Independent, The (London): Motoring: A fiver a day? On your bike

Ken Livingstone's congestion charge comes into force in London next week. You will doubtless have heard numerous harebrained tips on avoiding it - everything from fitting your car with reflective number plates to flying in by microlight, or "becoming mayor of London" (nice bit of small print, that, Ken). But with public transport turning into a game of Russian roulette, "two wheels good" seems the apposite mantra.

Commuting by bike is fine and dandy if, like our tester Peter, you are a lithe triathlete, but the last time I rode a bicycle it had stabilisers and spokey-dokeys. Fitness- wise, I make Johnny Vegas look like Steve Ovett, which is why the oddly named Giant Lafree Twist Comfort (widely held to be the best electric bike around) caught my eye. Powered by a state-of- the-art, 24-volt NiMH (nickel) battery, with a range of 20 miles and charge time of 3.8 hours, the Twist Comfort and its ilk could represent the post-Ken future of inner-London commuting.

The Comfort's battery kicks in only when you push the pedals, and it sounds like a sickly washing machine. Barry, at the new E-Bike showroom in London, who lent us the bikes for the test, likens it to having ET in your basket, and he's not far off. It really is a gladdening sensation, like a helpful shove from a higher power. Hills are more of a challenge than you'd expect, but you only have to switch the motor off to realise how arduous real cycling is - it feels as if you've ridden into a toffee swamp.

As Monica points out, the fact that you can sit back and (mostly) let the battery do the work vastly improves the cycling experience. Cheap to run, effortless to ride and wonderfully comfortable, I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more of these on the streets of London. Got yours yet, Ken?

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: pounds 1,069

Engine: 24V NiMH battery (360W)

Performance: top speed 15mph; comparable to about 1,000mpg

CO2: less than a bike, more than walking

Also worth considering: Heinzmann Estelle, Powabyke, the Zap range, Sinclair C5

Sally Ashby, 26, researcher, from Lancaster Gate, west London. Drives a VW Golf

"The Tube is going to get absolutely ghastly when the congestion charge starts, so I am thinking about an alternative, but I'd probably spend pounds 500 on a normal bike and get some exercise. Or I'd be tempted to spend pounds 1,000 on a second-hand scooter. But a grand is a lot of money for a bicycle. I thought it would be more powerful than it was, but the good thing is that you don't arrive at work all sweaty; it takes the exhausting part out of cycling. Still, there is the thing about safety. I like to listen to music, have a cigarette and feel safe in my car; the traffic in London is pretty scary for cyclists."

Peter Flett, 37, marketing director, from Ladbroke Grove, west London. Rides a bike

"It's lovely for hanging out on, but underpowered - it was quite hard work to get to the top of Notting Hill. I've just been in China, where these things are all the rage - they're a real status symbol there. But you can't really do anything quickly on it; it's not the most agile bike. And even with electric power, people are still going to be scared of riding in London traffic. It is well priced, between a good mountain bike at pounds 600 and a scooter at a couple of thousand, but I'd be embarrassed to turn up to a meeting on one. Fine for trundling about on, but not a serious cross-city bike."

Monica Sapio, 24, student, from Italy, living in west London. Rides a bike

"It's really nice, you just don't feel the gradients. It's so easy, especially when you start off. You get the chance to enjoy cycling, you can relax and look around, but you do still get some exercise. It's very comfortable. I have a back problem, but this was easy for me and I'd imagine that it would be good for older people. It's like a half-scooter, half-bike, and not that expensive compared to a scooter. Serious cyclists wouldn't like it, but it's good for people who pedal occasionally. Cycling in London can be very stressful, so anything that helps you to relax is good. I'd buy one, if I could afford it, although the styling is not its best point."