Drivers in America’s 10 most congested cities waste more than a full workweek (or vacation week) sitting in traffic every year, according to the international traffic research firm INRIX.
In addition to choking city streets, traffic eats into commuters’ spare time, drains their wallets and, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, can literally shorten their lives by raising the risk of obesity, diabetes and stress.
And the physical toll isn’t all. The loss of time that could be better spent elsewhere -- making fresh meals, visiting the gym or spending time with family members, for example -- are all additional examples of the corollary toll that a stressful commute can take on workers.
But some commuters have found a better way to get where they are going: The electric bike.
E-bikes are designed like traditional bicycles, with an additional integrated electric motor that allows cyclists to propel themselves without getting completely exhausted. These “pedelecs” (pedal electric) e-bikes allow riders to decide their level of physical exertion based on their fitness level, terrain or desired physical output.
For commuters, especially those in particularly traffic-challenged cities, e-bikes are a huge win. By helping riders bypass traffic jams, and by lowering gas and parking costs, e-bikes can save precious time, money and peace of mind.
And the e-bike movement is growing. The U.S. electric bike market has been doubling in size every year since 2012, and European sales of e-bikes continue to rise -- in France, for example, they surged 17% in 2013 alone.
Bosch has become the European market leader for e-bike drive systems, offering two variations for driving styles and fitness levels in an elegant and intuitive drive system. Both systems are comprised of three complementary components: a drive unit, rechargeable battery and onboard trip computer.
For casual e-bikers who are looking to explore their city or enjoy a weekend ride with friends, Bosch’s Active Line provides responsive, smooth and agile support with a 15 MPH speed assist. For fast, fit and athletic bikers who like to push themselves on mountains or long treks, Bosch offers a sporty, powerful Performance Line -- powerful, direct and dynamic support with a speed assist up to 28 MPH. Both allow cyclists the flexibility to traverse a range of different conditions, seamlessly.