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CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

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Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#121

Post by js2 »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #58
js2 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was a teenager I rode my skateboard down a parking lot ramp when I realized I was going way too fast, was about to enter the street and the only way to bail was to jump off and run. It looked about like that video. I didn’t realize these one wheels have top speeds of 16-20 mph. That’s faster than most people can sprint. 16 mph is a 3:45 mile. 20 is a 3:00 mile. > we're lucky to enjoy them before the nannies st…

> I didn’t realize these one wheels have top speeds of 16-20 mph. That’s faster than most people can sprint. 16 mph is a 3:45 mile. 20 is a 3:00 mile. Those numbers are somewhat relevant but shorter sprints are about 50% faster than a mile pace.

16 mph is also a 14 second 100-meter dash. You have to be in decent shape to run that quickly and your legs already have to be in motion. 20 mph is an 11 second 100-meter dash. That’s fast enough to win races against all but trained athletes.

FWIW, I’m a marathon runner with a 3:07 PR. I’ve done a lot of speed work. I don’t think I could run fast enough to keep up falling off a board in motion at 16 mph.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#122

Post by Glide »

roughly wrote: post #96
whimsicalism wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has definitely been my observation as well. E-bike riders tend to be less experienced at a given speed then cyclists. They also seem less likely to be comfortable riding on the road (understandably) so illegally use sidewalks to a greater degree.

I've certainly seen this with the rent-a-bikes - there were rent-a-ebikes in my area for a while, and those folks were frightening. Of course, we've still got the rental e-scooters, so our supply of "people riding way faster than logic, wisdom, their wheels, and the surroundings would suggest" is still adequately supplied.

God… the most close calls I’ve seen have always been with rental e-scooters. Both of them blew past a red light, which btw, I was stopped at on my e-scooter. He nearly got hit by a SUV if the driver didn’t stop.

I think there’s some expectation for bikes to go with traffic, rental scooter riders think they’re some kind of unicorn where right of way no longer applies.

And I am assuming they are rental scooters because of the styling and lack of helmet.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#123

Post by moooo99 »

0_____0 wrote: post #23

One issue I've noticed with these new forms of electric wheeled transport (longboard, transverse and longitudinal one-wheelers) is that the people riding them often don't come from a sports background. They aren't "safe" devices exactly - it takes skill to pilot them, and when things inevitably go awry, it takes good reflexes to avoid damage. Novices to action sports often throw their arms out to catch themselves whe…

This is ignored so often, it is scary. I have been longboarding pretty frequently and extensively up until 2 years ago. I've had my fair share of crashes and plenty of scars to serve as a reminder, but generally I always was a pretty safe and relatively skilled rider. But I also had multiple fun but stupidly risky experiences on my longboard, but no experiences comes close to the fear I felt when joining my friend on an electric longboard riding through fairly dense urban traffic.

Having that experience, I don't understand how people seriously treat longboards (or similar modes that heavily depend on the riders ability to balance well) as a serious option in traffic. Bikes? Yes. E-Scooters? Probably yes. Longboards or Onewheels? Hell no.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#124

Post by kube-system »

fragmede wrote: post #67
bombcar wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People assume a "bike" is safe, and a "motorbike" can be dangerous, but there's no real difference between them. I've reached 35 MPH downhill under pedal power; if I had wiped out I would have been in a world of hurt, or dead, depending on how it had gone.

Motorbikes can easily ( But you're right that even at 35 mph you'd be in a world of hurt. Every time I see a bicyclist going aggressively downhill in a bowl helmet and a barely-there lycra suit, I cringe so hard. You know how they get rid of road rash? They aggressively brush it out with what amounts to sandpaper.

Yet, the average motorcycle accident happens from speeds less than 30mph. Those speeds are plenty enough to kill. It all depends on what you hit and how.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#125

Post by themagician »

rainsurf wrote: post #112
themagician wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's possible that the board just fails for any number of reasons. I had a Boosted Board fail on me once. No idea why. It just powered off randomly while I was riding. Wasn't going downhill, wasn't full battery, wasn't a depleted battery. It was a bit scary to suddenly feel the power go out, but I was able to safely come to a stop. I was probably going about 15 MPH. I never figured out what happened. It turned right…

Sure, anything can fail. For these kind of "catastrophic failures" I think the important thing is the probability of the event. I am not aware of evidence showing a Onewheel can fail at an unacceptable rate.

