The Pandemic Brings a New Surge in Popularity For Electric Bikes (sun-sentinel.com) 137
Battery-powered bikes "have become a compelling alternative for commuters who are being discouraged from taking public transportation and Ubers," according to the New York Times' lead consumer tech writer.
In March, sales of e-bikes jumped 85% from a year earlier, according to the NPD Group, a research firm. Amazon, Walmart and Specialized are sold out of most models. Even smaller brands like Ride1Up and VanMoof have waiting lists. That's a remarkable shift. For many years, e-bikes carried the stigma of being vehicles for lazy pedalers and seniors... "I was convinced that e-bikes would completely change cities all over the world in the next 10 years, but it seems like because of this crisis, suddenly it's all happening in the next three or four months," said Taco Carlier, the chief executive of VanMoof, which is based in Amsterdam.
The Times' writer notes that e-bikes are at least twice as heavy as a road bike, make an attractive target for burglar, and may need manufacturer assistance for major repairs. But he ultimately concludes that "Despite some misgivings, my experience with e-bikes made me realize the benefits are far greater than the downsides." Most important, e-bikes kept me out of my car. Whenever I had a reason to go outside — like making a trip to the grocery store or dropping off baked goods at a friend's — I preferred riding an e-bike. This will become increasingly important in the coming months. As businesses reopen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised commuters to drive in cars alone. An e-bike may become crucial for squeezing through nightmare traffic.
And the Times' reporter also claims another benefit for e-bikes: joy. "On an e-bike, I saw more of the outdoors than I normally would, while keeping a safe distance from people."
The Times' writer notes that e-bikes are at least twice as heavy as a road bike, make an attractive target for burglar, and may need manufacturer assistance for major repairs. But he ultimately concludes that "Despite some misgivings, my experience with e-bikes made me realize the benefits are far greater than the downsides." Most important, e-bikes kept me out of my car. Whenever I had a reason to go outside — like making a trip to the grocery store or dropping off baked goods at a friend's — I preferred riding an e-bike. This will become increasingly important in the coming months. As businesses reopen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised commuters to drive in cars alone. An e-bike may become crucial for squeezing through nightmare traffic.
And the Times' reporter also claims another benefit for e-bikes: joy. "On an e-bike, I saw more of the outdoors than I normally would, while keeping a safe distance from people."
And then... (Score:2, Insightful)
Winter arrives (except in the south..)
Ebikes can be nice in the right climate, for the right distances, and if you dont need to take others or a load.
The word 'Niche' springs to mind, although you wouldnt think so with the way a good 30% of the through roads here are being eaten up for them..
I do however wonder why they are legally allowed on the roads at similar speeds to (city) vehicles, with no registration, no mechanical check, no insurance...
Are they not a vehicle? Are they perfectly safe?
(yes, I know
Re:And then... (Score:4, Informative)
They are probbaly classed the same as a moped (less than X horsepower and has pedals in addition to a motor) and as such dont need to be registered.
Aaron Z
Re:And then... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:And then... (Score:5, Informative)
Winter arrives (except in the south..)
Ebikes can be nice in the right climate, for the right distances, and if you dont need to take others or a load.
Winter -- you dress up warmer, and put ice tyres on. Scandanavia has fairly high rates of cycle commuting, even at -20C.
Take others or a load. You use a cargo bike or a trailer.
These things are really not complicated. Humanity can live in the hottest deserts, in the Artic winter, carrying children and heavy loads for millenia. Solutions have been found and predate the car. Actually, predate the wheel.
Re:And then... (Score:4, Insightful)
I wonder, have you been to Scandanavia? I have.
There are 2 main points that make what you say a bit... odd, and therefore result in my question above.
Firstly, no, there is a black and white difference in the number of people using bikes outside in the cold regions of the year (I wouldn't dare say 6 months, because it is often longer, depending on the area). You will only find the most (fool)hardy using then in the cold months for anything significant, however, the second point below comes in to play.
Secondly, Most of the bike use is VERY localised, and the localised urban density tends to be very high - there are many historical reasons for this, both political and practical. there are a LOT more '1-2 blocks down the road' trips than you will find in the US, because they dont tend to have nearly as much sprawl, and have a better integration of living/working/retail than the US. This is very much a European thing, and makes bikes MUCH more practical.
But if you think cycling is going to replace any significant percentage of road traffic in the US without a complete change to the layout of cities? I have heard they have some nice bridges for sale as well... (and I dont mean more bike lanes, I mean pretty much mean bulldoze and rebuild the whole city..)
