The Rise of the Electric Scooter • Hacker News Board

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#221

Post by e40 » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:15 PM UTC

clairity wrote: post #54

mips_avatar wrote: post #39

I recently bought a Boosted rev and have been using it for my 1.8 miles commute. I strongly disagree with the author's 15mph limit. I think 25 mph is a more reasonable limit, otherwise you have cars aggressively trying to pass you on roads. At 24 mph (my scooters max speed), the cars on my commute (25mph speed limit), still try to pass me sometimes but it's a lot safer.

25 mph makes sense on the road (same with pedal-assist electric bikes), but on sidewalks 15 mph is definitely fast enough given the small wheels and lack of a suspension. even what look like small cracks/potholes can throw you off the scooter if you’re not paying attention.

It's illegal most places to ride them on the sidewalk.

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#222

Post by staz » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:15 PM UTC

jhayward wrote: post #189

throw0101a wrote: post #70

Perhaps it's because I have a motorcycle, but every time I come across the word "scooter" what comes to mind is a Vespa-like vehicle. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter#Vehicles * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick_scooter * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_(motorcycle) I'm curious about the etymology for each type, and how both ended up using the same word.

What noun would you suggest be used?

In (belgian) French we use "mobilette" or "scooter" for the vespa-like ones. and "trottinette" for the kick-like ones

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#223

Post by cbm-vic-20 » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:20 PM UTC

Goronmon wrote: post #186

molodec wrote: post #180

Ok, I understand that there is a lot of benefits to electric scooters. They are fun, convenient, and allow to navigate quickly, and great for the environment, or at least better than cars. Why not driving regular bicycles? Obesity is a growing problem, because people don't exercise enough. Mechanical bicycle is a great low impact activity for modern life. Also, bicycles aren't generally allowed on a sidewalk, but I h…

Why not driving regular bicycles? Where do you put the bicycle when you get where you need to go?

I take it with me. On the train, restaurants, market, work, etc. I don't own a bike lock.

https://www.brompton.com/

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#224

Post by frankus » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:20 PM UTC

aleph4 wrote: post #210

molodec wrote: post #180

Ok, I understand that there is a lot of benefits to electric scooters. They are fun, convenient, and allow to navigate quickly, and great for the environment, or at least better than cars. Why not driving regular bicycles? Obesity is a growing problem, because people don't exercise enough. Mechanical bicycle is a great low impact activity for modern life. Also, bicycles aren't generally allowed on a sidewalk, but I h…

Also, it turns out all those batteries are not exactly eco-friendly.

If you're truly replacing bike trips (and the cyclist isn't eating or showering* more than they would riding a scooter), then the scooter is less eco-friendly.

If you're also replacing an occasional car trip, the scooter is likely a net win (an electric car has something like 300-500 scooter batteries in it).

*The energy used by a single hot shower will get you most of the way to LA (from San Francisco) on a scooter.

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#225

Post by jdietrich » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:21 PM UTC

frabbit wrote: post #202

crimsonalucard wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Get a brompton.

Or a Bike Friday Pakit https://www.bikefriday.com/folding-bikes/product/bike-friday...

The Brompton is really the only game in town for urban folding bikes. Uniquely, the Brompton locks into a compact and balanced package that can be comfortably carried in one hand. If you opt for a model with a pannier rack (or buy an EazyWheels kit) the folded bike can be pulled around like a wheeled suitcase. There are lots of good folding bikes, but only one good folded bike.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cepoV17TH-A

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#226

Post by ACow_Adonis » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:22 PM UTC

reneherse wrote: post #157

tick_tock_tick wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have the deal with the bike afterwords. Go for brunch in the mission and your friends are going back to the outer sunset with a scooter just fold it up and put it in the car with a bike either hope it's there when you get back, bike all the way, or go home then head over alone.

For people who are REALLY into bikes, a "rinko bike" helps with this. For general use however, I'm convinced about using a scooter as described above by the GGP.

I've just bought the xootr, will see how it goes. But part of the rationale for trying it (as opposed to my bike) is that I wouldn't feel too self- conscious about taking the scooter onto public transport during rush hour.

It's all marginal, but when it's standing room only, the extra space taken up by the folding bikes is just eeking that little bit more into the "socially unacceptable dick- move" category. Might not be applicable if you're not in place where public transport gets that busy, but definitely a consideration here.

Plus my hope is the ability to carry it easily one handed, and store it under (or leaving it standing vertically) my desks at both work and at home (as opposed to my bike, which resides underground in the garage), and that i can conceivably ride it in a suit.

Plus, I can access both sidewalks and paths and roads (which is a legal consideration here)

As I said, we'll see how it goes...but it seems to make sense on paper...

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#227

Post by Blackstone4 » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:23 PM UTC

monk_e_boy wrote: post #167

Blackstone4 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that it’s sad that e-scooters are banned in the UK. I take the train to work and I have ~20mins of waking either end (1 hr 20 mins per day total). An electric scooter could save me ~40 mins per day.... Why are electric scooters banned when e-bikes are fine? What if they were capped at 20mph? Below the 25 for bikes

I doubt the police would stop you. I can't believe you won't use one if it saves that much time! Be brave!

I've only just started this commute so I'm thinking about it.... if I figure out that I can't get away with it then I'm stuck with a useless piece of kit.

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#228

Post by ProfessorLayton » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:29 PM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #211

ProfessorLayton wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but that .5mi "10 minute walk" tuns into 20 minutes both ways, adding tons of time (as a % of commute) to the door-to-door travel times.

If you need to shave 20 specific minutes off your daily activities, I suggest finding a new job.

Those "20 specific minutes" are roughly 1/4th of the average 2-way commute time in the Bay Area [1] and even more than that nationwide.

I suggest getting off that high horse.

[1] https://abc7news.com/traffic/study-bay-area-commutes-fourth-...

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#229

Post by zemvpferreira » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:33 PM UTC

molodec wrote: post #180

Ok, I understand that there is a lot of benefits to electric scooters. They are fun, convenient, and allow to navigate quickly, and great for the environment, or at least better than cars. Why not driving regular bicycles? Obesity is a growing problem, because people don't exercise enough. Mechanical bicycle is a great low impact activity for modern life. Also, bicycles aren't generally allowed on a sidewalk, but I h…

Concerned people have collectively been banging the ride-more-bicycles drum for decades. It hasn't worked. It doesn't even matter why, it's obvious at this point that commuters at large won't use them given a powered alternative. Why keep butting our head against that wall instead of supporting something people will actually use?

(I commuted via bike for years and as fun as it is it's beyond impractical. Parking, heat, rain, hills etc etc.)

Re: The Rise of the Electric Scooter

#230

Post by ed312 » Thu, Sep 12, 2019, 10:38 PM UTC

mikestew wrote: post #213

realdlee wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how do you like the Rev?

The only disappointment is the range. If I hammer it in "ludicrous mode" on the eight mile ride to work, with at least one significant hill, I arrive at work at 10% remaining. OTOH, toning it down a bit could just about get me round trip. If I lived somewhere flat (I'm in the Seattle area) I'd come a lot closer to advertised. Hills kill my Leaf's range, too. I just keep a spare charger at work, and don't worry about…

Also love the Rev - but rumor is it uses electricity to ebrake below 5mph. I generally just put my foot down at that point to come to a stop (or use the mechanical brake)