love them and i feel it will even help are broken world rn i used to sit infont of a pc every day now im riding every day and here in wisconsion its hard to even see a junk car for under 1k a e bike was perfect and i help out small businesses
I'm in my 20s and have struggled with my mental health and as a consequence my physical health has suffered. I've been getting into the idea of an electric bike and hope to get one by the end of the month. I'm looking forward to the freedom it brings.
Excellent and very informative video! Thanks!
Looking back in history, we had a lot of adapted 'bicycles' to keep people mobile in the Netherlands.
My aunt had braces on one leg and so she had a bicycle with one fixed pedal and the other one continuous, this enabled her to commute to work in the city center, keep her social contacts and be independent up to high age.
An uncle used a Solex to get around (bicycle with little gas motor assistance) and he had a successful assurance company in spite of his handicap and limited use of one leg.
And there are many who have 'special needs' bicycles, tricycles and wheelchairs to get around and be part of society.
At work there are bicycles available for those who commute by public transit but have to go to another building, we have twenty locations spread all over the city, and sometimes you have to go there for work. With electric assist bicycles that's no problem at all, you can go through city center in no time and be faster than by car that has to go around.
A lot of wheelchair users (hand and electric powered) use the bicycle infra to travel, no curbs, no obstacles, no steps, and others on the bicycle paths respect them, wait until they can pass without ringing, without shouting, just respectful interhuman contact.
While visiting the US I wondered where are the handicapped people? No wheelchairs in public, not on train stations, or metro, nowhere! Looking at the narrow sidewalks, with obstacles like lampposts, traffic sign poles, telephone poles, or no sidewalks at all, it became clear that mobility for handicapped and elders is non-existing. Where are the Americans with mobility problems???
If you are seriously looking for an e- bike Propel is the place you want to go. Chris is the best.