Bicycles are becoming more and more popular each year as people realise that there are other alternatives to the gas-guzzling car to getting around, particularly as many of our everyday trips to the shops, or to work for example, are quite short. Even short trips in your car can work out quite expensive when you look back at your annual fuel bills, the wear and tear on your car, the time spent battling the traffic and the cost to the environment. But not everyone relishes the idea of slogging along to work on their bicycle and arriving hot and sweaty. That’s where the electric bike comes in, and not only are they a great idea for the commuter, they can play a very important role in the lives and well-being of the less mobile members of society.

Electric bikes have come a long way in recent years and now come in a number of varieties, from road bikes and mountain bikes to fold-up and three wheeler bikes, there is one for all occasions. Beside being a lot of fun and taking the hard work and drudgery out of cycling to work or around town, electric bicycles can be a huge aid to the elderly, frail or infirm. People who fall into these brackets have often lost the confidence or strength to ride a normal bicycle but would still like to be out in the fresh air and getting around under their own steam. Enter the electric bicycle. The beauty of these machines is that the rider can get as much or as little exercise as they choose.

An elderly person, a frail person, a person recovering from a major illness or operation; these are the people that would more than likely baulk at the prospect of jumping on a bicycle in order to regain strength and mobility, as it does take a degree of balance and strength to ride a normal bike. But an electric three wheeled bicycle, for instance, would be perfect, providing them with the means to get out and about while allowing them to increase their workload slowly and gradually without fear of falling of their bike.

The first trip down to the shops or round to see their friends could be solely powered by the electric motor. On the next trip, the person could perhaps do a little pedalling, which could be very light on the body as the electric motor would be doing ninety five per cent of the work. Next time let the motor take only eighty percent of the load, and so on. I have personally seen a number of elderly people in my local area nipping down to the shops with their baskets on the front, or tootling down to the local club to meet up with friends. That has got to be better than sitting at home and seizing up. You have earned your retirement. Don’t let lack of mobility spoil your hard-earned leisure days.

One last thing on electric bikes that is very important, especially if you are retired; these machine are a whole lot cheaper to run than your car. I own an electric or E-bike and have done my homework on the cost of running them. A full charge will cost you around five cents and you will go a fair distance on that charge, further if you pedal a bit yourself. I know that my car costs a lot more than that before I have even left my driveway. So in a nutshell we have; exercise, economy, little environmental impact, virtually pollution free, not traffic hassles, no parking hassles. It’s got to be worth thinking about, hasn’t it? As you can tell, I’m a convert. Happy cycling!