Bike commuting Is a niche thing. Deal with it. This is easily show by the way they love to quote an increase percentage, not a percentage of total commute miles.
It does make one hell of a fun and healthy form of hobby/exercise though..
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No, this is very much a high population density thing.
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Not just density, but mass transit. The 1-2 blocks may be to get to a train, tram, or bus. I had friends in a tiny village (less then 20 houses) and people would bike to a train stop to take it to college or a larger town. If they needed to go 5 blocks they'd walk or take a bike, whereas in many parts of the US people will get into a car for such a huge distance :-) The layout of the roads are different, mostly because the cities all built up when everyone was a pedestrian.
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This is a bogus comparison. Both places have equally dense areas. The fact that the USA has a larger amount of non-dense areas is pretty irrelevent, considering that the usage of bikes in similar areas of Europe is zero as well. Face it: they use bikes a lot more than the US and there is no "density" explanation.
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I wonder, have you been to Scandanavia? I have.
There are 2 main points that make what you say a bit... odd, and therefore result in my question above.
Firstly, no, there is a black and white difference in the number of people using bikes outside in the cold regions of the year (I wouldn't dare say 6 months, because it is often longer, depending on the area). You will only find the most (fool)hardy using then in the cold months for anything significant, however, the second point below comes in to play.
Secondly, Most of the bike use is VERY localised, and the localised urban density tends to be very high - there are many historical reasons for this, both political and practical.
It depends on the area of course. This is a blog on Copenhagen.
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2... [copenhagenize.com]
Yes, of course, it's localized. Then, so are most commutes.
But if you think cycling is going to replace any significant percentage of road traffic in the US without a complete change to the layout of cities? I have heard they have some nice bridges for sale as well... (and I dont mean more bike lanes, I mean pretty much mean bulldoze and rebuild the whole city..)
Indeed. The US is very problematic and very few of its cities have developed in a sensible way. Retrofitting them is going to be difficult and it will take time.
Bike commuting Is a niche thing. Deal with it. This is easily show by the way they love to quote an increase percentage, not a percentage of total commute miles.
It does make one hell of a fun and healthy form of hobby/exercise though..
Actually, I wasn't talking about the US. Someone simply said "it's fine but doesn't work in winter" which is, I think, not true. In the UK, cycle commuting is niche but less so, but I have hopes t
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I don't get it.
Why put yourself through all that misery and trouble, why not just drive your car like a normal person?
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Why put yourself through all that misery and trouble, why not just drive your car like a normal person?
Yes, I wonder the same thing in the morning when I cycle in. I get a pleasant commute, fresh air, and park my bike in the building in which I work. I never understand why people are happy to sit in steel boxes, crawling forward at walking pace, then round and round in circles to find a parking place, and then still have to walk through the slush.
Bad weather is only miserable if you have the wrong clothes on. I have had to commute by car or train for only two short periods of my life. I have no idea how peop
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Hmm..back when I worked in an office, I would easily get to work in about 5-10 min driving.
If biking, in the sweltering hot sun and humidity...if I made it withou
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Where do you live where it is so hard to park?
I live in the North of England. Our cities were designed pre-car, but have been retrofitted subsequently to support more cars. The practical upshot of this is that we have city centres with lots of people in them, but they cannot support the space for cars. Over time, I think, these cities are changing. The UK is, unfortunately, one of the more unfriendly to people walking or using a bike, but our cities are not intrinsically so. In the US, you have some cities like this (mostly East Coast), and then a lot
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Commuted for many years in Boston by bike, all through the year. If anything, biking to work in the bitter cold is actually better than doing it in extreme heat.
The stronger you are, the less sweat is a problem in the summer because you go faster with less effort. A strong cyclist isn't going to get sweaty on an easy ride if he can keep a moderate pace and is wearing cycling clothing. In winter temperatures aren't a problem at all if you have the right clothing. Five minutes in and you're toasty as can be
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I've used studs, but they're best on packed snow. On ice they help, until suddenly they don't. On pavement they're worse, and they're positively alarming when you have to cross a train track or other metal surface.
The number one thing you need in winter is bike handling skills. You've got to read the road and anticipate problems, and be able to keep the bike under control when it loses traction. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner.
