About our Founder

Joe Borrelli is the founder of EbikeCityZen.com. As a kid, Joe loved riding his bike. He specifically remembers the blue and silver Schwinn he got as a gift in third grade (check out those tube socks). Joe has also always loved cars. As a young adult, he started a career in the automobile service industry that spanned over 25 years. At the end of his career he was the Service and Parts Department Director for entire car dealerships.

Somehow, in his early adult life, Joe stopped riding a bike. Like most people, his career choice, the seeming ease of driving everywhere, and the car-centric nature of our culture as a whole meant the Joe used a car for every trip he took. Even when just going to the store less than a mile away.

After spending 25 years in the automobile service industry, Joe started to notice a change. Automotive consumers were becoming more and more dismayed with car ownership. The cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle began to skyrocket, but consumers felt trapped. They were so used to their car that they didn't even consider other transportation choices. He would lament with customers who found their entire day to be ruined by a minor car repair, because they couldn't fathom any other way to get to their destination while their car was in the shop just for a couple hours. He specifically noted that even though there were dozens of restaurants, shopping opportunities and service business within a 3/4 mile radius of the dealership service department, most people would just sit in the waiting room because they couldn't imagine going without a car. 

After 25 successful years in the automobile industry, Joe decided he wanted to start his own company. He knew that he wanted to get into a field where he could help people, improve society, and make the world a greener place. Being in the transportation industry and seeing the dismay of consumers over the ever rising costs of a car-centric existence, Joe discovered Ebikes. The more he studied Ebikes, the more he was convinced that adopting an Ebike Lifestyle and showing the extreme range of abilities that electric bicycles have to enhance peoples lives was what he wanted to do.

Upon founding EbikeCityZen.com, Joe has been promoting Ebikes as a "mindful transportation choice". Studying car usage patterns and costs, Joe discovered that nearly 70% of all car trips are 7 miles or less - the perfect distance for bicycles. He also discovered some of the main reasons that more people still choose to drive. He found that a lot of people perceived bicycling to be to strenuous - the perfect reason for electrically assisted pedaling! If bicycling were easier, more people might try it. Joe also practices what he preaches. Joe still owns a car (and probably always will), but he uses his car with extreme infrequency. The car is now reserved long trips, when needing to carry something bulky or heavy, or when the weather is extremely poor. He also uses his car when he needs to take his beloved dog, Otter, somewhere (she loves car rides). His first choice for transportation is his Ebike. He uses it for grocery shopping, running errands, getting to business meetings, joining up with friends, and pleasure rides. He rides all over Chicago and the nearby suburbs. He has discovered that there are tons of routes with dedicated bike lanes, car free bike trails, and neighborhood streets that feel very safe to ride. He has not yet found a destination within his city that is not accessible by Ebike (except O'hare airport - not a good place to ride a bike). The more he rides, the more he loves riding. Riding an Ebike really a quite magical and fun way to get around.

Joe also advocates for the environmental aspects of cycling, the health improving benefits of riding, the societal improvements that many cities are experiencing when more people adopt cycling, and the addition of infrastructure that make cities more livable for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists alike. Inclusivity is key. Ebikes open the world of cycling to many more people than traditional bikes. The ease of riding mean that Ebikes are accessible to people of all body types, ages, and fitness levels.

Joe has written, and will continue to publish articles and information about electric bicycles and their ability to help people make mindful transportation choices. Whether for commuting, running errands, or just taking leisurely rides, Ebikes are great choice for many people. 

Under Joe's direction, EbikeCityZen.com has also joined and supports non-profit organizations that align with it's ethos. Joe also makes commitments to donate a portion of every Ebike sold to worthwhile charities.

Joe is also 100% available to answer customer questions. Joe is reachable by phone or text at 773-234-1556 and has a live chat feature on his website that he answers personally.

Join Joe Borrelli in the Ebike Lifestyle today.