Is it safe that way? How to ride an Japanese electric assisted bicycle safely

Japanese electrically power assisted bicycles are useful for riding on steep hills and transporting children.

However, what is surprisingly unknown is “how to ride an electrically power assisted bicycle safely”.

Riding an electrically power assisted bicycle incorrectly or carelessly can be very dangerous and can lead to a serious accident!

Especially for those who have no experience riding an electrically power assisted bicycle, it is hard to understand how it feels compared to a regular bicycle.

Therefore, we will again explain in detail the original correct and safe way to ride an electrically power assisted bicycle in the following points.

How to ride an electric assist bicycle when starting

To ride an electrically power assisted bicycle safely, the first thing you must pay attention to is “approach riding(approach run)”.

In this method, the rider grips the bicycle handlebars with both hands, puts only one foot on the pedals, and kicks the ground with the other foot to help the bicycle along.

This “approach riding(approach run)” is dangerous not only for electrically power assisted bicycles, but also for regular bicycles, and is not recommended in any case.

It is mainly older people who are “approach riding(approach run)” of bicycles, and many younger generations may not know this way of riding or the term “approach riding(approach run)” itself.

Why is approch running on an electric bicycle dangerous?

So why is approach-running of electrically assisted bicycles so dangerous?

This is because the assist sensor reacts and is activated when a strong load is applied to the pedals.

Electric assisted bicycles in Japan generally use “pedaling force (torque sensor)” and “speed sensor” to detect and control assist.

Therefore, when you ride with one foot on the pedals, the sensor detects the load and speed and activates the assist function.

If the assist is activated while one foot is on the bike, it is very dangerous because there is a great possibility that the driver may lose balance and fall over.

If you have been in the habit of riding with one foot on the bicycle for some time, you should be careful.

When riding an electrically power assisted bicycle for the first time, please be aware of the above.

How to safely ride an electrically power assisted bicycle

There are several precautions to be taken when riding an electrically power assisted bicycle, not only when starting off, but also while riding.

The following three points should be noted while driving.

• Beware of sudden acceleration
• To brake early
• Do not put your foot on the pedal when stopped

If you take care of these riding precautions, you can safely use an electrically power assisted bicycle.

Let us explain one by one.

Is it dangerous to start an electrically power bicycle suddenly?

First, when riding an electrically power assisted bicycle, you need to be careful when starting off.

Pedaling with the force of a normal bicycle may cause a sudden start depending on the running assist mode.

If you are new to riding an electrically power assisted bicycle, we recommend that you set the riding mode to “eco mode or long mode” until you become accustomed to riding.

The riding mode of an electrically power assisted bicycle is a function that can switch the power of the assist depending on the situation, such as a slope.

To brake early

When riding an electrically power assisted bicycle, brake early before stopping, such as at a traffic light.

An electrically power assisted bicycle is a bicycle that is assisted by an “electric motor” in addition to human power.

Therefore, you are often going faster than you think you are and must brake earlier before coming to a stop.

Also, since electrically power assisted bicycles are heavier than conventional bicycles, be careful to brake with more room to spare or not to go too fast on downhill slopes.

Do not put your foot on the pedal when stopped

When stopping temporarily at traffic lights, etc., with an electrically power assisted bicycle, do not put your feet on the pedals, but keep both feet on the ground.

If the pedal is left on the foot, the sensor may detect it at some spur of the moment and start assisting as it is.

This is especially dangerous in areas with pedestrians and heavy traffic.

For this reason, we recommend “small tire” electric bicycles for smaller people and the elderly when they use electric bicycles.

Summary of this article

That’s all for now, in this issue we have explained how to safely ride an electrically power assisted bicycle before and during a ride!

Electric assist bicycles are convenient and comfortable to ride uphill or when carrying a child, but they tend to be ridden in the same way as ordinary bicycles because of their simple-looking structure.

Electric assist bicycles can be easily rented through bicycle sharing services or rental bikes.

If you are a first-time rider of an electrically power assisted bicycle in Japan, this is a great opportunity for you to learn more.

So, have a safe day!