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Not just climate, but the roads. A real non-electric bike would be best of course, but we're not all in the best shape. But the roads are freaking dangerous! Even with bike lanes, there is still heavy traffic, poeple have to take right turns in front of you and cannot wait until there are no bikes anywhere in sight. There are places where I walk which do not always feel safe (crossing an offramp from a freeway where cars may be going too fast and not prepared to stop). And left turns from a major road
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"why they are legally allowed on the roads at similar speeds to (city) vehicles, with no registration, no mechanical check, no insurance"
If something goes wrong, the majority of loss/damage is caused by the rider. Therefore it's in their best interest to keep the bike safe. If you impact my vehicle with a 2 ton vehicle that is unsafe and with no insurance, there's a good chance I will be hurt or my vehicle substantially damaged. Do it with an ebike, and I just need to wash the blood off.
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Perfectly fine in mild climates like (non-high altitude) California, Nevada, even Arizona. With fenders and rain gear, I ride mine year-round (typically able to wait 30 minutes for rain the let up, or leave earlier before the predicted showers), but wouldn't really want to have to deal with Portland or Seattle non-stop bad weather.
Yes, they are a vehicle, but not a moped, so long as they are under 28mph. The 20mph versions can go on may bikeway/walking paths whereas the 28mph versions are not supposed to.
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> Winter arrives (except in the south..)
Models with heated seats are there
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Has your electricity been out for 2 weeks? It's time for you to rail against police accountability now.
Main advantage of e-Bikes - Hills (Score:5, Informative)
Having owned an e-Bike for about 4 years (12,000 km on the odometer, typically doing about 30 km in a single trip) the greatest advantage is dealing with those pesky terrain features known as "hills".
One of the quirks of electric bikes is the power demand drops as the speed increases (otherwise known as electric motor back-EMF). So basically on the flat the power draw per km/mile is not that bad. Hit a hill, your speed drops and electric motor assistance increases (and watch the battery charge slowly deplete).
The assistance of the electric motor can turn a 90 minute grind into a cruise.
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Yeah, it's great that these were invented. 'Cause we totally didn't have two-wheeled vehicles that didn't require pedaling prior to this.
[Full disclosure: I ride a bicycle and a motorcycle... but not an e-bike.]
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The vast majority of e-bikes sold are class 1 and class 3 and those are pedal assist and do nothing if you're not peddling.
The whole point of e-bike commuting is having a transportation mode that can get you from point A to point B AND let you exercise to boot... but not arriving at your destination all hot and sweaty because you had to go up three hills during the trip.
I have a Gazelle and it's a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that I'm probably going to sell my Specialized.
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What's the effective range on a single charge? Obviously at least the 30km you mention...
Re:Main advantage of e-Bikes - Hills (Score:5, Informative)
Maximum effective range is about 65km (with pedaling) - that would be a round trip to the office and back.
I typically use about 10Wh / km traveled (speed about 18 to 21 km/hr), I normally only run at 40% assistance rather than 100% as I need the exercise (unless there is a strong breeze then I will use 60% assistance). The installed battery is 17Ah / 36V.
I have found that only using 50% of the battery charge before recharging dramatically increases the battery life (the first battery was 10Ah and it died after 2000 to 3000 km). Either that or the original battery pack had serious issues.
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My Gazelle is 25-55 miles, depending on the amount of power "assist" you select. On "Touring" it's about 35 miles.
Note you can also ride them with no assist whatsoever. I've done it from time to time on flat paved trails and then you're simply pedaling a somewhat heavy bike. I've done some long distance rides where I pedal out until I start to get tired, then turn around and turn on the power for the trip back.
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Depends on many things, such as the terrain (flat vs. hilly - my commute has 2 small hills to deal with), level of effort the cyclist is putting in (I let the ebike do most of the work on the way to work, and I do most of the work on the way home as I want a good solid work-out), size/aH of the battery, weight of the rider/load/bike (I have a pannier bag with my laptop and lunch), etc.
I've a first gen Stromer ST1. It shipped with a 522wH (36V 14aH) battery. I used to get 3 round-trip rides of 13 miles. N
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Range is massively variable depending on conditions, and on how much you turn up the electric "boost".
I have a Luna Stealth -it has 3 gears, and 3 levels of power-assist. It has a torque sensor so that the harder you are pushing on the pedals the more power it adds, from nothing when cruising along to significant boost when going uphill or starting from a stop. It is rated as 20 miles of battery life, but I think they expected you to run on max power in highest gear for that.
My commute to work is only 3 m
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I've actually never thought of this. I would have to load my bike up in a car and drive at least 2 or 3 hours to find these "hills". I think there's a dirtbike track closer, where they brought in a bulldozer and built some.
