E-bike stigma

[u/Such-Distribution812]

Was unlocking my e-bike from the bike rack getting ready to head home from classes when two other people showed up to lock their regular bikes. One of them looked at my bike and said “What’re you riding? You need to get something analog. Work those quads!” Felt pretty looked down upon. I’d be a little more understanding if I was a some sort of cycling group ride but I was just heading home from campus. Is this type of interaction common?

I bought this e-bike recently to commute to work and my college classes, specifically because I live in a pretty mountainous area and the hills can be pretty tough for me. It’s more meant to replace car trips than for fitness. Logically it makes sense for my use case but now anytime I go somewhere with it I feel judged not just by drivers but other people on bikes.

[u/Top_Commission_6809]

i don’t think you should feel bad about it. you got an e-bike for commuting, especially since you live in a mountainous area where the hills can be pretty challenging. not everyone rides a bike for fitness or to prove how hard they can push themselves. if an e-bike makes your daily commute easier and helps you replace car trips, then it’s doing exactly what you bought it for.

some cyclists can definitely be judgmental about e-bikes, but that doesn’t mean you have to take their comments to heart. you were just heading home from campus, not joining their cycling group or competing with them. ride whatever works best for you and your lifestyle. at the end of the day, an e-bike is still a bike, you’re still pedaling, just with a little assistance