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E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

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Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#181

Post by Lio »

tentboy wrote: post #40
jdavis703 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes and there’s an analogy here between car commuters and car racers. We don’t expect “normal” car drivers to wear helmets. But professional racers absolutely wear helmets. Even in the case of commuters, a helmet could save your life in an accident. For any drivers who thinks bike commuters need helmets, I would encourage you to also get car helmets for you and your loved ones: https://www.amazon.com/RaceQuip-253116-…

This is a terrible argument it is not a one to one comparison. If you are shunted in the rear on the way to work in your car you might have a inconvenient morning and an insurance claim. If the same thing happens on your bike you could quite literally die from a head injury. I skated for a long time and didn't wear a helmet because of comfort/looks. I've become a bit more wise since and won't share the road with cars…

If you get “shunted” from behind by an SUV, 3cm of expanded polystyrene foam is going to make FA difference to the outcome.

Bike helmets are designed for low speed crashes NOT involving vehicles.

Now I still wear one myself but I don’t fool myself that doing so brings me any protection from someone driving an SUV who thinks they’ll be late getting to a 24 supermarket if don’t just squeeze by me.

It’s like putting an oven glove on an egg and hitting it with a hammer.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#182

Post by meej »

carapace wrote: post #71

Just wanted to point out the "GeoOrbital" wheel. It's an all-in-one battery-motor-wheel that can replace the front wheel of most conventional bikes in a minute or two. Presto! New eBike. https://www.geoo.com/ (Hmm, I can't reach their site at the moment.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeoOrbital

I have one of these and I really really liked it until the motor started cutting out while pressing the throttle. Sent it in for repairs twice, got a new ebike while waiting for them to send it back the second time. It was great for the 9 months it lasted, though.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#183

Post by teslaberry »

the unspoken truth: ebikes' biggest upside is that you dont need insurance licenses and no red light cameras.

once you put them into the 'fully regulated'category they lose a lot of their appeal..though not all.

america and europe are not free. they are expensive prison traps. the saving grace is unlike the developing world where there is a lot of opprtunity....you at elast have the rule of lawyers and excess capital in the west. guaranteeing a long slow decline instead of an otherwise precipitous and politically rapid demise.

its not as if the whole lacks ebikes. they are not that 'high tech' anymore.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#184

Post by meej »

milkytron wrote: post #93

For those who have e-bikes, what are your thoughts on riding them without the motor assistance? Is it heavy and difficult? Do they have battery regeneration from breaking? I've been on the fence about getting one, and normally ride a crappy hybrid bike to and from work every day, which an e-bike would be useful for. But I also do 40+ mile trips on weekends and am afraid that if the battery dies, I'll be lugging a hea…

It is heavy and difficult. Regenerative braking is rare. The GeoOrbital Wheel (which converts a regular bike to an electric bike by swapping out the front wheel) does charge the battery when you're not using the throttle.

Why not use both? E-bike for commuting and regular bike for fun? Or why not get a spare battery to carry on long rides just in case?

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#185

Post by Lio »

Lio wrote: post #181
tentboy wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a terrible argument it is not a one to one comparison. If you are shunted in the rear on the way to work in your car you might have a inconvenient morning and an insurance claim. If the same thing happens on your bike you could quite literally die from a head injury. I skated for a long time and didn't wear a helmet because of comfort/looks. I've become a bit more wise since and won't share the road with cars…

If you get “shunted” from behind by an SUV, 3cm of expanded polystyrene foam is going to make FA difference to the outcome. Bike helmets are designed for low speed crashes NOT involving vehicles. Now I still wear one myself but I don’t fool myself that doing so brings me any protection from someone driving an SUV who thinks they’ll be late getting to a 24 supermarket if don’t just squeeze by me. It’s like putting an…

Just incase anyone wonders why I wear a helmet when I think they’re as useless as “anti-volcano spray”, it’s because they make my head a more aerodynamic shape.

A quick look a Strava’s stats will show you that even weak club cyclists like me, living somewhere pretty flattish, can already cruise about at over 20mph pretty easily.

Pedal assist ebikes just expand that ability to a wider number of people.

Just look at the number of people who regularly crash in amateur crit races.

