If good infrastructure is in place, like it happens in the Netherlands, e-bikes are not all upsides. From personal experience, I have identified a few problems.
(a) speed = reduced reaction time. No more riding with your headphones on ---that's pretty safe and common to do in the Netherlands--- as you need all your senses on alert to react on any road emergency. (b) speed = less excercise for short-midrange routes. Your 20' bicycle ride to work becomes a 12' e-bike ride, and requires less effort. (c) speed = more room to be an asshat. Most e-bike riders behave, but as more and more youngsters can afford an e-bike, things change. Worse, youngsters often go for those heavy, fat-tire e-bikes that are just as dangerous to crash with as a regular moped. And just wait until those become popular with the (already annoying) bicycle-riding tourists.
But to be fair, an e-bike can also pay of its purchase within a year in cities with high rent prices. This includes Amsterdam.
(a) speed = reduced reaction time. No more riding with your headphones on ---that's pretty safe and common to do in the Netherlands--- as you need all your senses on alert to react on any road emergency. (b) speed = less excercise for short-midrange routes. Your 20' bicycle ride to work becomes a 12' e-bike ride, and requires less effort. (c) speed = more room to be an asshat. Most e-bike riders behave, but as more and more youngsters can afford an e-bike, things change. Worse, youngsters often go for those heavy, fat-tire e-bikes that are just as dangerous to crash with as a regular moped. And just wait until those become popular with the (already annoying) bicycle-riding tourists.
But to be fair, an e-bike can also pay of its purchase within a year in cities with high rent prices. This includes Amsterdam.