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The popularity of e-bikes isn’t slowing down

nytimes.com

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

#381

Post by deanclatworthy »

analog31 wrote: post #148
jzymbaluk wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With regular maintenance and replacable batteries, I don't really see any reason an average eBike wouldn't last for many years

Most of my friends with e-bikes are already on their second e-bike. One issue is obsolescence. The newer bikes have bigger tires, better frame designs to accommodate the motor, better controls, more battery capacity, and so forth. They are purpose built as e-bikes, rather than conventional bikes with a motor and battery strapped on. Another is repair. Finding spare parts for the electronics is a headache. The hall se…

This isn’t such a problem with high end brands. I have a specialized ebike and am fairly sure I’ll get 5-10 years out of it. Only concern is the motor.

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

#382

Post by jay_kyburz »

hytdstd wrote: post #330
jay_kyburz wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Why do you think that?

Because I think the road is dangerous place to be. I think we all accept that drivers should understand the road rules, have a license to drive, and should be more than 16-17 to do it.

I think its weird that we would let children of any age, with no knowledge of road rules ride a bike around in traffic.

In my small city, it's legal for kids to ride bikes on the footpaths, but in most of Australia its is not. I think its backwards.

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

#383

Post by deanclatworthy »

quadrangle wrote: post #211
pjmlp wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And the weather is not inviting to cycle all year anyway. Maybe there are people that enjoy doing 30 km under heavy rain or negative temperatures with snow, I rather not.

it might not be inviting , but it's FINE. Biking in negative temperatures with snow is easier than heavy rain (heavy rain is the worst case). The ONLY barrier to biking in snow is whether priority is given to support the infrastructure to make it safe. Why Canadians Can't Bike in the Winter (but Finnish people can) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU Answer: because Finnish people have dedicated bike paths th…

“Cleared” is a bit of a red herring. In reality this means ploughed. You’re still riding on compacted snow with puncture-wielding stones on top. In the capital they do “clear” some major bike lanes but it’s rather limited.

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

#385

Post by spiderice »

mulmen wrote: post #263
danny_codes wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As long as they're speed-limited to conventional biking speed I don't think this is much of a problem. E-bikes have similar mass to normal bikes so the forces are basically the same.

They aren't limited to conventional biking speed. The rental bikes are close but they're still significantly faster than any human-powered vehicle on the bike path. A buddy of mine bought a Super73 which has speed limiting modes but operates purely on the honor system. In the "unlimited" mode it can do 28mph, without pedaling. In the "limited" mode it can still do 20, which is faster than most people are capable of f…

I’m pretty sure a super 73 IS illegal to ride on bike paths. At least where I live you aren’t allowed to ride a bike that has a thumb throttle. If it only has pedal assist, it’s a bike. If it had a thumb throttle, it’s a motorcycle.

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

#386

Post by adrianN »

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.

Pretty much all roads where I live have two sidewalks, two rows of parked cars and at least one lane for car traffic, usually two. Take away half the free parking and you have space for cyclists.

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

#387

Post by initplus »

breuleux wrote: post #301
_se wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It depends on location, if you're biking in a city at rush hour you're stopping every other block, getting stuck behind other cyclists, and at least where I live, constantly slowing down to avoid getting killed by potholes. There's basically no way you're doing 5 miles in 20 minutes.

On the other hand, if you are in heavy traffic stopping constantly at lights other traffic is also going to be travelling at that same slow speed.

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

#388

Post by Scroedingershat »

dTal wrote: post #245
jackorange wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the issue goes further than that into being a societal problem. Majority of America is overweight, staring down at their phones day and night, and dread physical activity. They also like to flex their position and wealth to others, one of the reasons why pickup trucks and big SUVs sell in great numbers. These people are in no hurry to transition to riding bikes. The only way biking might work is if some popul…

E-scooters might be a way in. They're not as fast or as safe (to the rider), but they're practical in way e-bikes aren't due to portability. You can carry one into the office and charge it under your desk. And they lack the cultural baggage of cycling. And it's possible to look suave on one in a way that bicycles make difficult.

They're horrifically expensive, but something like an electric brompton as most of those same advantages. You can also usually take them on a bus or train.

I'd disagree on the looking suave bit, it might just be because so many riders are clueless (and this perception being reenforced by selection bias), but someone on an escooter always looks far sillier to me than someone on a dutch style or folding bike, or even someone in lycra.

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

#389

Post by [deleted] »

SavantIdiot wrote: post #156
asdff wrote: post #122

The biggest hurdles with ebikes are their high cost relative to a cheap used bike (nicer ebikes are in used car territory) and likelyhood of theft in an urban area. It would probably help a lot of commutes if people had a safe place to park their bike or ebike at a train station or business or school where it won't be stripped down for parts. Rental scooters and ebikes also suffer from this problem but it doesn't mat…

I'm blown away by how expensive they are and then how many I see. $5k-$7k for an e-bicycle? Yes yes yes, I realize enthusiasts pay up to $10-15K for high-end frames and wheels, with full Campy gruppos[1], but eBike buyer's aren't CAT-2 qualifiers. On a side rant, the price of bikes in general has skyrockted. With so much of the manufacturing happening in China, I would have assumed that the overall costs of bikes wou…

[deleted]

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

#390

Post by erect_hacker »

BackBlast wrote: post #353
danny_codes wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In regards to bike-rider behavior on roads, of course cyclists appear "misbehaved" on roads. The roads are not designed for cyclists, so we have to fight with the design of the transport network to get anywhere Car-oriented transport infrastructure has been a terrible mistake. Don't blame the cyclists for trying to salvage something from the wreckage.

There is no significant tax pool coming from cyclists to build or maintain said infrastructure. I don't blame them for trying to salvage/use something from what exists, I've been there. I found the behavior of ignoring established traffic law as if it were optional to be dangerous and selfish.

What’s a “tax pool”?
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