re: Opinions on "pedal assisted" bikes

Don't let anyone discourage you. You'll have an absolute blast. Some e-bikes have both class 2 and 3 modes and are a legal gray area. But honestly, I know people that ride class 3 on bike paths with no problem. You just don't want to be wide open at 28mph without breaking a sweat. That will definitely give you away.

If I'm ever within 10-15 bikeable miles from my job, we will probably cut back to one car. My wife works from home, and estimates of car ownership for vehicle, insurance, gas, maintenance, etc. is often as high as $800 a month. I'd probably buy an e-bike as a commuter to avoid sweating during the summer, and just use the car in bad weather.