The difference is that when most things fail (something that will happen), they do not result in instant deceleration. When your iPhone experiences a power failure it usually just doesn't turn back on. If a car experiences a power failure the brakes still work. Even if the brakes DO fail, you can still at least try to come to a safe stop—and it's possible you can.

When the power fails on a OneWheel there is almost no possibility of a safe stop. You are getting launched.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#126

Post by whimsicalism »

Glide wrote: post #122
roughly wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've certainly seen this with the rent-a-bikes - there were rent-a-ebikes in my area for a while, and those folks were frightening. Of course, we've still got the rental e-scooters, so our supply of "people riding way faster than logic, wisdom, their wheels, and the surroundings would suggest" is still adequately supplied.

God… the most close calls I’ve seen have always been with rental e-scooters. Both of them blew past a red light, which btw, I was stopped at on my e-scooter. He nearly got hit by a SUV if the driver didn’t stop. I think there’s some expectation for bikes to go with traffic, rental scooter riders think they’re some kind of unicorn where right of way no longer applies. And I am assuming they are rental scooters because…

I think generally the cultural expectation among bikers is stop signs as yield and red lights as (at minimum) stop signs.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#127

Post by chabons »

rainsurf wrote: post #112
themagician wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's possible that the board just fails for any number of reasons. I had a Boosted Board fail on me once. No idea why. It just powered off randomly while I was riding. Wasn't going downhill, wasn't full battery, wasn't a depleted battery. It was a bit scary to suddenly feel the power go out, but I was able to safely come to a stop. I was probably going about 15 MPH. I never figured out what happened. It turned right…

Sure, anything can fail. For these kind of "catastrophic failures" I think the important thing is the probability of the event. I am not aware of evidence showing a Onewheel can fail at an unacceptable rate.

I think the severity of the event is also important. A Onewheel requires power for stability (it's an inverse pendulum), and as a result does not fail-safe. An occasional motor failure on an e-bike would be a non-event, as it fails to a safe state. An occasional brake failure would be significant.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#128

Post by 0_____0 »

eagleinparadise wrote: post #113
0_____0 wrote: post #23

One issue I've noticed with these new forms of electric wheeled transport (longboard, transverse and longitudinal one-wheelers) is that the people riding them often don't come from a sports background. They aren't "safe" devices exactly - it takes skill to pilot them, and when things inevitably go awry, it takes good reflexes to avoid damage. Novices to action sports often throw their arms out to catch themselves whe…

My partner was hospitalized for nearly a week and had to have facial reconstructive surgery and nearly lost all her teeth after she got hit by someone on a scooter going 25mph while we were walking Be careful out there if you combine speed + unprotected mode of transportation

I'm so sorry to hear that. I wish her well in her recovery.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#129

Post by dghlsakjg »

I love riding my onehwheel, but it is incredibly, stupidly, dangerous and the company DOES NOT CARE.

Out of the box, mine was prone to runaway/ghosting where it would continue riding even if no one is on it. Kind of dangerous for a 25 pound device to go careening into the world. I contacted the manufacturer and the response was basically: 'not our problem, you're probably using it wrong' until I sent them a video that I had posted on social media.

I have also had the nosedive thing happen. Yes, it happens when you are exceeding the power output of the board. No, it is not clear when it will happen, for me anyway. There is the pushback 'feature' where the front of the board is supposed to elevate, but as a 200 lb guy, it is pretty easy to miss. I suspect that smaller people might get a stronger feeling from it. It is also possible to exceed the power limit of the board at lower speeds where pushback won't happen.

In reality, the board should, at minimum, have an audible warning that you are nearing the power limit before sudden failute.

Re: CPSC calls for full recall of all Onewheel self-balancing electric skateboards

#130

Post by scottcodie »

rainsurf wrote: post #54

I strongly disagree with this recall. I own a Onewheel (XR) and have ridden nearly ~1,000 miles on it in a variety of conditions. I've only had one incident and it was entirely my fault (riding at night without proper lights and hit a pothole). The Onewheel definitely has a learning curve. Like most things in life if you are patient in learning it and respect the limits it is entirely safe. I think the safeguards One…

I have a Onewheel and I was ejected after it suddenly died even though the battery reported a half charge. The accident was not my fault and I was injured from it. I don't believe the product is as safe as you imply.
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