The City of Santa Barbara recently adopted a bicycle master plan to improve safety and balance between the various modes of transportation in the city. Also under consideration is a Vision Zero program, a collaborative effort to end all traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
One of the newer and faster growing options among transportation choices is the electric bicycle or e-bike. E-bikes offer greater speed and distance with less exertion than conventional cycling for those who don’t want to arrive at work or events dripping with sweat. Rolling on an e-bike frequently reduces travel time over that of a regular bike by a good third and often even beats car travel, especially during rush-hour traffic.
Sales of e-bikes have been booming in recent years while experiencing double-digit growth in 2015. It is estimated that the industry will have revenues of almost $25 billion in 2025 as compared to just over $15 billion this past year. Lower-cost technology, high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, and digital feedback components account for some of this increased popularity. Top speeds achieve between 20 and 30 miles per hour.