E-bikes are growing fast in popularity, but the conversations around them don’t always keep up. It’s easy to reduce them to assumptions: that they’re effortless, that they don’t “count,” or that the people riding them are somehow different from other cyclists.
At the same time, there’s increasing confusion about what an e-bike actually is. As more electric two-wheel vehicles such as e-motos appear on roads and paths, the distinctions between them can get blurred. That can shape how people think about safety, access, and where different devices belong to the detriment of e-bike riders.
But behind every e-bike is a person with a journey and a reason.
For many riders, e-bikes make something possible that otherwise wouldn’t be: commuting without arriving sweaty, making routes for persons of varied abilities accessible, riding after an injury, keeping up with family or faster companions, facilitating the hauling of cargo or kids, or replacing car trips with a more sustainable way to get around.
With this project, we hope to make those stories more visible and put a face and story to the rider.
Today we’re launching the Meet Our E-bike Riders project. We’ll be collecting short quotes and photos from people who ride e-bikes across the Commonwealth, and we’d love to include you! We’re looking for simple snapshots of why you ride and what it helps you do. This is real people, sharing real experiences.
As conversations about e-bikes continue to evolve, it’s important that they’re grounded in a clear understanding of who is actually riding them and why. When we can see the people behind the bikes, it becomes easier to have more informed, thoughtful conversations about access, safety, and shared spaces.
If you’re willing to share your story, please complete our short Google Form.
About the Virginia Bicycling Federation
The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) works to make Virginia the most bicycle-friendly state in the nation. Through advocacy, education, and community partnerships, we promote safe, accessible, and enjoyable bicycling for people of all ages and abilities. From historic trails to vibrant downtowns, bicycling connects us to our communities—and to Virginia’s rich past and promising future. Learn more at www.vabike.org.
To join or donate to VBF, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, go to https://app.joinit.com/o/
This article was written by VBF board members Jenn Million, Susan Motley & Allen Muchnick.
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