What is pedal assist mode and why is it necessary? Is it a safety thing?
A Pedal assist mode on electric bicycles means that the bicycle’s electric motor only operates while you are pedalling. It is a great little innovation as it allows you to operate the bicycle’s motor with your feet and therefore don’t need to operate a throttle. This leaves your hands free to hold onto the handlebar properly, use the brakes etc. The other good thing about pedal assist mode is that riders can discipline themselves to always pedal, gaining more exercise and getting a longer range from the battery. However, in our opinion mandatory pedal assist is a mistake. There are many reasons why a rider might want to operate the motor without pedalling. This includes a roundabout, when your pedals will hit the ground if you are pedalling while turning yet you still might need the motor to maintain the speed at which you entered the roundabout. You might also have an injured leg, a bad hip etc. Furthermore, pedal assist can catch riders by surprise by engaging the motor when they wer
