Is the electric bicycle the future of transport in Tonbridge....

Thinking about buying an electric bike. I've had this in the back of my mind for quite some time now as I'm pretty convinced that they are part of the future of transport. They're clean and green, they encourage people to leave their cars at home without the dread of getting up those steep hills (Quarry Hill in my case) they are virtually noiseless; in fact, for town use they're as ideal a mode of transport as you can get in my opinion. With the introduction of some very sporty looking fold up models they are becoming a real solution to transport headaches everywhere. So why not for Tonbridge? The power assist variety allows you to pedal but with the major advantage of being able to glide your way up steep hills with far less effort than the pedal only bikes. So what's holding me back getting one if they're so good. Mainly the price tag. Electric bikes are still pricey at around £750 even for the budget options, the latest ones, with quicker charging batteries and better looking frames can be over £1,500. Compare that with that beautiful lightweight Marin Moutain bike in Cycles UK I've had my eye on for a while at about £350, which seems expensive in itself for a bike these days. I suppose if you look at electric bikes as being cheapish motor bikes then that price tag wouldn't hurt so much; but if you compare them with the cost of a pedal bike then they are still far too expensive for most pockets, including mine. Why can't the Goverment, who claim to be promoting all things green, get right behind them as a project, support British companies to supply them and give real incentives to buy them. That way the cost of them would come right down as more and more would be produced, bringing production costs down to sensible levels. I hear that there might actually be a move to have them reclassified and impose road tax on e-bikes which would have, disastrously, the opposite effect and make them less desireable and less affordable. Also there are many improvements to battery range, charging times and stability and weight still to be introduced before I'm prepared to part with my cash. Having said that just picture the scene in the not too distant future: a visitor coming to Tonbridge sees the queue of traffic and thick smog all along Tonbridge High Street. He (or she) diverts to one of the new Park and Ride sites over on Canon Lane and at Mabeldon and Shipbourne Road on the outskirts of town. He parks up and within a couple of minutes is whizzing effortlessly into the town centre on their snazzy new electric hybrid pedal assist folding sports bike laughing at the stressed out car drivers, who are still snaking their way along the High Street in the hopeless belief that they'll still be able to get a parking space at Tonbridge Sainsbury's. So there you have it my new business idea: Mr. E-Bikes!...