PORTLAND, Oregon — More e-bikes have been popping up on streets around Portland. They account for at least 17% of all bikes in the Rose City, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation's latest bike count.
Most e-bikes look like regular bikes, but they have a battery-powered electric motor.
"You get all the benefits you do of regular biking and you get the, the added bonus of, you know, a little bit extra power and a lot more ease of use and some better features on the bike," said Jonathan Maus, the publisher and editor of BikePortland.
Not only can e-bikes curb carbon emissions, they're also a way to beat traffic.
"They really do balance out that sort of power dynamic and presence on the road … that I think is so important for people to feel safe and to feel like they can share the road with other types of vehicles," Maus said.
Nixie Oliveri manages Cynergy E-Bikes on Southeast Powell Boulevard. He said the demand for e-bikes began to increase when the pandemic started, and since then, it's been on an upward spike.
"A lot of people are, you know, wanting to get away from cars because of traffic," Oliveri said.
He shared a few tips for anyone interested in e-bikes: Visit your local shop and take a few for some test rides. Also, beware of cheap deals online because you could be compromising battery quality and safety. Instead, Oliveri recommends contacting a local dealer who can also service your e-bike.
An entry-level e-bike can cost around $1,500.
Not quite ready to make the leap and purchase one? Biketown has more than 2,000 e-bikes available to rent at over 200 stations across the city.
Chris McGinness is a meteorologist and reporter for KGW News. Email him here and reach out on social media: Facebook, Instagram and X.
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