Cruise Mode and pedal-free starts: where urban e-bikes are heading

Urban electric bikes are changing fast, and what is coming is not just about more battery, it is about making the city easier. A good example is the Vida E+ EX, the new e-bike from Momentum, Giant’s urban mobility brand, which arrived in 2026 with three genuinely interesting ideas for anyone who gets around by bike every day.

The first is Cruise Mode. It works much like a car’s cruise control: it holds the speed you picked over long stretches without interruption, which lets you shift your hands, ease off the pedalling and ride more relaxed. For anyone doing a long commute both ways, it is one of those details you notice by the second day.

The second is the optional 0-Start function, a throttle that lets you pull away from a standstill without pedalling. It sounds minor until you picture a busy junction, an uphill start, or the usual "stop and go" of a main avenue. Being able to set off safely and without a struggle gives you extra peace of mind.

The third has to do with what happens when you get off the bike: the digital E-Lock. From the RideControl app you can lock and unlock the motor assist, one more layer of protection for anyone leaving their bike parked on the street or at the office.

According to An Le, Giant Group’s global marketing director, the goal with this launch was to make riding in the city feel more natural and more fun. And perhaps that is the underlying trend: cycling as mobility is no longer trying only to be an alternative, but to be the most comfortable option for everyday life.

Whether electric or traditional, the idea is the same: less stress, less traffic and more time outdoors. If you think about it, every journey you make pedalling is also a stretch of your day that belongs to you. And in a city that never stops, that is worth a great deal.