90 minutes seems like a rather long ride, but I guess if half of it's motorized uphill and the other half is coasting downhill, you might as well consider it as an electric motorcycle... actually, that's still too long for a commute. But less sweaty I guess.
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Yes, I know what you mean - I get that glare from the electric bicycle users in the flatlands because the assist is capped at 25 kph.
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"I get that glare from the electric bicycle users in the flatlands because the assist is capped at 25 kph."
Ummm... most class one bikes are "capped' at 32 kph (20mph). Then again, my class three Gazelle is "capped" at 28 mph (45 kph). And by "capped" I mean the motor stops helping you past 28 mph. It can--and has--gone faster.
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dealing with those pesky terrain features known as "hills"
Seattle figured out how to deal with them [blogspot.com] years ago.
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I'm assuming you're using a hub motor rather than mid-drive.
A mid-drive motor takes advantage of the bike's gears, which is why high end mountain e-bikes always use them. Being able to vary the gear ratio the motor is dealing with yields better performance over varied terrain. Put a mid-drive motor on an enduro bike, and it turns your local trail loop into something like a bike park with a chair lift.
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This is Slashdot - "News for Nerds"
A "physically fit nerd" is an oxymoron.
Sexy nerds (Score:2)
This isn't the 80's anymore it was an lie then, most nerd culture is now mainstream, making it a nonsense.
Re:Main advantage of e-Bikes - Hills (Score:4, Informative)
Do yourself a favor, dump the e-bike, ride more, climb more hills, get stronger. Before you know it you'll not be complaining about climbing hills so much. Besides it's good for you, builds character.
You know e-bikes do not magically absolve you from exercise, and contrary to popular belief you don't get some magical sense of euphoria just because you commute to work by bicycle. There are plenty of days you just want the trip to be over.
So no, dumping an e-bike and removing from him the ability to make an informed decision about how much exercise and how quickly he wants to get to work is *not* doing him any favours. Do yourself a favour and get an e-bike. You don't need to turn it on if you feel it's leg day, but if you think every day is leg day then maybe you should do yourself a favour and see a psychiatrist.
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Indeed. He's also ignoring the many people who wouldn't bike without the assist. If the option is no biking exercise or limited biking exercise with an e-bike, obviously even the limited exercise is better.
I live on the top of a hill, and I want to get back into biking. But I also know my current fitness and my limitations. Knowing I can get back up the hill and home is probably going to be what it takes to get me back into biking.
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What's wrong with regular bikes? (Score:4, Insightful)
Also, did someone at
Many of us are entering a new stage of pandemic grief: adaptation. We are asking ourselves: How do we live with this new reality?
For many Americans, part of the solution has been to buy an electric bike.
You don't even need special glasses [youtube.com] to see through this one.
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What's wrong with regular bikes?
Nothing, as long as you live in a mostly flat city. Unlike mine.
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What's wrong with regular bikes?
What's wrong with fixies? You don't need gears either right, just use that endless muscle strength every day on your commute.
Riding is fun. It's great exercise. Exercise is fun. But holy shit one needs to be in the mood for it. Just like somedays I try to set new records on the way to work, and other days I plod along depressed just wanting the trip to be over.
E-bikes give you the choice of still getting exercise and fresh air without the dread associated of a hard slog when you don't want it. They also dra
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I was having this conversation with a friend yesterday, while we were on a ride.
I used to race bikes—I was a moderately talented amateur for years. I've participated in virtually every discipline, and I am 100% stoked to see people out on eBikes.
It mostly means a lot of people who have mobility or health troubles can go out and ride. That's great! Leonard Zinn—a relatively well known bike builder and former racer himself in enthusiast cycling circles—developed some heart trouble, and can't
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I've noticed that some ultra-competitive people aside, it's the most experienced cyclists that seem to be most in favour of these things. All of us just want more people riding bikes.
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"What's wrong with regular bikes?"
I'm fat and asthmatic, you insensitive clod!
Cycling could help with the fat part if only I could keep doing it for long enough to get such benefits, sure. Only, I can't. Sometimes I go cycling anyway, but only recreationally because I can stop any time I want. Cycling works much better for me than swimming in an open body of water because I can take a rest, for example. But you can't just stop any time you want while commuting, because you're on a schedule.
E-Bikes solve pro
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Nothing. But on the flip side there's nothing wrong with e-bikes either.
I think some people are daunted by being their own motor. They don't realize how quickly they will get stronger and more fit. Ebikes may give them a somewhat better initial experience, particularly commuting. A fit cyclist isn't going to arrive at work drenched in sweat, but a beginner might.
