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Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

theguardian.com

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Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#81

Post by stubish »

Johnny555 wrote: post #19
bootloop wrote: post #3

They need a new vehicle category? Why does an electric bicycle need a driver license in the first place?

Because many electric "bicycles" are throttle controlled and are essentially electric motorcyles and they should be regulated as such. The "pedal assist" ones aren't so bad, but some of the more powerful ones with unrestricted motors can go 40+ mph. Even the pedal assist ones can be a hazard by giving a rider false confidence or letting him ride faster than his capabilities. It takes a pretty experienced bike rider t…

Over here, if the engine works without pedaling or when traveling over 25km/h, it is a motorcycle, and can't even use bike lanes. But I've heard of that being enforced and the food delivery industry seems to have become dependent on them.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#84

Post by Danieru »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #70
gentile wrote: post #8

A license isn't needed for an electric bicycle. The law states that it is classified as an electric bicycle if it is only pedal assist and only up to 24kph (15mph). The issue arises when either there are no pedals, or it can be operated without using pedals, like these suitcases. Electric only operation moves the classification to a scooter, thus license needed. https://archive.ph/Fw5lX https://www.keishicho.metro.to…

How does Loop work? They are rental electric scooters.

Have you noticed how Loop scooters in Japan have a tiny license plate?

That's because they require a license to rent and operate. That's because they are a self powered mobile vehicle. An automobile if you will.

Automobiles in Japan require a license to drive.

Plus you must drive them on the road, with the other automobiles.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#85

Post by Danieru »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #73
Danieru wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd need functional pedals, and for the electric push to be equal or lower than the human motive power.

> for the electric push to be equal or lower than the human motive power Is that the rule for normal ebikes? That's very restrictive!

In Japan, a bicycle with no functional pedals is called: a broken bicycle.

A bike with a motor which propels itself is called: a motor bike.

Japan has had bicycles with electric assist motors for 10+ years. They are popular with moms who need to carry kids but where a car is too cumbersome.

Japan has also had motor bikes for a century. They are popular with lower class workers who want to skip traffic jams and commute cheaper.

Japan is not confused by the shape of a motor bike. Making it look like luggage does not make it luggage (with a motor) but rather a luggage shaped motor bike. Japan appears to handle this Nominative determinism issue quite well.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#86

Post by 8note »

teractiveodular wrote: post #75
throwaway2037 wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> drivers who mistakingly hit the accel when they meant to brake, thus running full missile mode into shops and sidewalks make the news almost every day "Almost every day"? Hmmm... I do not think so. Wouldn't the same happen in other countries with lots of Prius and old people, like the US?

Yup, and it does, to the order of 16,000 times per year in the US alone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_unintended_acceleration While I'm at it, here's the most famous Prius case in Japan, where a 87-year-old geriatric senior bureaucrat ran over and killed a mother and her child, but was treated with kid gloves until the husband whipped up enough public outrage to force the police to do something about it: http…

That really isn't very many when you consider what the opportunities for failure are with hundreds of millions of people driving many hours a day

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#87

Post by presentation »

Danieru wrote: post #84
throwaway2037 wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does Loop work? They are rental electric scooters.

Have you noticed how Loop scooters in Japan have a tiny license plate? That's because they require a license to rent and operate. That's because they are a self powered mobile vehicle. An automobile if you will. Automobiles in Japan require a license to drive. Plus you must drive them on the road, with the other automobiles.

FYI nowadays you don’t need a drivers license to ride them. But yeah they are registered vehicles.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#88

Post by presentation »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #73
Danieru wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd need functional pedals, and for the electric push to be equal or lower than the human motive power.

> for the electric push to be equal or lower than the human motive power Is that the rule for normal ebikes? That's very restrictive!

What really happens is people like my friend make their own ebike that is super powerful but looks like a normal bicycle, and while it is against the rules nobody ever questions it because it looks like a bicycle.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#89

Post by Ekaros »

umeshunni wrote: post #58
janstice wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In 60s/70s France 14 year olds could ride motorised bicycles, so Vespa sold a Pedalo - a regular (but lower-powered I think) Vespa scooter with pedals as well as 2-stroke engine - you had to put the engine in neutral to pedal (I bet not many 14 year olds did this).

Isn't that what a moped is?

Whole terminology is pretty mixed up and messy. Moped is that, but then again speed limited scooters like Vespa without the pedals could also be moped. And so could speed and engine limited motorcycle of other style...

In general I understand moped as anything with limited speed/engine size.

Re: Japan cracks down on use of rideable electric suitcases amid tourist boom

#90

Post by throwaway2037 »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #70
gentile wrote: post #8

A license isn't needed for an electric bicycle. The law states that it is classified as an electric bicycle if it is only pedal assist and only up to 24kph (15mph). The issue arises when either there are no pedals, or it can be operated without using pedals, like these suitcases. Electric only operation moves the classification to a scooter, thus license needed. https://archive.ph/Fw5lX https://www.keishicho.metro.to…

How does Loop work? They are rental electric scooters.

Late edit: I should I have written "Luup", not "Loop".
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