What You Must Know Before Purchasing Your First E-Bike

​Electric bicycles are on the rise. These battery-powered bicycles offer great convenience in your short trips along your neighborhood or when commuting to your workplace. If you are in doubt whether it is worth it to invest in an e-bike, here are a few things you need to know first.

​Advantages of Owning an E-Bike
The real convenience of owning an e-bike is efficiency in commuting. It makes traveling faster by removing many of the challenges that people with traditional pedal-powered cycles encounters. E-bikes come with a battery-powered “pedal assist” that you can control, wherein the harder you pedal, the bigger the boost you’ll get.
 
E-bikes offer the same great benefits as traditional bikes including cost efficiency, improved health, and connection with the community. It is also so convenient as they are small, handy and lightweight. Moreover, they are easy to operate and have a low maintenance cost. They require no license to own or operate. 
 
Also, riding on e-bikes count as your exercise. It is especially beneficial to people who have been otherwise sedentary and who would give up cycling due to physical limitations. People with bad knees or have heart conditions can benefit well with e-bikes.
    
A Disadvantage of Owning an E-Bike
Unlike other gas-powered vehicles, e-bikes come with a battery that requires 6-8 hours to charge fully. However, with careful planning and setting a charging schedule, running out of power while on track can be avoided. The good thing is without power; an e-bike is just a heavy bike. You can still pedal and get home safely.
 
Safety Concerns to Consider
Many drivers are not very considerate to bikes on the road. Severe weather can also pose a problem as it makes more difficult for drivers to see you and your bike. Another concern is theft. Being portable and lightweight makes e-bikes easy targets for robbers. The best solution for this is to park your e-bike inside your home if possible for maximum theft safety and storage.
 
Gas prices are surging, and traffic jams are not going to get better soon. An e-bike can be the solution to your everyday commuting problems. However, regardless of how amazing e-bikes are, accidents can still happen.
 
As such, make sure that you have bike insurance to insulate yourself from the financial implications of any untoward accidents. At Insurance Services of the West, we aim to make our client's life easier with policies that are tailored to their needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (425) 681-0996. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.