I see ebikes as a way of *extending* cycling. I wouldn't have any trouble jumping on a regular bike and riding twenty or thirty miles, but if I
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What's wrong with unicycles?
All bicyclists are cheating by using the easier 2-wheel contraptions!
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I came here to post the same thing. An ordinary bicycle is more reliable, more flexible, more efficient, cleaner, cheaper to operate, and much healthier than an electric bike.
And slower, and much harder to get up hills.
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Yeah, so it's a good thing people will have e-bikes when we're all driving in cars alone.
'Cause everybody usually carpools so well that all the cars on the road are full.
I bet...
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When a student I commuted by bike. My speed along flat streets was 30mph.
AS for hills, that's why they make granny gears.
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The weather itself is not a problem. You can get cold weather bicycling clothes. I used to bike in snow all the time. That is until how I pointed out how easy it was to get home in the big snow storm last night. The person pointed out that six bicyclst all died in that storm. All of them when a car lost control and crashed into them.
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We are all getting fatter (Score:2)
It's a badly worded post...but Americans tend to be overweight, and I say this from a country that is more overweight.
I say this as someone who was morbidly obese. In context of this article, my silver bullet to being the right size has been cycling to work.
I do strongly believe the cycling infrastructure needs to be improved here, and from the posts here in America too.
Re: What's wrong with regular bikes? (Score:2)
I know you are trying to make a point about cars, but as reported here, cars are slower the cycles in cities...where people live .The reason they are slower also reported here is other cars. Having a car gives you many advantages (and disadvantages too) over a bike, but speed not so much.
That sounds about right. (Score:2)
Prices have also doubled. (Score:1)
I had been pondering an e-bike for my 25 mile each way commute to work, just to shave some time off because it takes about an hour and a half each way and that's a lot of time. A Class 3 would bring that down to about an hour I think and make it feasible for me to commute every day.
The one I was looking at was already pricey - about $2800... at least it was until the end of March. I actually went in to buy it and they had changed the price tag to $4500 because the demand was so huge.
So, no e-bike for me.
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The problem seems to be the fact that you live 25 miles from work. I live in Canada, and know a ton of people who live a long distance from work. Unless you live in an area that has little traffic, living so far from work is terrible no matter which mode of transportation you have. I only like 5 miles from work, and it's great. It would take a lot for me to live further away. Even by car it takes me 10 minutes to get into work with all the traffic lights and other cars on the road. Riding by bike is about
Not just e-bikes (Score:2)
In southern Ontario here, bicycles are also in short supply, as are the people that assemble them for consumers.
Currently it's impossible to find economically priced bicycles, those sub-$200 class bikes that most consumers go for. Canadian Tire, Walmart are all out of any bike less that $350, and even if you decide to burn the wad on something higher-end good luck getting someone to put it together for you.
It'll be months before that supply chain gets caught up. The shitshow continues....
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If someone can't figure out how to assemble a Walmart bike, they probably can't figure out how to ride it either. It's just as well. Walmart bikes are poorly made, uncomfortable, and unreliable. If you're not bright enough to assemble it, you definitely aren't bright enough to maintain and repair it. You'd better stick to walking or riding a bus.
If you watch Craig's list, you can probably buy a 10 year old Cannondale for the price of a new Walmart bike. I'd take a 10 year old Cannondale over any brand new W
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Also I'm going to go ahead and say that Walmart bikes have their place. I got a used Walmart bike for my daughter to "commute" to middle school, it was in perfect condition and cost like $50. She rode it to school for over 2 years until she started to outgrow it. Then it got stolen, which saved us some hassle. All in all it was ideal.
Which way to go? (Score:2)
pointless.... (Score:4, Interesting)
The problem with them is twofold. First they are two fast for bike lanes, and too slow for car lanes.
Next until a $3,000 bike is considered no different than a $3,000 motorcycle or used car, there is no point to own one. If a bike gets stolen, the police will do nothing about it. If a thief is caught with a bike, nothing is going to happen to them. This has to change.
Skates also have a surge in popularity (Score:2)
The demand for skates, perhaps mainly inline, but also quad skates, has risen during the quarantine.
So much so that there is a worldwide shortage right now as supply chains try to keep up.
It would be interesting to see if interest will hold as streets eventually get busy again.
Bicycle Professional Insight (Score:2)
Hi there -- One of my many hats is as a bicycle professional. I love that so many people are getting and riding bikes. It's neat that they're electric-- especially while they're new. However, there's much concern in the industry that when it comes to repairing the bikes' specialized components, most bike shops are going to be hard pressed to do so. Electric drive-trains are by no means standardized and most are 100% unserviceable devices.
