Whether you’ve never ridden a bike or you’re an expert cyclist, prefer road or mountain bikes, bike as your mode of transportation or just do it for fun, Westbrook’s BikeFest is for everyone who wants to learn more about biking.
The annual festival is returning to Rock Row from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday to increase awareness and involvement in bike culture.
Hosted by the oldest bike shop in Maine — Ernie’s Cycle Shop — the festival began as an appreciation party for employees. It quickly grew into a fun festival for the entire biking community with live music, guided bike rides and food trucks.
This year’s festival features an educational forum on e-bikes, hosted by Vision Zero Maine, a citizen-led group of Mainers committed to creating safe streets. Industry experts, law enforcement and elected officials will speak about the difference between e-bikes and e-motos and how each should be used.
Vision Zero Maine’s Paul Drinan, who helped organize BikeFest, hopes to spread awareness that while bikes, including e-bikes, can be used for fun, they’re also a legitimate form of transportation. Many people don’t have a car, including children, seniors, and others who just can’t afford one, he said, and bikes can give them the independence and freedom that other modes of transportation provide. And e-bikes can help people who might need a little extra assistance or aren’t as physically able.
“E-bikes have really been transformative for a lot of people,” Drinan said.
People will be able to try e-bikes at BikeFest.
The rise of e-bikes has created controversy, as people are concerned about speed and safety. But the real issue, Drinan said, is e-motos. E-motos are often labeled as e-bikes, but they can go much faster than an electric bicycle and have more powerful motors. E-bikes are classified into three categories based on features like speed and motor type, but even the fastest can’t exceed 28 mph, while e-motos can reach speeds up to 60 mph.
“It’s a high-powered device that is much more like a motorcycle than a bicycle,” Drinan said.
But people often confuse the two, leading to calls to restrict or ban e-bikes. Those unfair laws or ordinances stem from a lack of education about e-bikes and e-motos, Drinan said, and that’s why he wants to educate parents, children and lawmakers about e-bikes.