The Power of E-Bikes with Congressman Earl Blumenauer
The War on Cars
The War on Cars, LLC
4.9 • 937 Ratings
🗓️ 2 March 2021
⏱️ 32 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Electric bikes shorten commutes, flatten hills and make cycling accessible to anyone who might need a boost. They're also great tools for replacing car trips and fighting climate change. Unfortunately, they're still a little pricey for some people. That could change thanks to a new bill in Congress: the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment Act. Co-sponsored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, the E-BIKE Act would offer a tax credit of 30% of the price of an electric bicycle, something that could bring the joys of e-bike ownership within reach of more Americans. Congressman Blumenauer joins The War on Cars to discuss the bill, why commuter benefits ought to apply to bicycle sharing systems, and the economic, environmental and social benefits of bike commuting in general. (Spoiler alert: cyclists typically don't murder each other over parking.) Plus, he offers his thoughts on Democratic control of the House and Senate and the recent appointment of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
***This episode was sponsored in part by our friends at Cleverhood. For 20% off of stylish, functional rain gear designed specifically for walking and biking — and 30% off their new anorak rain jacket — enter coupon code WARONCARS at checkout.***
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SHOW NOTES:
Support the E-BIKE Act by contacting your representative in Congress using this handy tool from PeopleForBikes or look up your congressperson and get in touch directly.
Get the full details on the E-BIKE Act via BikePortland.org
Learn more about Congressman Earl Blumenauer's life and career.
"E-bikes are expensive, but this congressman wants to make them more affordable" (Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge)
"E-Bikes for Everyone!" (David Zipper, Slate)
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This episode was produced and edited by Doug Gordon. Our music is by Nathaniel Goodyear. Our logo is by Dani Finkel of Crucial D.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | We've gotten to that part of the year when frankly I'm sick of the layers. I've had enough of the long |
| 0:07.8 | jons and the scarves and the parkas and hats. There's one layer though that I'm happy about all year long. That's the |
| 0:14.9 | cleverhood layer. The thing about a cleverhood is that you just throw it on and |
| 0:19.5 | quite literally you're covered. Bam, protected from the elements dry and cozy on your bike or on foot. |
| 0:27.0 | It's simple. |
| 0:29.0 | Now listeners of the war on cars can receive 30% off the purchase of a new |
| 0:33.3 | Cleverhood Enrak or 20% off the purchase of anything else in the |
| 0:37.2 | Cleverhood store. Visit cleverhood.com slash War on Cars |
| 0:41.4 | and enter code War on Cars at check out for your discount life is |
| 0:46.0 | complicated cleverhood is simple. |
| 0:49.7 | You talk about a war on cars. I don't necessarily feel like we have to declare war on cars. |
| 0:58.0 | What I want to do is end socialism for cars. |
| 1:04.8 | This is the war on cars. |
| 1:07.5 | I'm Doug Gordon. |
| 1:09.2 | Okay, so you're thinking about getting an e-bike. |
| 1:11.8 | You've seen them around, lots of people have them now, and you've heard all the reasons why they're great. |
| 1:16.0 | They flatten hills, they make your commute a lot shorter, you don't get sweaty, and they make cycling accessible to a wide range of people. |
| 1:24.0 | Also, they're just a ton of fun, but there's one problem. |
| 1:29.0 | For a lot of people, e-bikes are still kind of expensive. |
| 1:32.0 | Sure, there are deals out there and prices are coming down all the time, |
| 1:36.0 | but a decent model will still set you back over a thousand bucks, |
| 1:40.0 | and prices in the $1,600 to $2,400 range are pretty common. |
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