
Lots of reason here! I am a female senior citizen, 62 and have always loved to ride my bike. I promised myself, when i did get older, i would go green. I lived in the center of Santa Cruz where it is easy to get to just about anything i may need. Well... we all know, sh=== happens and things change. I have always been healthy, independant, smart and capable. Now several factors add into my life. I have rhumatoid arthritis and my right knee is deteriating and I fell last year and broke it. So i find it hard to walk very far and many times need a walker or cane. I have moved away from my easy access house to San Diego, where i live up a few big hills. I have not renewed my drivers license and have no car, and continued riding my bike. It was hard, but I have never given up. I started researching gas and electric bikes and this is what i find. I could only find one gas bike that was a step thru or womans bike, and the step-thru was not as low as I required. I can loose my balance sometimes fall when getting on a bike if the step is too high. I also, can loose my balance due to several unforseen factors and when i do, I would not like to have a gas tank that could leak, causeing a fire hazard or having the gas chemical "burn me". Since i still have one good knee, i can use it more than the other to peddal, but as i get older, get very tired. So the electric assist is perfect. If the hill is too big, or i go thru a section of town where i cant ride, I have my bike to hold on to, to keep my balance. I can ride a long way now, but I can't walk very far. So you see, the electric bike keeps me independant. I haul my groceries and other supplies I need and I stay independant. Some days, I use the electricity more than others. I keep well exercised and still take care of my knee. Not bad.