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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

#561

Post by sudosysgen »

Johnny555 wrote: post #155
Spooky23 wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have a point, but the Lance Armstrong wannabes make everyone miserable. In my area, they “took over” a popular bike trail and now kids and more casual people are pushed aside. It’s like dealing with serious lap swimmers.

If you think fast cycling "Lance Armstrong wannabes" are bad, wait until the trail is taken over by 30mph eBike riders that not only aren't experienced enough to ride safely at that speed, but they bolted on the eBike drive to a bike that was not intended for that speed.

I built a 35mph capable ebike from a lot on a MTB with dual disc brakes and the best s-pedelec tires I could find and I'm pretty stressed out already at 35kph. I can't imagine doing 50kph much less on a bike that isn't intended for it. You really would have to be almost suicidal.

I have to say though being able to keep up with cars when I can't have a bike lane is pretty nice.

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

#562

Post by 542354234235 »

rectang wrote: post #288
jkdufair wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A 5 mile commute on an eBike is trivial.

That depends on road conditions and layout, typical traffic, weather, general health (need decent balance, eyesight, hearing, ability to ride over potholes, enough toughness that a spill isn't life-threatening)... I could go for "often doable".

>general health (need decent balance, eyesight, hearing

That’s a pretty uncharitable reading of their comment. It is obvious we are talking about people that are already physically capable of riding a bike and are discussing a specific distance for a commute.

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

#563

Post by sudosysgen »

watwut wrote: post #419
sbierwagen wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>from people who think that cycling is a niche hobby of rich lycra-clad yuppies This has never been true, of course. As you would expect for something that costs a hundredth as much as a car, bicycling to work has always been more common among the poor: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/05/08/low-income-americans-...

Given that breakthrough is significantly more expensive e-bike, owners being too rich was unlikely to be the real issue. If more expensive tool fixes social problem, the people were more likely to be offputted by poor.

You can now buy an ebike for 1000$ new, and prices are dropping every year.

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

#564

Post by sudosysgen »

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.

I live in Montreal. Our most bike friendly borough allocates around one twentieth the space for bikes as for cars.

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

#565

Post by sudosysgen »

nradov wrote: post #112
White_Wolf wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

tbh I wouldn't mind the peed limit being higher but introduce some sort of driving lic and exam for it with periodic re-testing. Also re-testing should be mandatory for car drivers too. Both theory, practical, reflex testing. I ride a bicycle, bike and drive a car and the ammount of crazies on all sides leaves me speachless sometimes. I see cyclist cutting off cars and shooting into a roundabout just because cars wil…

I don't understand what you're asking for. There are already electric motorcycles which don't have artificial speed limiters. Those require a motorcycle license and can be driven on any road.

They also generally have 7 times the vattey capacity and at least 15 times the power output. The speed limiter is not the main difference.

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

#566

Post by sudosysgen »

namdnay wrote: post #494
kibwen wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People appear to be mixing units here, I believe the parent commenter was using kph, not mph.

55mph on an ebike would be insane :) even 55kph is really really fast if you're not on perfect asphalt - the slightest pebble hitting the front wheel and it's goodbye

If you have suspension and the proper tires (which are a legal requirement in many places) you can take pretty big pebbles in the front wheel.

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

#567

Post by sudosysgen »

blunte wrote: post #268

Not a criticism of e-bikes, but I discovered an unexpected danger related to e-bikes which was much less an issue with traditional bikes: when driving a car, it's now much more difficult to judge how much time you need to pass a bike. I would say without hyperbole that it's much more dangerous now, to the cars and the bikes. I currently live in a Dutch village, so bikes and cars share rather narrow roads. The roads a…

When I only had a pedal bike, I would often go 30km/h on a flat. I'm happy you can't assume bikes are super slow anymore.

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

#568

Post by mulmen »

cptskippy wrote: post #551
mulmen wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t see any Lamborghinis on the bike path. I do see Super73s every day though.

I'm equating a Super73 on the bike path to a Lamborghini on the road. They aren't the norm and you don't sink the whole field because you don't like one bad actor. Many ebikes are completely unassuming and you don't even realize they are battery powered.

Why are you speaking in absolutes? High speed e-bikes are a problem on my local bike path. They should either go slower or ride in the road. How is this controversial? E-bikes are fine if people ride them responsibly. But terrorizing the locals isn’t a good way to drive adoption.

I actually think the Super73 is great, on the road. I’d like to see something even more capable. I’m hoping they lead to light e-scooters (like a small motorcycle, not the stand-up things) that can do 45+ MPH. That should probably require a license plate and motorcycle endorsement but I’m ok with that. America needs more two wheeled transport adoption.

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

#569

Post by TulliusCicero »

jodrellblank wrote: post #531
TulliusCicero wrote: post #355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insisting that people risk their lives because "the law says you have to put yourself in mortal danger, therefore you're morally obliged to comply" is blind obedience of the dumbest degree.

or the other option - walk on the pavement, with your bike.

That's definitely the preferable path if there are significant numbers of pedestrians, yes. If the sidewalk is basically empty, I think it's okay to ride. And there are some 'multi-use paths' I've seen that are basically still just sidewalks where bikes are explicitly permitted.

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

#570

Post by cptskippy »

mulmen wrote: post #568
cptskippy wrote: post #551

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm equating a Super73 on the bike path to a Lamborghini on the road. They aren't the norm and you don't sink the whole field because you don't like one bad actor. Many ebikes are completely unassuming and you don't even realize they are battery powered.

Why are you speaking in absolutes? High speed e-bikes are a problem on my local bike path. They should either go slower or ride in the road. How is this controversial? E-bikes are fine if people ride them responsibly. But terrorizing the locals isn’t a good way to drive adoption. I actually think the Super73 is great, on the road. I’d like to see something even more capable. I’m hoping they lead to light e-scooters (…

What absolute are you accusing me of? You're the one who said all ebikes should use the road. My point is that not all ebikes are equal and relegating all of them to the road because of Super73 isn't the answer.
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