Pietzo's Happy Riders
Why People Love Their Pietzo Electric Bicycle
Debbie in Arizona; Rides a Pietzo Zephyr
“Riding is believing and once you get on one of these bikes, you’ll fall in love with it immediately. I’m an avid biker and love the outdoors so I take my Pietzo everywhere I go. I love the portability of my Zephyr and it takes me just a few seconds to fold up the bike and throw it into the trunk of my Chevy Malibu. I run errands with my Pietzo, take it along on business trips and even up to Sedona. On weekends, I’ll ride on the Greenbelt that runs through the center of Scottsdale. Using it as a conventional bike I get a great workout but I do shift into the electric mode to give me an extra boost on the hills or if I’m getting tired after putting on the miles. The Pietzo ride is smooth, very quiet and keeps my posture upright and comfortable as opposed to having to lean forward over the handlebars as is the case with some bikes. I’d have to say that I’m a person who likes to be on the forefront of things and this bike, with it’s unique look, gets people’s interest. Its the best birthday present I ever gave myself!”
Kent in Boston; Loves his Pietzo
Kent commutes to work 13 miles a day, each way, twelve months a year, from the Boston suburbs to the Seaport District downtown.
“One of the strengths of the Pietzo electric bike is that it’s so sturdy and solid for winter riding. I’ve been an avid bike rider for years but with my Trek commuting in adverse weather was out of the question. The Pietzo holds the road in snow, rain, on wet leaves, ice – you name it. I would say riding electric takes 50% less energy than riding a conventional bike so less exertion at the beginning and end of my day is a huge plus. At work, I’ll park the Pietzo in the bike rack in our building and bring the battery into my office if it needs a charge. I work, it charges, I’m ready to hop on and pedal home to make dinner for my wife. People think I’m a bit crazy to continue my bicycle commute day in and day out but to me the commitment to the environment and to my fitness is an important part of my life. Now that I have Pietzo, I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Jeff in Belmont; His Pietzo Replaces the Need for a Second Car
“My wife and I have made a conscious decision not to have more than one car for the family because of the ecological implications and the expense. I like the fact that I don’t waste a lot of resources getting to work and the Pietzo electric bike helps me to do an environmentally-friendly commute more days of the year. An added benefit is that I can skip the thousands of dollars of expenses associated with owning and operating an automobile. Between the conventional bicycles I already own and the Pietzo, I can bike to work 95% of the time. I speed by the stressed commuters stuck in their cars at a red light and feel great that I’m the one arriving at work refreshed with a smile on my face. The ride on the Pietzo electric bike is perfect for urban commuting; it’s extremely maneuverable with a low center of gravity that makes it easy to get on and off, maneuver around obstacles and go over curbs. The gear range makes it very easy to get up hills. With the electric assist I don’t get tired on the commute and don’t have to build in time for a shower or changing clothes when I get to work. People ask me about the electric bike and I get a lot of looks. People notice something is different when they see me zipping along and not pedaling - it catches their attention, especially when they see the smile the Pietzo puts on my face.”
Chris in Cambridge; Rides a Pietzo Zephyr
Chris works at a high-tech company in Cambridge, MA, near Kendall Square, and commutes 12 miles round trip.
“Cambridge combines all of the reasons that you would want to ditch a car. Bike lanes on many streets and the 11-mile Minuteman Commuter Bikeway connecting to the burbs. My commute is about 20 minutes on my Pietzo Zephyr and takes a bit longer riding home because I ride into the wind and up hills. Before my electric bike, I would take the “T” (public transport) and that took at least 40 minutes on a good day. I also tried a regular bike that wiped me out before I got to work, particularly on windy days. Saving money was a big factor in the decision to purchase the electric bike. I eliminated the expense of buying a “T” pass and paying for parking at Alewife station. To say nothing of gas and all the other costs of driving a car. Now, we’ll never have a need to buy a second car. The Pietzo is my commuting vehicle while the car is there for driving the kids around, the big grocery run and weekend trips. Very cool that the Zephyr folds and can be stowed in the back of my car. I wasn't expecting the bike to have such a "wow" factor with other people. Everywhere I go, people stop me, ask questions and want to try it. They always come back with a big grin and “get it” right away. I’ll admit, I’m a big fan.”
