Some mail-order e-bikes require assembly, but others don’t. For example, I own two Lectrics, an XPedition and an XPeak. The XPedition came fully-assembled except for some quick-release pedals (that the company spec’d specifically so it’d be even more trivial than screw-in ones), and the XPeak required the same kind of pedals plus putting the front wheel on. If I’m not mistaken, the other bikes that company makes require literally no assembly at all.
Anyway, although I’m sympathetic to the argument of trying to make biking as accessible as possible, I also think there’s a minimum standard of competency required to be considered a functioning adult, and things like being able to remove/reinstall a front wheel on a bike fall well within that. (Frankly, I think all cyclists ought to be able to replace an inner tube – front or rear – just as I think all car drivers ought to be able to put on a spare tire.)
Some mail-order e-bikes require assembly, but others don’t. For example, I own two Lectrics, an XPedition and an XPeak. The XPedition came fully-assembled except for some quick-release pedals (that the company spec’d specifically so it’d be even more trivial than screw-in ones), and the XPeak required the same kind of pedals plus putting the front wheel on. If I’m not mistaken, the other bikes that company makes require literally no assembly at all.
Anyway, although I’m sympathetic to the argument of trying to make biking as accessible as possible, I also think there’s a minimum standard of competency required to be considered a functioning adult, and things like being able to remove/reinstall a front wheel on a bike fall well within that. (Frankly, I think all cyclists ought to be able to replace an inner tube – front or rear – just as I think all car drivers ought to be able to put on a spare tire.)