Popularity powers up for electric bikes and scooters

For those looking to explore or just zip around town, a few businesses in Wrangell are offering a new way to take a ride - e-bikes and e-scooters.

E-bikes are powered by rechargeable batteries that allow users to move farther and faster per pedal stroke. E-scooters, on the other hand, require no physical exertion. Powered by a small electric motor, they can reach speeds of around 15 mph while riders stand comfortably on their decks.

Both Wrangell Extended Stay and Breakaway Adventures began renting e-bikes and e-scooters at the beginning of this year's summer season. According to the co-owner of Extended Stay, Lydia Matney, e-bikes are an ideal mode of transportation for tourists, whether they've come to Wrangell on a cruise or to visit family and friends. "It's an easy way to see the city really quick," she explained.

The decision to rent bikes was a response to rising demand, explained Matney. "We always had guests that stayed here who would ask if we had bikes for rent," she said. "We noticed there weren't really any bikes for rent in town."

With three different levels of motor-assistance, e-bikes make outdoor exploration accessible to all, from seasoned cyclists to casual sightseers. Rentals from Extended Stay range from one hour to 48 hours in length, allowing riders to cover large swaths of the island before returning their "vehicles."

Mykayla Rooney, office manager at Breakaway Adventures, has been impressed with the bikes' long battery life. "A couple I know started from the shack, rode out to petroglyphs, went around the airport loop, and went five miles out the road to Rainbow Falls," she said. "They only used about a quarter of the battery."

E-scooters have shorter battery lives than e-bikes, but they offer a smooth, quiet ride, no pedaling necessary.

The e-scooters and e-bikes in town rent at $10 to $25 per hour.

Breakaway's e-bike and scooter rentals have been so successful that the business has decided to order more. Once the new bikes arrive, Breakaway plans to offer e-bike chartered tours around the island.

E-scooters also are available for rent in town from Scoot AK, owned by Aaron Angerman. The business is a finalist in the Path to Prosperity grant competition for small businesses and start-ups in Southeast, sponsored by Spruce Root, a Juneau-based organization dedicated to sustainability and new economic opportunities.

Though most rentals go to tourists who are just getting acquainted with the landscape, a few locals are lacing up their sneakers and hopping on the e-bike and scooter trend.

David McQueen is one of Wrangell's most loyal e-scooter fans. After renting one for the first time on the Fourth of July, McQueen has returned to Breakaway eight times to take one of their scooters for a spin.

The compact, throttle-powered vehicles satisfy his need for speed and allow him to explore downtown. McQueen strongly recommends them, though he cautions potential riders to watch their scooter's battery meter. Scooters are powerful enough to reach out-of-the-way places, but running out of juice a mile from town could make for a long walk.

It's not just rentals powering interest in rechargeables - several people in town have added e-power to their transportation repertoire.

After "tooling around town" on a rented e-bike with a visiting friend, Shirley Wimberley enjoyed her experience so much that she decided to purchase an e-bike of her own. The bike provides her with a means to get outside without putting undue pressure on her ankle, which she broke a year ago. "I still get some exercise, but I can enjoy the ride," she said.

Shipping an e-bike to Wrangell posed a variety of practical problems for Wimberley due to its size and its large batteries. Ultimately though, she feels the purchase was worth jumping through a few logistical hoops, since owning the bike allows her to ride on more remote trails.

"I used to love to ride bikes," she said. "It's nice to get out and do that again."

Would-be renters should take advantage of the town's e-bikes and scooters soon, however. Breakaway and Extended Stay both plan to pause rentals near the end of October, before the weather gets bad, and restart next spring.