A field guide to getting there without the gas.
Buying an e-bike for the daily commute
How to choose the frame, battery and equipment for a bike you’ll use throughout the workweek.
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Choosing your first ride? Working out whether it can go on the train? Browse the stories below, or search for the thing you’re trying to figure out.
36 articles
New York CityNYC’s e-bike crackdown: what to know before ordering online
The city is targeting illegal devices sold online. Today’s limits and the September proposals are different matters.
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Electric rides that make sense for stairs
Compare the weight, shape and grip of six lighter rides before trying the stairs at home.
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South FloridaSouth Florida electric commuting: streets, transit and beach rules
Miami, Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale have different rules. Then there’s the heat, rain and place to charge.
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US buying guide / California exampleE-bike or electric motorcycle? Know before you buy
Pedals alone don’t make it an e-bike. Check the motor, operating modes and rules where you plan to ride.
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What to carry on an electric commute
What to keep in your bag, what can stay at home and what to check before you leave.
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Living with an electric scooter every day
What to look for in the wheels, brakes and battery, especially when you’ll also have to carry it.
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New York State / S.10700New York’s e-moto sales bill is still a proposal
The bill targets sales and marketing. Its definitions matter, and it has not passed.
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NIU KQi Air or Segway MAX G3?
The NIU is much lighter. The Segway adds suspension and a longer advertised range. Compare both for your route.
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New York CityChoose an electric ride for a New York City commute
What you can ride, where you can take it and how to deal with the stairs at either end.
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Buying guide / NYC sales exampleA certified e-bike still needs a route it can use
Certification covers electrical safety. You still need to check road, path and building rules.
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Tubes, tubeless and solid wheels: know your tires
Tubes, tubeless, factory sealant and solid wheels: identify yours before buying a repair kit.
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Could a Onewheel fit your daily commute?
Choosing a board, learning to ride it and getting it ready for the trip to work.
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Florida / statewide proposalFlorida’s proposed 10 mph e-bike rule was vetoed
SB 382 did not become law. Keep its widely repeated proposal separate from Florida’s current rules and local restrictions.
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Three folding e-bikes for very different commutes
A closer look at the Lectric XP Lite, Ride1Up Portola 02 and Brompton Electric P Line.
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San FranciscoSan Francisco electric commuting: hills, Muni and BART
Choose for the hills, then check whether your ride can join you on Muni or BART.
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Choosing an electric ride for an apartment
Folding sizes, carrying weights and the storage and charging questions to ask your building.
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Check the certification before you buy an electric ride
How to read certification claims, check the model and battery, and understand what a CE mark means.
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Could an electric unicycle work for your commute?
An EUC fits beside a desk, but learning to ride one takes time. Here’s what daily ownership involves.
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New JerseyNew Jersey e-bike rules: registration, licenses and insurance
New Jersey requires registration, while insurance depends on the statutory category. Start with the current MVC instructions.
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Onewheel Pint X, XR Classic and GT: which one fits?
All three list a 20 mph top speed. Compare their weight, range, tires and room underfoot.
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AustinAustin electric commuting: heat, trails and the bus ride home
Plan for the heat, check the trail rules and find out whether the bus can take you and your ride home.
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Taking an electric ride on transit
Find out what the operator allows and whether you can comfortably carry the ride through the station.
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What to do when you get a flat and have no spare
Know what sealant can fix, what to carry and how you’ll get home if the tire won’t hold air.
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Choosing an electric skateboard for the ride to work
Street wheels or air-filled tires? Choose for your pavement and learn the remote before heading into traffic.
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IllinoisIllinois e-bike law: the changes arriving in January 2027
New age limits and device categories take effect January 1, 2027. Here’s what changes, and what applies until then.
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E-bike, scooter or Onewheel for getting to work?
Compare how each ride handles bags, stairs, rough pavement and the trip to work.
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ChicagoChicago electric commuting: bike lanes, CTA and winter
Bike lanes, CTA connections and what changes when the weather turns cold.
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Spend less on gas without giving up your car
Choose the drives you can skip, budget for the whole setup and see how long the savings take to catch up.
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Your first week riding to work
Try a couple of workdays without the car, find out what needs changing and record the driving you actually avoid.
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How much battery range do you need for the commute?
Hills, speed, cold weather and your load all affect how far a charge will take you.
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Can you ride your commute on a wet morning?
What rain changes on the road, what the maker allows and when to take another way to work.
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Look over your commute before buying the ride
Find a drive you can stop making, check the route in person and sort out parking before choosing a ride.
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Electric commuting beyond town
Longer distances, fewer repair shops and roads with no shoulder change what makes a useful commuter.
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Choosing an electric ride for hills and mountain roads
Brakes, gearing and enough battery for the climb home, with advice for longer mountain routes.
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Choosing an electric ride for a beach town
Rides for coastal streets, boardwalk access rules and looking after your equipment around sand and salt.
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