For people who cannot drive, getting around can be expensive, difficult and isolating, especially in areas with steep terrain and limited public transport.
E-bikes are proving to be a game-changer, offering newfound independence and affordability.
Central Coast resident Bridgette knows this challenge well.
Living in a hilly and remote part of the region, she has long relied on costly taxi services or the generosity of friends to reach essential places like the supermarket.
But with the help of a new e-bike from West Gosford’s Coastal Electric Bikes, her situation is about to change.
“I’ve done the research together with friends, and a good quality bike will allow me to get to the
supermarket and perhaps even the beach,” she said.
Bridgette lives with a disability that prevents her from driving, but she is able to ride a bike.
The issue, however, has always been the terrain.
“I find myself unable to go the distance myself,” she said.
E-bikes offer an ideal solution, providing assisted pedalling that makes hills manageable and longer trips feasible.
The journey to finding the right bike wasn’t easy, but Bridgette found the expertise she needed at Coastal Electric Bikes.
“I’m very excited that Coastal Electric Bikes offered me such good guidance,” she said.
“They have a huge selection and knowledge that I simply could not get online,.”
Bridgette’s story highlights how e-bikes are improving the lives of those who might otherwise be
left without reliable transport.
They offer not just mobility, but a sense of independence, freedom and connection to the community.
Scott Harvey from Coast Electric Bikes said Coasties are becoming big users of E-bike and not just for
sporting purposes; people young and old are coming in to allow them to get to places they never
could in the past.
As e-bikes become more popular, their benefits extend beyond individual users; they reduce
traffic congestion, lower emissions and promote an active lifestyle.
A step in the right direction for sustainable transportation!
There’s a type of public transport often referred to as “first-mile-last-mile” transport. Basically, public transport gets within a mile (1.6 km) of everywhere you everywhere you’re coming or going, and you walk/scooter/bike for the first and last mile. The hope is that under this system, cars are unnecessary for the majority of people – short distances can be covered by walking/scootering/cycling, and long distance journeys can be made on public transport
With our local buses and trains, we’re very close to having a system like this (although the buses to residential areas should run more often). And with every person who hops on a bicycle, we get a little bit closer. I’m lucky that my local bus stop (2 km away) is near a servo with bike racks – this is where the future is 🙂
Now, if only we could take bikes on buses. Maybe we should copy Canberra’s ones, which have racks on the front of the vehicle