I started bike commuting and paying attention to ebikes in 2021. They were a rarity then, maybe 5% if that of the bikes I saw on local trails/roads. They were so rare that I knew one guy at my university as ebike guy because he was one of two students I saw riding them around campus.
This year ebikes comprise about 15-30% of the bikes I see. Lots of families, old people, and commuters. For reference, the market in Colorado has reached the point where $500 buys you an entry level ebike and $1000 gets a reliable basic commuter. A functioning used car starts at $3000-5000 and you can bike here for like 340 days out of the year while taking the shitty bus otherwise.
It’s a super exciting trend to watch unfold. Each is a car off the road and someone now personally invested in expanding pedestrian infrastructure. This area is so hilly and windy that it sucks to ride a normal bike around, but ebikes make it such a pleasant experience that I’ve barely touched my car since getting one.
The city of Denver has been offering ebike subsidies but means tested and in comically small quantities, like a few hundred at a time.