As gridlocked streets and terrible air pollution become increasing concerns for cities, we are all continually looking out for solutions. Moving away from car-centric infrastructure is a necessity and many city planners are creating more bike lanes and zero emission zones while also looking to public transport and personal electric vehicles to fill the gap.
So it is not shocking that micromobility — very light, electrically powered personal vehicles — is growing faster than ride-hailing did during Uber’s peak growth. But which of the most popular types of micromobility is best for you — electric scooters or electric bikes?
Both are great, and each one can transform your way of commuting and moving through the city. Yet each has their own advantages, depending on your individual needs and preferences…
E-scooters are a no-sweat, convenient way of reaching your destination
Carry or scoot for a convenient commute
Electric scooters were made for shorter distances and cruising along city streets (to learn more about the benefits of e-scooters, check out our blog post: 5 Reasons Why Electric Scooters Are So Popular). With ranges anywhere between 10 and 30 miles, e-scooters go hand in hand with commuting and are perfect for getting you from your door to public transport and vice versa.
Super lightweight and portable, e-scooters are much easier to carry onto public transport or into the office than bikes, since their compact form factor occupies less space. Their simple frame consisting of just a board, a pole with handlebars and small wheels makes storage a breeze when compared to even the most foldable of e-bikes.
Being able to transport electric scooters anywhere means that you can also store them indoors. This is a particular advantage of personally owned e-scooters which removes the need for you to worry about vandalism or them being stolen, something bike owners always need to keep at the forefront of their minds. For more on the pros of personal e-scooters, read our post Is It Better to Rent or to Own an Electric Scooter?.
However the convenience of electric scooters not only lies in their easy usage and portability, but also — at least for personally owned ones — in their initial upfront investment. Even e-scooters on the more expensive end of the market are significantly cheaper than the average electric bike, something your bank account will be thankful for.
Enjoy a hassle-free travelling experience
While there is no need to metaphorically sweat over the potential risks of theft nor hefty price tags, you can also enjoy a literal sweat-free ride when travelling on an electric scooter. Don’t want to exert any energy? Well, you don’t have to when no pedalling is involved. Other than a kick to get it going, from there onwards, the scooter only needs to rely on the motor to keep moving. The lack of pedalling can also make it easier for those of us wearing dresses or skirts, as it makes for a much more comfortable ride.
Having no pedals on electric scooters certainly simplifies the process for new riders, making the learning curve much shorter than a bike’s — it is just a case of stepping on, kicking off with one foot, and letting the throttle do the work for the rest of your journey.
Finally, e-scooters not only allow you to wear a wider variety of clothes and learn how to ride quicker, but they also offer a hassle-free way of travelling during busy periods. Smaller frames and tires make e-scooters easier to maneuver than electric bikes, meaning you can dodge around people, other vehicles, and change lanes if you need to.
E-bikes are perfect for longer journeys and if you like to stay active
Keep comfy and fit on wider ranges of terrain
Electric bikes are also great for commuting, especially with longer distances to travel as the range of e-bikes far exceeds that of e-scooters. With maximum assisted speeds of 30 mph, electric bikes are indisputably quicker than most electric scooters, although many countries further limit the legal maximum speed in urban areas — so, in practice, the difference between both may not be as significant.
While e-scooters perform best on smoother city streets, there are many more options over where to ride your e-bike. Their wider, bigger wheels are much more forgiving over rough surfaces and can tackle a wider range of terrain, making electric bikes ideal for travelling outside of the city too.
Even when moving over bumps and potholes, having a saddle to sit on can make your journey more comfortable for longer rides — an advantage over most e-scooters, as they don’t usually have seats.
While sitting down does conserve some of your energy, electric bikes obviously require more physical effort than e-scooters as they don’t rely completely on the motor — yes, e-bikes do have pedal assist but you still have to pedal to keep them moving, which is perfect for those looking for a healthy way of keeping fit. It may not necessarily be a no-sweat ride, but compared to the traditional bike, there is much less effort required.
And what happens if your battery dies mid-journey? That’s no problem. Being partially pedal-powered means that even if the battery runs out of charge, the bike can still be moved — although this can become difficult as e-bikes are much heavier and thus more cumbersome than e-scooters.
Cycle on a staple of the streets
There is no doubt that electric scooters have grown in popularity over recent years, but both conventional and electric bikes have been on the streets for much longer (the first true iterations, called velocipedes or ‘bone-shakers’, being invented in the 1860's). This has encouraged their wide acceptance among the general public as well as the creation of more public infrastructure such as bike parking spaces and dedicated cycle lanes. So while it may be more difficult to park your e-bike indoors, there are plenty of parking places outside and e-bikes can go anywhere traditional bikes can go.
Being in the same legal category as traditional bikes due to their pedal assistance, e-bikes can use cycle lanes and often public footpaths. There are less stringent laws surrounding e-bikes than e-scooters, which are a newer technology and thus restricted by conflicting legislation around the globe. Some countries, states and cities require e-scooter riders to have licenses, helmets, registration, and insurance in order to ride legally, whilst on the other hand electric bikes allow for much more freedom as these requirements don’t apply.
Both riders and pedestrians are more familiar with bikes since they have around for over 180 years, which arguably translates into a better image for e-bikes in the public eye. As bikes are no longer a novelty, regulations and infrastructure have long been in place to accommodate them, resulting in fewer concerns over safety and littering — complaints which have dominated the press coverage on electric scooters. We have yet to see an entire Instagram account dedicated to the vandalism and condemnation of electric bikes, as we have with e-scooters!
The current lack of storage options for e-scooters limits the amount the rider can carry, while electric bikes can be fitted with a range of storage devices such as saddle bags and baskets. This is partly because bikes have been around for longer, and there has therefore been more time to develop accessories for them. More e-scooter storage solutions may be in the works as we speak, but, for now, transporting things on a e-bike is much easier — even if it does add further weight to an already bulky ride.
Conclusion
With new developments in technology and the the looming threat of climate change there is a continually pressing need to change the way we move around our cities, and these popular forms of micromobility could offer part of the solution.
In reading this post you are educating yourself about greener alternatives to fuel-powered vehicles that will not only transform the way you move, but will potentially better the levels of air pollution and road congestion our cities have become accustomed to.
If you have longer distances to travel, want the free exercise and you intend to ride over more than smooth city streets, then electric bikes are probably better for you. Cycling infrastructure already in place can also make journey planning more straightforward.
However, if you are looking for an easy, sweat-free, and cheaper way of getting from A to B in the city and you plan to ride shorter distances, then e-scooters are the way forward — especially if multimodal travel forms an essential part of your commute.
Whichever option you choose, know that with every ride you will be contributing to a greener, cleaner planet!
References
- Barclays, Micromobility: Fast, Cheap and Good Solution for ‘Smart Cities’
- Department for Transport, Transport Statistics Great Britain 2018: Moving Britain Ahead
- Jack Blocker, VICE, There’s an Entire Instagram Account Devoted to Destroying Rideshare Scooters
- Elizabeth Palermo, Live Science, Who Invented the Bicycle?
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Originally published at www.taur.com.
