Because these e-bikes are rented out for long distances almost every day, it made sense in comparison with cars FI. But the cycling was mostly for leasure, so again an additional waste of resources in comparison with renting a traditional bike. Fact, most people want comfort and are too lazy to be on a normal bike. Comfort creates waste and reduces personal physical proof of work.
Your point that you flew to the conference because you find it important is the exact ethical question everyone should ask themselves. Do i waste more resources and pollute our spaceship earth for future generations or not? Is it worth it?
Most people have no clue of the actual impact. So the only way to go about this is education and less free money on credit. When the cheap financing of all the junk e-bikes on payment plans for people stop, less will be bought. At least we would see less waste in the Netherlands because government incentives gave almost everyone an e-bike with a payment plan that was extremely cheap. Now everyone is on an e-bike while before the people were on traditional bikes. A huge nett negative for the environment… FYI. Picture below of the fire safe concrete battery charging vault I designed and built back then. Fully charged with solar. 
