Re:Energy (Score 1)

I don't have a reference handy but there was a study of total caloric output (aka exercise) for users of electric bikes vs. traditional bikes. The average energy output per week was higher for the electric bike population. This counter-intuitive result was because the bike was used for more trips. Every rider is going to choose bike vs. car based primarily on a personal time/effort/distance judgement. An electric assist bike ends up getting chosen for a far higher percentage of these trips than a traditional bike. The end result is that electric bike riders burn more calories over a given period of time than traditional bike riders simply because they are going to be riding more often.