ive trees grow abundantly up here, as do paperwhite
narcissus, giant Tangier fennel and the Gibraltar can-
dytuft, our national flower. Yet most of it remains
relatively inaccessible to visitors.
The recently up and running EBike Gibraltar aim
to change this and offer tourists (and non-tourists)
the chance to get right into the heart of the Upper
Rock. With a fleet of premium electric bikes, the
EBike team are the first company in Gibraltar offer-
ing vehicular carbon-free guided excursions into the
impressively well-maintained Nature Reserve.
With a maximum of 10 cyclists per group, tour-
ists will be led on an exploratory ride around and
up the Rock to sites only previously accessible by
foot. With enough electrical power to allow even
the most novice of cyclists to navigate the steep
hills that take you over 400 metres above sea level,
the tour will encompass all the historical sites and
attractions that play such a significant part of Gibral-
tar’s heritage. And obviously includes the compulso-
ry visit to the apes!
My exhilaration on both ascent and decent has
122
me convinced: assisted cycling allows people of all
levels of fitness to experience both the euphoria and
endorphins of a fast-paced cycle ride, at the same
time as comfortably enjoying a historical tour in
beautiful surroundings. And all at a steep incline!
It’s no surprise that latest research shows e-bike
users getting seven times more use out of their bikes
than regular cyclists. And they now outsell tradition-
al bicycles in the Netherlands - a country that has
always taken its cycling very seriously.
In a place like Gibraltar, where there are as many
motor vehicles as people, the use of e-bikes could
play a significant role in improving air quality as well
as easing traffic congestion and noise pollution.
Like the ubiquitous smartphone, ebikes are not
cheap. But they may prove to be just as useful. A high
quality ebike can bring years of happy, emission free
personal transportation. And let’s face it, any invest-
ment which leads to less road pollution, especially in
Gibraltar, is a breath of fresh air for everyone.
E-bike Gibraltar will soon be selling their
high-quality electric bikes from premises in Gib.
OTWO 01 / AUGUST 2019