Read moreUnder city law, the bikes are legal to own and sell, but riding them on the street can lead to a fine of up to $500. “Electric bikes are illegal to operate on city streets and those at the top of the food chain need to be held accountable,” city spokesman Austin Finan said. “We’re using this as something that lets us work and support our families.”The bikes make a tremendous difference for the delivery workforce, said Do Lee, a PhD candidate who studied delivery workers for his dissertation and advocates for them. “They couldn’t do their jobs without electric bikes,” he said. While new electric bikes can go for several thousands of dollars, similar to some gas-powered scooters like Vespas, kits to convert a standard bike to an electric bike can be bought for under $500.

Source: The Guardian December 25, 2017 17:37 UTC