Live data from Hacker News

America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

vice.com

11–20 of 22 posts

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#12
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is what it’s like to share ideas under your real name in modern America. Pretty much all Tesla buyers, when complaining about their car, says "I love the car but". Even if you're anonymous, you need to pay lip service to your groups online, otherwise the online mob well... mobs you. Its just the internet. In real life, we use subtle clues, like hair-cuts, styles, tattoos, clothing, to differentiate ourselves a…

People didn't used to be like this. There was more tolerance for people you didn't agree with.

Here’s a list of people who probably disagree:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lynching_victims_in_...

There might have been more tolerance for racism and sexism and stuff, but not more tolerance for everyone.

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#13
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People didn't used to be like this. There was more tolerance for people you didn't agree with.

Not really. Lived in the 90s in the US, people were even more tight-lipped because dissenting opinions on a lot of things were not even mentioned in the first place.

Remember when Obama had to stress that he didn't want to allow gay people to get married so he could be elected in 2008?

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#14
post #3

> He says e-bikes have an “identity crisis” because they do not fit within any neatly defined buckets in American transportation and therefore don’t pass on any identity to their users. > The article was widely panned on Twitter, mostly by the usual pro-bike, pro-active streets, anti-car constituency. To be clear, I am a member of that constituency; What the hell is wrong with people. Is this really how people think?

What are you referring to? The “member of that constituency” type thinking?

If so, people definitely think that way, where “that way” just means holding a political viewpoint outside the standard left/right buckets.

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#15
post #4

I disagree with the issue being that eBikes are too fast for cyclist lanes. At least in Silicon Valley (long uninterrupted blocks), the main problem is that eBikes accelerate much faster than normal bikes, but a typical road biker cruises at 22-25 mph. This means some inconsiderate eBikes overtake regular bikes in the 100ft immediately after a stop, then block the bike lane for the next few minutes because they're ca…

A cyclist is annoyed by being stuck behind slower traffic? I am amused.

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#16
post #15
post #4

I disagree with the issue being that eBikes are too fast for cyclist lanes. At least in Silicon Valley (long uninterrupted blocks), the main problem is that eBikes accelerate much faster than normal bikes, but a typical road biker cruises at 22-25 mph. This means some inconsiderate eBikes overtake regular bikes in the 100ft immediately after a stop, then block the bike lane for the next few minutes because they're ca…

A cyclist is annoyed by being stuck behind slower traffic? I am amused.

I'd love the irony if they complain about the slower e-bike not moving over or maneuvering to the middle of the lane because "it's not safe to pass".

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#17
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is what it’s like to share ideas under your real name in modern America. Pretty much all Tesla buyers, when complaining about their car, says "I love the car but". Even if you're anonymous, you need to pay lip service to your groups online, otherwise the online mob well... mobs you. Its just the internet. In real life, we use subtle clues, like hair-cuts, styles, tattoos, clothing, to differentiate ourselves a…

People didn't used to be like this. There was more tolerance for people you didn't agree with.

In America the majority raises very formidable barriers to the liberty of opinion: within these barriers an author may write whatever he pleases, but he will repent it if he ever step beyond them. Not that he is exposed to the terrors of an auto-da-fe, but he is tormented by the slights and persecutions of daily obloquy. His political career is closed forever, since he has offended the only authority which is able to promote his success. Every sort of compensation, even that of celebrity, is refused to him. Before he published his opinions he imagined that he held them in common with many others; but no sooner has he declared them openly than he is loudly censured by his overbearing opponents, whilst those who think without having the courage to speak, like him, abandon him in silence. He yields at length, oppressed by the daily efforts he has been making, and he subsides into silence, as if he was tormented by remorse for having spoken the truth.

-- De Tocqueville, Democracy in America, published in 1835.

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#18
This is a problem that would exist without ebikes since some cyclists are just much fitter and faster than others. It’s just becoming more exacerbated since there are more vehicles in the lane and a little more variation in speed. The ebike contribution to the problem is most relevant on uphill stretches naturally.

The solution is infrastructure.

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#19
post #4

I disagree with the issue being that eBikes are too fast for cyclist lanes. At least in Silicon Valley (long uninterrupted blocks), the main problem is that eBikes accelerate much faster than normal bikes, but a typical road biker cruises at 22-25 mph. This means some inconsiderate eBikes overtake regular bikes in the 100ft immediately after a stop, then block the bike lane for the next few minutes because they're ca…

One of my biggest gripes about cycling in SF was shoaling[1] -- when slower riders pull in front of faster ones at a red light, only to be immediately passed when the light turns green.

One thing that Portland has (in some places) is two lane bike lanes [2], which makes it really easy ride at a comfortable pace and pass other riders when needed.

[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/shoaling-ottawa-cbc-bi...

[2] https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5129863,-122.6609881,70m/dat...

Re: America Has an E-Bike Problem That Can’t Be Solved with More E-Bikes

#20
post #4

I disagree with the issue being that eBikes are too fast for cyclist lanes. At least in Silicon Valley (long uninterrupted blocks), the main problem is that eBikes accelerate much faster than normal bikes, but a typical road biker cruises at 22-25 mph. This means some inconsiderate eBikes overtake regular bikes in the 100ft immediately after a stop, then block the bike lane for the next few minutes because they're ca…

It's rare for road cyclists to cruise at 22 mph. That takes a pretty high level of fitness. I do group road rides in Silicon Valley with some decently fast cyclists and getting stuck behind e-bikes just isn't an issue. Either they stay ahead of us, or we just pass them like any other slower bike. No problem.
Post reply on HN