Hunker Junker Chronicles: E-Biking in the Fall-UP Michigan with Old Cars, and the Race Against Winter (AI Can't Touch This Car)

Biking around is always fun, but when life gets busy, finding time to ride can be a challenge. Then your Hunker Junker decides to take another vacation at the repair shop, and suddenly, you're a man with places to go and no four-wheeled transportation.

So, I dragged out the e-bike.

(Illustrative Only)
There was a time
when we walked up
hill both ways,
when you had 
hand me down
clothing, and
people made much of
their own stuff. 
Be happy you 
have an e-bike.
🙃 

I'd pulled it out a while ago to tinker with it, update a few things, and make sure everything was working properly. Now I've been riding it around for the past day or so, and honestly, it's not bad. It just takes a little more time. A trip that normally takes 10 or 15 minutes by car can take around half an hour on the e-bike. It's transportation, exercise, and a minor scheduling inconvenience all rolled into one.

Then there's the weather. It's getting cooler, so you have to dress for the occasion. Low 50's in the AM. Gloves, wind protection, and a little preparation go a long way. Riding an e-bike is somewhat like riding a motorcycle, except you're traveling slower and doing more of the work yourself. At least you don't need to worry about finding a gas station.

Escanaba and Gladstone are developing some nice bike trails and lanes, including a new downtown bike lanes. You can ride between the communities and see people out biking. There are still roads I don't particularly enjoy, especially those without a proper shoulder. When I see cars coming up behind me, I try to stay clear and ride safely. I even fixed my mirror, so now I can see what's coming before it becomes a surprise.

One of the best things about biking is being outdoors. You notice things you might miss while driving. You take a more deliberate route, stop at the grocery store, and experience the community at a slower pace. With the e-bike assistance, I don't feel particularly tired, either.

I've also learned something about battery management. Level 3 assistance seems to work well for longer trips because I'm still doing about half the pedaling. Turn it up to level 5, though, and that battery starts disappearing faster than money at a car dealership. Level 5 is fine for shorter rides, but if you have several places to go, level 3 is probably the way to go.

As for the Hunker Junker, I need to call the shop and ask them to actually fix it this time. It's a 1985 Buick Riviera, so it isn't connected to the internet, AI, or anything else that might send me a notification saying, "Your vehicle has decided to stop cooperating." Nor will it turn on me and attack me when the Terminator becomes the real thing! It's just an old school car, and that's part of the appeal.

(Illustrative Only)
This car
is the destroyer
of wallets. 
My 1985 Buick
Riviera is not
sophisticated enough
to keep running
consistently, let alone
write its own code.
It does have basic
dummy lights. If
they work.🤷

Sure, I think about buying a newer vehicle. But then I consider making payments for five years at today's interest rates, on top of the high price of cars. The last car I had was hit by a deer, and the insurance paid off the remaining loan, taking all its long term value away. That wasn't exactly the return on investment I had in mind.

So, for now, I'm sticking with the Hunker Junker. E-biking is fine while the weather cooperates, If I'm lucky only a few days needed but if I'm unlucky I'm looking for a new car. We will see. Hopefully, the old Riviera will be repaired, running properly, and ready to carry me through the winter—without taking another unexpected vacation at the shop.

E-Bikes: Transportation, Health, and Community Development

• E-bikes provide an alternative to cars, supporting mobility, health, and environmental sustainability.

• Incentive programs can make e-bikes more affordable and accessible.

• E-bikes may reduce transportation-related carbon emissions.

• They encourage cycling over longer distances and expand access to active transportation.

• Communities such as Escanaba could explore e-bikes to support downtown development, recreation, and sustainable transportation.

Portland State University Transportation Research and Education Center. (n.d.). E-bike research. https://trec.pdx.edu/e-bike-research