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

Post by kevin_thibedeau » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 12:21 AM UTC

recursive wrote: post #10

petsfed wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the problem here is that it seems like you can't actually pedal this thing, which is to me (and a lot of lawmakers in the US) sort of foundational to the concept "bicycle". The other problem here is that with ever-increasing electric motor technology, old standards like engine displacement, or even power supply (gas vs electric) are not great indicators of the maximum speed of these things. As it stands, whil…

I see a lot of scooters around here with vestigial compliance pedals, mostly driven by gig delivery drivers. The form factor looks more like a moped. No one would ever use those pedals. Clearly they're there to skirt some kind of regulation. I'm not sure what the fix is, but "able to pedaled" is kind of a ridiculous compromise.

Post by foobar1962 » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 12:24 AM UTC

munificent wrote: post #14

dylan604 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I also wonder how much useful space is left in them after the slide-out steering mechanism, batteries and motors. looking at the image in TFA, that looks about the size of a carry on which is much smaller than I was imagining. to counter, there's a Visa commercial running as part of the Olympics with Simone Biles next to her suitcase which is as big as she is. It is disturbingly large. Like, it can't be real, can i…

> Simone Biles next to her suitcase which is as big as she is. It is disturbingly large. Like, it can't be real, can it? Or she is just that little. She is 4 ft 8 in (142 cm). She's almost carry-on sized herself.

Post by dheera » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 12:32 AM UTC

fermentation wrote: post #17

qwerty456127 wrote: post #15

Why? Is there supposed to be any problem in riding suitcases besides the very fact this formally breaks a law? Shouldn't they better just update the law to add an exception?

The areas where these would be used are super crowded, it is likely that the riders are constantly bumping into people.

Post by margalabargala » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 12:39 AM UTC

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…

Post by Johnny555 » Wed, Aug 07, 2024, 12:44 AM UTC

margalabargala wrote: post #27

Johnny555 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Unsure where you are, but in most of the US ebikes that can go over 28mph are not ebikes. They are electric motorcycles, and must be registered as such. You're not mad at ebikes, you're mad at people with unregistered vehicles, and potentially drivers driving motorcycles without motorcycle licenses.