Love them or hate them, e-bike popularity is growing
E-bikes are transforming transportation across Iowa, not just as a novelty but as a practical alternative to cars for commuting, grocery runs, and transporting children. Megan Polk’s five-mile e-bike commute with her toddlers reveals how these bikes make daily tasks feasible—especially with the help of pedal-assist technology that reduces physical strain. Yet the surge in popularity brings new challenges: confusion between e-bikes and e-motos (electric mopeds), safety concerns on trails and roads, and a growing risk of lithium-ion battery fires due to improper disposal. Matt Berkey of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition emphasizes that e-bikes are not just for fitness enthusiasts—they’re a gateway for older adults and people with disabilities to stay active and independent. But the real danger lies in the gray market: cheap, unregulated e-motos sold online as e-bikes, often without pedals or safety features, which are illegal on trails and pose serious risks to pedestrians. Sergeant Trevor McGraw of Ankeny Police warns parents to scrutinize what they buy—many devices marketed as e-bikes are actually motorized bicycles that require licenses and insurance. At Lakeshore Cyclery, Riley Godfreytson confirms that e-bikes now make up 70% of sales, but cautions against buying from online discounters: without proper serviceability, these bikes become disposable hazards.
E-bikes are replacing car trips for 70% of users, cutting emissions and congestion while enabling people with mobility challenges to ride again.
Never buy an e-bike from Amazon or a discount retailer—most lack serviceability, parts, and safety features, turning them into fire hazards.
E-motos (electric mopeds) are not e-bikes: they lack operable pedals, can exceed 28 mph, and must be licensed, insured, and ridden on roads—not trails.
The safest e-bike purchase is from a local bike shop that can service the model—especially those using Bosch motor systems for long-term reliability.
Always remove the battery before recycling an e-bike; lithium-ion batteries can ignite if crushed during landfill or recycling processing.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
E-bikes in the Daily Life: A Commuter's Reality
“I'm not catching her. There's no way. Almost to daycare! Oh, it's hard. That hill in particular is in my nightmares. Yeah, I bet.”
What Makes an E-bike an E-bike?
“Anything above 750 watts, anything that goes above 28 miles an hour is no longer an e-bike. It's what we've been calling an e-moto.”
E-bikes as a Tool for Accessibility and Independence
E-bikes are enabling older adults and people with disabilities to stay active and socially engaged, reversing the idea that cycling is only for the young or fit.
Trail Etiquette and Safety for All Users
Matt Berkey discusses how e-bike users, especially new ones, need education on trail etiquette—slowing down, signaling, and respecting pedestrians.
The Rise of E-motos: A Hidden Danger
“If a device goes faster than 20 miles an hour but less than 39 miles an hour without pedals on it, it's going to be classified as that motorized bicycle.”
“Typically, the way that our ordinance is written, if a device goes faster than 20 miles an hour but less than... 39 miles an hour without pedals on it, it's going to be classified as that motorized bicycle.”
“And once that happens, if they get exposed to water, they become an extreme fire hazard.”
“I'm not catching her. There's no way. Almost to daycare! Oh, it's hard. That hill in particular is in my nightmares. Yeah, I bet.”
Host
Guests
Matt Berkey
person
Riley Godfreytson
person
Lakeshore Cyclery and Fitness
organization
Sergeant Trevor McGraw
person
Joe Bullock
person
Iowa Bicycle Coalition
organization
Iowa Waste Reduction Center
organization
Ankeny Police Department
organization
Bosch e-bike systems
product
Gazelle
brand
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