Living in Potrero Hill has it's ups and downs, quite literally, with its hills, valleys, dales and glens. I live atop one of the many hills in the Nabe or the Hill, affectionately named by those who live here. For some time, I've been pining for an electric bicycle. I have a bicycle with many gears and I'm physically capable of riding up the least of the steep hills to get back home (leaving home is a breeze with more braking than pedaling). Yet, I talk myself out of cycling due to those daunting uphill obstacles.
When I was kindly offered a chance to test out an electric bicycle (EB) by Rick Hutchinson, executive director at City CarShare, I gladly excepted, emphasizing that I lived up a big hill. Rick assured me I would get a powerful electric bicycle, and I did.
For 5 days, I test drove up and down Potrero's hills with the IZIP E3 Metro Low Step. This EB has lots of power, and options on how to use that power. I can say, without a doubt, this EB, is not your mother's moped. The IZIP was quiet, fast and without nasty gas fumes. Riding up the steep hills of Potrero was virtually effortless.
While using the pedal assist (PAS) option which boosted my pedaling up a steep hill, it felt like pedaling on flat ground. Since PAS only works when you are pedaling, it's off when coasting or at a stop. IZIP also has a throttle option. The throttle, located on the handle bar, gives you power with a turn of the wrist, when you need it. I liked that option, getting a boost only when I needed or wanted it, usually at an intersection in order to get ahead of the cars, or my favorite, up a hill. In either mode, riding up 22nd street between De Haro and Carolina was fast and easy.
Riding the IZIP was a lot of fun and very functional for the hills of San Francisco. It's a great way for one person to get around the city and easy on the environment. City CarShare is still piloting different EBs, but it's narrowing in on the brands that will become part of the electric bicycle share program later this year. You can read about their electric bike program, here. I'm glad to have been a test pilot for this program, many thanks Rick!
For those of you wanting a vehicle share option, City CarShare provides the greenest fleets, learn more about their mission here.
