[danpalmer]

I was pretty shocked at how expensive they are in London too. Our public transport isn't cheap compared to mainland Europe, but wow there's no chance I'm paying ~£3-5 for a 10-15 minute ride vs £2.90 for a peak tube journey, £1.50 for 90 mins of bus usage, or £2 for 30 minutes on a bike.

[ddalex]

I tested li.me e-bikes in London for the 3 times I had the free start ride (invitee bonus).

The bikes are ok, the electric push helps (you still have to pedal, but it levels out the effort, so going uphill is kind of the same effort as going level), and the convenience of just taking them from wherever and leave them where you feel like is really nice.

But holy shit they are expensive. My commute by bike would be aprox 30 mins, that is 5.5 pounds per ride - the tube is only 2.9 pounds, the bus only 1.5 pounds. A 1-year Santander bike subscription is only 90 pounds, and the ride is almost equally nice.

At 5 pounds per ride, buying a commute scooter would break even in 2 months. To make it worthwhile to ride the electric bikes, the price would have to come in at about half to be somewhere between the tube (which moves you fast, but you have to walk a bit to the station) and bus (which moves slower, but the stations are much closer to your home, usually), at 2.5 pounds per 30 min ride (a bit above Santander which charges 2 pounds per 30 mins, but which are not electric).

[ljf]

When I lived in London (before I got brave/foolish and rode a bike all year round) - I combined a 2nd hand electric scooter and the tube. Scooter was £20 - and in no way would have driven me across London - got a hour tops out of the battery and slowed significantly after 45 mins.

Shooting along to a station and then letting the tube get me the 13 miles across London and then jumping back on the scooter was great.

Downsides:

This wasn't long after the tube bombing and I was stopped a few times to discuss the scooter - was it petrol powered? Was it safe to take on the tube)

It was heavy (this was 2004 and I know they have come a long way)

It wasn't fun in the rain

Stowing it on a train or bus was a hassle (again this was a 2004 model - they likely fold better now)

Had a vague unease that I'd get stopped for either riding on the road or the pavement - potential risks of getting points on your licence.

-

In the end I actually got a Razor push scooter and got nearly the same benefit, but with no charging.

But finally I got a job with room to store bikes, and a shower and never looked back. Far faster than any other option for me, and paid for itself very swiftly (started on a £150 bike, and worked way up to a nicer one in time with the savings I'd made.)