We generally survive non-vehicle related crashes at these speeds pretty well and people on ebikes will too.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#187

Post by riversflow »

meej wrote: post #173
riversflow wrote: post #138

This is a fantasy in the US, change my view. We have waaaay too many overweight/obese people. And, as other comments point out, there would have to be a sacrifice in terms of automobiles for this to truly work. I find it highly doubtful that Americans would be willing to make that trade. Also, I think that if it came up there would be significant push back from groups you wouldn’t expect, like the disabled or union t…

You've got this entirely backwards. E-Bikes are an enabling factor for overweight people to start using bikes more. I know because I am one, my BMI is 33 and it's one of the main driving factors behind my decision to acquire an e-bike in 2018. (Another driving factor is the fact that my commute home involves an elevation gain of ~550ft, which would be tough even if I was not obese. I had been a bike commuter when I l…

Nice! I just don’t think you fully appreciate how privileged your position is. Giving up car ownership is extremely privileged. You have a good, salaried job, with I’m assuming flexible and encouraging employers. You have enough money for therapy and urban rent (and Blazers tickets!) and enough free time to bike everywhere, and I’m guessing decent health insurance to boot. You also are completely devoid of responsibilities for others. No kids to take to soccer games, no family members of friends in the hospital or who need taking care of. You can afford to fly/hire a driver to travel. I’d venture a guess that most Americans aren’t in a position like this. It’s a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when most of your needs are met. You most likely have an okay boss and at least somewhat enjoyable work. For a lot of people their commute is one of their only times of respite, and it seems they like to drive a car in comfort during that time, it’s why Americans spend so much money on luxury cars (and as a form conspicuous consumption). People of means are quick to forget how important 10 minutes can be when you’re poor and that a car serves as a backup place to sleep and store your effects. It’s not just a dangerous status symbol for everyone.

But back to my main point. I just don’t see Americans as a whole adopting bicycles. Able bodied people will routinely wait in line in for minutes in parking lots to park 100’ closer and wait in line(also for minutes) for the elevator to go up three floors. Not everyone is overweight/obese because they are unmotivated, you obviously aren’t, but I would wager based on my experiences that most Americans aren’t motivated(by much beside sloth), and I don’t see how an elected body is going to change our infrastructure enough to motivate people. AARP is a big lobby, and have 0 interest in cedeing roads or sidewalks to bicyclist.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#188

Post by Lio »

wffurr wrote: post #150
choward wrote: post #99

The main reason I prefer renting e-bikes instead of using my own bike isn't the electric power. It's the convenience and not having to worry about my bike getting stolen. If I only want to bike one way and not round trip, no worries. If I was to own an e-bike, I would want to not have to worry about it getting stolen. Everything would have to be like e-bikes you rent. All the parts would need to be integrated and not…

My non-e-bike has bolts in place of quick releases for wheels and saddle and a bolted-on dynamo-powered headlight. That essentially eliminates component theft. It takes about 20 seconds to use my u-lock to attach to a convenient pole or bike rack. It's really quite simple to make your bike a less attractive target for theft.

One of my bikes is a Brompton mainly for theft reasons.

As a alternative to using a bike lock I just fold it up and bring it with me.

It’s still a heavy lump to carry any distance but it fits under a desk just great.

(Amusingly they now make an ebike Brompton too).

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#189

Post by IshKebab »

atoav wrote: post #155

As a life long cyclist (half of that time in big european cities, half on the countryside) I doubt that the muscle power to propell your bicycle forward is the issue that blocks a wide adoption of the vehicle. As far as I can tell the (by far) biggest issue is the perceived risk involved which boils down to mostly two things: infrastructure and adoption. Better infrastructure demands you not to be as hardcore to star…

I think you underestimate how lazy people are. Hell, I cycle every day to work and there are still plenty of times where I wish I could drive instead because I don't feel like bothering.

Ebikes will absolutely change that. Risk is a factor but not a hugely significant one (at least in Europe - possibly in America where you'd have to be a bit crazy to cycle on most roads).

The main barrier to ebikes being popular is their cost, and the perception of them being for lazy people.

Re: E-bikes could be the electric revolution cities need

#190

Post by downerending »

diabeetusman wrote: post #64
siffland wrote: post #18

I ride a motorcycle to work almost everyday (today's 47 degree ride was a bit brisk) and i have to say, drivers don't look out for bikes, and this is a major city (San Antonio). My big issues with motorized bicycles are lanes to ride and rules of the road. I see people riding them on sidewalks, in streets, and in bike lanes. It is almost like people on motorcycles who ride in the break down lane or lane split (both o…

> I see people riding them on sidewalks, in streets, and in bike lanes Where are you suggesting that they ride?

Not on sidewalks. Pedestrians can and do change direction on a dime, and on a sidewalk, they always have the right of way.

Adding high-speed (i.e., greater than five mph) vehicles to that mix is a recipe for disaster.

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