Bike-Share vs. Owning an E-Bike: What’s Right for You?
I used bike-sharing a handful of times when traveling to town without my personal bike, and I was a happy camping. I’m not going to do France’s Tour on these heavy bikes anytime soon, but they are surprisingly comfortable and fun- and e-bikes in the fleet really whisk, if you know what I mean.
The advantages of using bicycle-sharing are that it’s likely more affordable for rarely and maintenance-free riders. These bikes are built like tanks, so you will rarely experience a mechanical problem or flat tire (flat tires are actually impossible on many models). Users often like the simplicity of not having to worry about bike flights or storing your bike indoors, especially in smaller apartments or walk-ups.
There are some downsides, however, include that bikes may feel clunkier and heavier compared to standard bikes, though the e-bike options compensate for this. There is also the risk that no bike is available at the bike-sharing dock you’re headed to, or it’s full of your destination dock, meaning you have to pack it in another.