The UV E-Bike Lending Library will run May – October 2022. Schedule to be announced!
Do you wish biking was part of your life? E-bikes can greatly increase that possibility. E-bikes (electric bikes) are like regular bikes but with an electric motor in addition to human-powered pedals, a battery to store power for that motor, and a heavier frame to accommodate the increased hardware. The electric assist can help with the physical issues, daunting hills, and the need to haul heavy loads (kids, groceries, or both are easier with a cargo e-bike like the one pictured!) that might otherwise keep you off your bike. This could enable you to replace many car trips with breezy, two-wheel journeys that don’t clog the roads or present parking challenges.
Worldwide, e-bike sales are booming, and the market is stuffed with different choices on frame, type and size of motor, battery storage — to name just a few variables. How do you choose?
The first step is to try some models and see what features you like best. Enter Local Motion’s Upper Valley E-bike Library. Organized by eight Upper Valley town energy committees with the help of Vital Communities, this program of Local Motion is in its second year and now features four e-bikes.
From the end of April through the end of October, the library will be stationed in various Upper Valley communities. Residents of each community can borrow either of four e-bike models free of charge for a few days (or an hour) to get a feel for the two-wheel life.
Here is the 2021 schedule:
2021 Schedule:
Hartford (based in both WRJ and Quechee): 4/19/21 – 5/8/21
Hanover: 5/10/21 – 5/29/21
Sharon: 5/31/21 – 6/12/21
Norwich: 6/14/21 – 7/3/21
Lebanon: 7/5/21 – 7/24/21
Thetford / Strafford / Lyme: 7/26/21 – 8/28/21
Cornish / Plainfield: 8/30/21 – 9/18/21
Hartland / Windsor / Woodstock: 9/20/21 – 10/9/21
New London: 10/11/21 – 10/30/21
For more more program details and reservation information, visit Local Motion’s Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library page.