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280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

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Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#191

Post by [deleted] »

landemva wrote: post #98
tofflos wrote: post #4

"So what’s the best solution? You might think switching to an electric vehicle is the natural step. In fact, for short trips, an electric bike or moped might be better for you – and for the planet." Also in fact, electric bikes and mopeds are electric vehicles.

> electric bikes and mopeds are electric vehicles. At USA federal level, which applies to federal lands and federal funding like 'rec paths' on municipal lands, ebikes are bicycles. They are not vehicles and not motorcycles. https://usbr.gov/recreation/publications/ebikes.pdf A vehicle requires significantly different licensing, and typically registration + insurance policy + driver licensing. What location are you i…

[deleted]

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#192

Post by ravenstine »

camgunz wrote: post #83

I've said it before and I'll say it again: building the future around cars of any kind is completely unsustainable. We cannot reproduce the rates of rich world car ownership in the developing world without mass catastrophe (raw materials/labor needed for construction and maintenance, raw materials/labor/space needed for roads and parking lots, literal tons of waste--batteries, tires, steel, plastic, foam--, energy ne…

> We cannot reproduce the rates of rich world car ownership in the developing world without mass catastrophe

That's incredible! Now show us some evidence.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#193

Post by mixmastamyk »

r00fus wrote: post #126
davidw wrote: post #21

I do almost all the grocery shopping for our family of 4 with a Rad Runner Plus with a large basket and bag. I love that bike. Even as someone pretty comfortable getting around on a 'regular' bike, having that extra power just makes it a really easy choice for more trips compared to the car. If it's hot out, it is so much nicer to hop on the bike and get an instant breeze compared to a hot stuffy car. If it's cold ou…

My biggest frustration with bikes here in the US is the lack of security in high traffic areas. The fact that law enforcement doesn't seem to care about stolen bikes is a huge hurdle in my desire to bike to the store, leave alone paying thousands for a decent e-bike that I'd be even more worried about. I say this as an avid cyclist.

Yes, however at 34kg/75lbs it isn't generally going anywhere once the wheels are locked. Won't survive a dedicated team with a truck though.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#194

Post by radicalbyte »

davidw wrote: post #21

I do almost all the grocery shopping for our family of 4 with a Rad Runner Plus with a large basket and bag. I love that bike. Even as someone pretty comfortable getting around on a 'regular' bike, having that extra power just makes it a really easy choice for more trips compared to the car. If it's hot out, it is so much nicer to hop on the bike and get an instant breeze compared to a hot stuffy car. If it's cold ou…

We do the same with our Urban Arrow. It's easier (and faster) than driving.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#195

Post by kibwen »

simmanian wrote: post #96
mapmap wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does one need a motorcycle helmet when exceeding bicycle speeds?

that depends on local laws. depending on where you live, it may be illegal to ride high speed ebikes in the first place.

Beyond a certain speed, full-face helmets become a practical matter rather than merely a safety or legal matter. Can't hear with the wind rushing in your ears, can't see with the wind in your eyes.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#196

Post by nicoburns »

jordanbeiber wrote: post #165
nicoburns wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should be able to get bike insurance. I pay £7/month to insure mine, which is lot cheaper than car insurance!

Bike will get stolen anyway which is really annoying no matter the insurance. Not saying bike isn’t preferred to car, it’s just something I always consider. I’ve got a bike AND a car, I still take the car on certain trips where the bike would make more sense logistically because it feels like 50/50 it’ll get stolen.

Damn. If it's really 50/50 then that is bad!

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#197

Post by uoaei »

crawdog wrote: post #39

This is an area that government subsidies could really influence change in urban planning and cutting oil demand. If there was a similar subsidy on bikes as there are on electric cars, I would expect the push back against bike infrastructure would become less. Right now in the Bay Area through poor design and aging infrastructure there is push back on bike lanes. An example is the Richmond bridge, which has a protect…

Small point: you can't get across the Bay on a bike on the Bay bridge. You can only get from Emeryville to Yerba Buena Island. No passage from Yerba Buena Island to SF. We're hoping this changes sometime in the next decade but no one's holding their breath.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#198

Post by dgacmu »

pyrophane wrote: post #37
thelastgallon wrote: post #2

We don't need a 4000 lb vehicle to move a ~200 lb person. In order of efficiency: (1) Walk (2) Unicycle, roller skate, scooter (no battery, very little material) (2) Bike (3) Electric bike (and all forms of newfangled electric: escooters, segways) (4) Electric motorbike or scooter (5) Mass transit (can be public/private) transportation: Electric trains (6) Mass transit (can be public/private) transportation: Electric…

I wonder how this ranking might change if we also took into account the energy required to produce the extra calories that humans need to consume in order to get around via these modes of transportation. Like, you'd probably expend a lot of calories traveling 10 miles by unicycle, and over time maybe that would be more significant than the materials difference compared to cycling? Of course, it depends a lot on the d…

There's a secondary cost savings in reduced health care costs from the extra exercise. (May not apply in all countries, but does for the US/Europe).

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#199

Post by DanTheManPR »

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #138
simmanian wrote: post #48

I bought an ebike to complement my aging 2007 Toyota instead of replacing it outright with another car. I use the bike for most light use cases within the 10 mile radius and still lean into using my car when needed. Here are my takes on ebikes. Pros: - Ebikes help people punch above their weight class, allowing them to bike farther and faster - Going uphill is much easier - Ebikes encourage people to be more adventur…

Link (to REI gen 1.2 ebike): rei.com/product/190640/co-op-cycles-generation-e12-electric-bike How fast'll this lil'baby go, for a fat 250lb'er like me?

It's a class 1, so it will assist up to 20mph. I typically cruise at around 15mph on my own (I'm in a similar weight class as a rider). For getting around my town, trips are not much longer than my car.

Re: 280M e-bikes and mopeds are cutting demand for oil far more than electric cars

#200

Post by radium3d »

paddy_m wrote: post #174
radium3d wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, e-bikes are great for good weather and living within 5 miles of your office. Tesla's are great for the rest and they do have windows at least for those of us who have to commute. And at least the 132MPGe of a model 3 is better than a gas powered motorcycle.

Oulu Finland would challenge your perception about good weather riding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU

Haha fun, hey I snowboard for entire days so I do know that snow clothing is fantastic now, so I believe it. But still doesn't solve for the distance problem in our area. A lot of people commute a very long way and not everyone can work 5, or even 20 miles from their home with cost of living so high sadly. EV cars are fantastic for them.
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