The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down • Hacker News Board

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#361

Post by jdavis703 » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:22 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #310

Johnny555 wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't say they were street legal, but it's not hard to find a 30mph capable kit: https://www.electricbike.com/cheap-electric-bike/ http://myelectricbikemotor.com/category/30mph/ https://www.amazon.com/Folding-Electric-Bike-Adults-Enduranc...

I haven't seen it in the comments yet, but it will only be a matter of time before these ebikes will need to be registered, have a number plate, and can receive speeding tickets. Right now there is no way to identify a speeding bicycle, no matter how fast its going. You could be doing 50 in a 40 zone and there is no way to issue a fine.

Bikes are frequently pulled over for speeding. I don’t know where you live, but cops like to set up bicycle stings at the bottom of hills in the Bay Area. Not to mention giving out tickets for things like missing bike bells. Oh, and if you don’t register your bike with the police good luck having them help with recovery.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#362

Post by oarabbus_ » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:24 AM UTC

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #308

wmil wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google maps estimates it about 35 minutes, so almost twice as long as you're thinking.

That would be an extremely leisurely pace. If you commute regularly on a bike and are reasonably fit, you should be able to ride at about 12 mph without breaking a sweat, which gets you a time of about 25 minutes.

Obtaining a speed of 12mph is not difficult for most reasonably fit people.

_Averaging_ a 12mph pace with signal lights, traffic, and stop signs is an entirely different story, especially in a busy cities.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#363

Post by oarabbus_ » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:25 AM UTC

_se wrote: post #279

wmil wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google maps estimates it about 35 minutes, so almost twice as long as you're thinking.

I do it every day. It depends on elevation gain (so it could take much longer depending on the route) but usually I'm closer to 15 minutes than 20. 15mph on average for a daily bike commuter doesn't seem unreasonable at all to me.

You're claiming you can ride 5 miles in closer to 15 minutes than 20, and through a city?

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#364

Post by lmm » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:27 AM UTC

wmil wrote: post #278

_se wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

5 miles is a very easy bike commute, not sure what you're talking about. It's about 20 minutes each way.

Google maps estimates it about 35 minutes, so almost twice as long as you're thinking.

Google maps pads their bike times by a huge amount. (I just googled 8km in 35 minutes and got results asking about that as a running pace).

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#365

Post by qq4 » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:30 AM UTC

I strapped a no-name Chinese kW hub motor kit and a nice battery on a $100 steel mountain bike I grabbed off Craigslist. I've ridden in downpours, through snow and ice you name it. The bike kicks butt and was way cheaper than a car, not to mention quiet and super easy maintenance. I'm not surprised they're getting more popular. I hope small electric vehicles take over.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#366

Post by lmm » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:32 AM UTC

nradov wrote: post #107

enriquto wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mixed-use paths are an extremely bad idea and dangerous for everybody. I actively avoid them as a pedestrian and as a cyclist. They should all disappear. If ebikes help to accelerate the inevitable dismissal of these stupid mixed-use lanes, so good! A bike-friendly infrastructure is based on three separate networks, for pedestrians, cycles and cars. Each of the three networks must be continuous, reasonably complete a…

That's a nice ideal but it's just not realistic in most existing built up areas. There's literally not enough space for three separate networks without knocking down existing buildings and buying a lot of land through eminent domain. Let's focus on what can actually be achieved with realistic levels of funding.

You're right, most city centres need to ban cars to make room for more efficient alternatives.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#367

Post by xavieralexandre » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:34 AM UTC

sideshowb wrote: post #207

darkwizard42 wrote: post #9

I wonder which mapping platform will start to improve routing for the e-bike user. I find that currently using an e-bike I don't get a very accurate ETA since the routes are calculated for regular bicycles (at least on Google Maps!). Also with an e-bike hills are no longer as large an issue as they would be to regular bikes so route decisions could be less roundabout.

Have you find any cases where hills are actually faster than an equal length flat route? I've been thinking it's at least theoretically possible as you could climb at the speed limit of the pedal assist then descend faster under gravity

I do it in practice! With light hills I climb at 25kph (Steeper hills, I can’t hit the limit), and go down at 30-35. Faster than the same length flat road along the lake.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#368

Post by deanclatworthy » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:34 AM UTC

akvadrako wrote: post #24

kccqzy wrote: post #3

I really enjoyed my e-bike when I bought it in 2018 or so. The pedal assist really felt seamless: you can get to the top speed of 20mph by pedaling with as much effort as it took to get to maybe 12mph on a regular bike. Unfortunately, the bike being worth thousands of dollars, it was a prime target for theft. My bike was stolen in San Jose and I decided to replace it with a sub-$1000 regular bike.

You should probably get them insured then you don't need to worry much about theft. It's not very expensive - like €10-15/month for a good bike.

Here in Finland best you can do is 1% depreciation a month. So after two years you’ve lost 24% value of your bike if it’s stolen. That’s a significant amount of money on top of a deductible to cough up to replace a stolen bike. Considering the probability of having it stolen is far far higher than a car too…

I know people who have had 2-3 of these bikes stolen. I use mine for commute at the moment and that’s it.

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#369

Post by darkwizard42 » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:35 AM UTC

sideshowb wrote: post #207

darkwizard42 wrote: post #9

I wonder which mapping platform will start to improve routing for the e-bike user. I find that currently using an e-bike I don't get a very accurate ETA since the routes are calculated for regular bicycles (at least on Google Maps!). Also with an e-bike hills are no longer as large an issue as they would be to regular bikes so route decisions could be less roundabout.

Have you find any cases where hills are actually faster than an equal length flat route? I've been thinking it's at least theoretically possible as you could climb at the speed limit of the pedal assist then descend faster under gravity

In San Francisco it can be quite brutal to go up hills even when its the shortest path to your destination. Oftentimes there are designed slow inclines for bike routes but an e-bike can change that pretty easily

Re: The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

#370

Post by lmm » Tue, Nov 09, 2021, 5:36 AM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #319

mulmen wrote: post #246

I like that e-bikes are getting more people on two-wheeled transportation. I dislike that people are effectively riding motorcycles on dedicated bike paths. I especially dislike that companies get to profit from cluttering public spaces with bicycle and scooter litter. My hope is that long-term we get the e-bikes into the street where they belong and combine that with traffic calming measures to make scooter commutin…

I don't think children, or anybody without a drivers license should be allowed to ride on the road at all.

That's ass-backwards. If you can't drive safely around children then you shouldn't be licensed to operate a 3-tonne death machine in residential areas.