Ryan Hersh’s 4-mile commute from Kirkwood to Emory University took him over an hour. Ryan and his wife had just had their first child and he wanted to spend less time in traffic and more time with those he loved. He just knew there had to be a better way. So, to cut down on time spent in his car, Ryan switched from four wheels to two – and an idea was born for a local business that would revolutionize our daily commutes.
“I love the feeling you get skipping the traffic,” said Ryan. “But Atlanta’s heat, hills and humidity were a barrier to my commute, and for many of my coworkers.”
Then a lightbulb went off. Ryan decided that a better option was an electric bike so he could get the best of both worlds – something quicker than sitting in gridlock traffic but without the fatigue of a regular bike. Unsatisfied with the price of the options available at the time, Ryan set out to build a better electric bike. He selected top quality materials and integrated the battery into the body of the bike, all with the goal of making commuting easier, faster and more affordable – and, dare we say, fun.
Once he built the perfect design for himself, he established Edison Electric Bike Co., hoping to transform Atlanta’s mobility landscape by shifting the perception of bicycles from recreational exercise to daily transportation.
“I want to give commuters an edge,” Ryan said. Now, 5 years later, Ryan still works to encourage other metro Atlanta commuters to consider switching to a cleaner, more efficient commute option.
This Biketober, Edison is partnering with Georgia Commute Options to encourage you to get out and get biking! Participants who register by September 30, 2019 will be entered for a chance to win an Edison bike. Register now at ATLBikeChallenge.com.