Eleven months ago, as the calendar E-Bikes rolled over to 2023, both self-driving cars and e-bikes were gaining momentum, particularly in San Francisco. Cruise and Waymo’s robotaxis were navigating the city’s streets, and e-bike sales were soaring, as highlighted by a January headline in the local Streetsblog website: “San Franciscans Are Buying E-Bikes Like Never Before.”
Fast forward a year, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. The once-promising self-driving car companies are now grappling with challenges from investors, skeptical residents, and regulators who suspended Cruise’s driverless permit after a serious crash and alleged cover-up.
E-Bikes
In contrast, e-bikes have thrived in 2023, experiencing robust sales despite a slowdown in the overall bike industry. Governments are now supporting this trend, with states and cities launching rebate programs, opening parks to e-bike riders, and establishing “e-bike libraries” for residents to try them out.
If the trajectory of 2023 continues, it appears that the unassuming e-bike, rather than the flashy self-driving car, may reshape American transportation.
The autonomous vehicle industry, once considered unstoppable, faced warning signs in October 2022 with the folding of AV company Argo.ai and concerns about safety on public roads. As 2023 unfolded, self-driving companies encountered an unprecedented public campaign against them, triggered by requests from Waymo and Cruise to deploy unlimited robotaxis in San Francisco. Despite winning the regulatory battle in August, the safety argument crumbled in October with a hit-and-run involving a Cruise robotaxi, leading to a suspension of Cruise’s driverless permit and a nationwide halt to operations.
Looking ahead, rising interest rates and automaker labor costs may make investors wary of financing rapid expansions in the self-driving sector. Meanwhile, e-bikes present a viable alternative without the existential concerns associated with autonomous vehicles. With e-bikes outselling electric cars in the U.S., gaining public support, and enjoying government incentives, it seems that e-bikes, with their proven use cases, will continue to revolutionize how Americans travel in 2024 and beyond.
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