Jan’s a Teacher; Riding a Pietzo is Her Fitness Routine
“I used to commute by driving my car five miles on the highway. Now, I ride my Zephyr folding electric bike, take back roads and get to work in less time. No worries about traffic back ups or road construction. Once I arrive, I don’t have to waste time or money on parking. I take the Pietzo right into the building, up the elevator and keep the bike in the back room behind my office. I find that when you’re biking you feel more like you are part of the world around you. As I ride through town, I see the same people everyday – I wave to the crossing guards. When you drive a car you never make that sort of connection. I’m a teacher in my early fifties, and although I try to exercise regularly, that’s not always easy to build into my busy schedule. Riding the half hour to work, and a half hour back home, I’m good for the day. It’s become part of my fitness routine. In the first six weeks that I rode, I noticed that I was losing weight without even trying – now that’s an added bonus! When I started the electric bike commute, I would take a change of clothes thinking I would need to shower and change when I got to work. But honestly, in most weather, I arrive sweat-free so now all that I throw in the basket on the front of my bike is my pocket book, a lunch and some paperwork for the day. My life has been simplified, and, maybe best of all, my co-workers think I’m cool!”
Patty; Rides the commuter rail with her Zephyr
“Getting to work from the South Shore, the Zephyr electric bike is perfect for riding the commuter rail during rush hour. In fact, the folding bike is the only one allowed on the train during rush hour because of its compact size. Using the bike to ride from home to the train in the morning saves me wear and tear on the car and the daily parking fee. The electric power assist is a huge plus in riding the hills on the way to the station. Once at South Station, I don’t need to wait for a connecting train as I did in the past. I unfold the bike and I’m out of the station riding the one mile from South Station to Back Bay. All in all, it takes almost an hour off my round trip commute. I love the electric power – that way I don’t have to worry which route to take – or changing clothes when I get to work! Besides saving time and money on my commute, the bike is perfect for beach vacations – or just making a quick trip to the corner store. My husband loves it too!
Sylvia in Boston; Takes Her First Ride
“My first impression when I encountered the Pietzo was one of skepticism. This was an electric bike? I had always thought that electric bikes were large, ungainly and bulky. This bike, however, hides its electric turbo charge in the guise of a small discreet box behind the seat – only the most keen observer would ever be able to notice. Zooming off from the South End into the November sunset, I rode along the Riverway into Brookline, grabbed some dinner at Anna’s Taqueria, and made a pit stop for some groceries at Trader Joe’s in Coolidge Corner. I was able to get everything done fast and conveniently. I appreciated the bike’s pick-up as it was able to pull away at intersections, sometimes even faster than the cars I was riding next to. I also came to love the extra boost I got riding up long hills. It happened to be a cold evening but I can only imagine how great this bike will be to commute with during the warm summer months. Wouldn’t you agree that arriving at work without being doused in a profuse sweat is a major bonus? Overall, this bike is easy on the eyes, great for your wallet, and even better for the environment. In the future, when someone asks you what you ride, tell them you ride electric!”
Patrick at Wellesley College; The Sustainability Director
“My overall goal as head of the sustainability initiatives is to lower energy consumption and get Wellesley College as greenhouse gas emissions neutral as possible. The idea in bringing the electric bicycles to campus was to get people who would not normally bike to give it a try. Currently, we have the electric bicycles in use by the trades (facilities) organization and our campus police. For the trades’ guys, who are constantly moving around campus, the electric bicycles get them out of the truck and they don’t have to worry about parking on their calls. We purchased panniers with the bikes so carrying a small toolkit works very well. As the Pietzo electric bicycles are seen around campus, they are a visible demonstration of Wellesley’s commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
My larger goal in the sustainability office is educate and inspire our students who will go out and make a difference in the world. Bringing alumna and trustees into the mindset of “thinking green” is also important. Long term, my generation is not the one that will solve the environmental problem. We’ve had some amazing graduates at Wellesley that have gone on to change the world. The students coming through now will make that difference for the health of our planet.”