Additionally, in a rush to stock and sell the bikes during the boom, t
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I'm annoyed that someone downvoted you. It's probably because you suggested buying cheap/Chinese/non-LBS. But it's genuinely good advice especially given your explanation.
My primary ride is a steel-frame touring bike and I'm almost always carrying some amount of cargo on it. I only buy Schwalbe Marathon or Vittoria Randonneur (both with reflective sidewalls) and I haven't had a flat (of my own) for years.
I like your point about cheaper used e-bikes. While I *hope* the boom sticks and turns into a major shif
Great for desk jockies (Score:2)
I've a 6.5mi one-way commute to work. 5.5mi of that is on a bikeway where I can go 22-23mph (over 20mph is from pedaling), no stops (so long as the peds stay on the right, at least when I ring my bell). I'm typically only a few minutes slower to work vs. my car which has about a dozen lights to stop/go on the way to work. The last 1mi is the same in car vs. ebike as most of downtown where I work is 25-30mph anyway, but the car is at best only a few minutes faster if it hits all the green lights.
Best thin
Re:Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:5, Interesting)
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I'd rather they stay in the bike lanes we've spent a lot of money to construct, and obey the rules of the road. I shouldn't have to watch out for bicyclists doing stupid things.
And, according to this map [motorcycle...dation.com], lane splitting is not legal in most states. It is not legal in Washington state, where I live - there has been a bill that has been introduced numerous times, but it goes nowhere and just sits there.
Re:Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:5, Interesting)
You have a responsibility to not injure others at all times. That includes knowing where other vehicles are at all times, and requires that you watch out for drivers doing stupid things.
In what way does being aware of cyclists add to that burden?
And how often do you open your doors in traffic? I make sure there's enough room to open my door regardless of how many wheels it might have. I suppose if I were driving a 93 Escort Wagon I might not care too. But you should.
Re:Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:4, Insightful)
Attempted second degree murder. Everyone and their dogs now have cameras rolling 24/7 wherever they are and you will get caught. Chances are, you didn't kill the cyclist, but injured them, damaged your car and are stuck in traffic with tons of witnesses and cameras around. You will meet the judge and 12 jurors and the DA will tell them that you injured another human being for nothing but your personal spite. If that's the first instance, you'll get probation and a plea deal. Congratulations, you are now a registered felon that cannot vote (depending on the state) and cannot own firearms for the next x years, and you'll certainly lose your driver's license and with it, most likely your job.
Is your satisfaction from hindering others from moving worth it? Then do it a second time and get some actual prison time and years of not voting, not driving, not shooting, not protecting your home. A third time gets you life in prison, depending on your state. That will be really smart.
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Ah... is the poor little baby unhappy he's stuck in traffic in his oversized wagon?
On the other hand, never mind. Some people are just dicks and the rest of us have to deal with their fallout.
Re:Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:5, Insightful)
I'd rather they stay in the bike lanes we've spent a lot of money to construct, and obey the rules of the road.
Amazingly in pretty much the entire world cyclists don't lane split when they have their own cycle lane unless they have to turn when crossing traffic.
I shouldn't have to watch out for bicyclists doing stupid things.
Says literally everyone about people in cars.
And, according to this map [motorcycle...dation.com], lane splitting is not legal in most states.
And motorcycles aren't allowed in cycling lanes because they are not bicycles. I'm not sure why you think motorcycle laws are relevant here. What's your next argument, cyclists are not allowed to change lanes because j-walking is illegal?
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Because if a car does something stupid most of the time you have a minor fender bender at an intersection and you yell at each other and pay a fine. With a bike it very often ends up with an ambulance arriving. Shouting that you had the right of way doesn't shorten the amount of time you're in traction.
I think the motorcycle issue here is because an electric bike is in sort of a gray area; if it's allowed in bike lanes then it's not a bicycle, but if it can be in an auto lane at a high rate of speed then
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Because if a car does something stupid most of the time you have a minor fender bender at an intersection and you yell at each other and pay a fine. With a bike it very often ends up with an ambulance arriving.
I find that a bit of a surprising statement. Cars way a ton, can travel at 100mph+, and are made of steel all around. But bikes are dangerous?
You have this the wrong way around. It is cars and other large motorised vehicles that cause all the problems and result in industrial numbers of deaths every year.
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When I said "intersection" I'm implying city streets and not highways. If someone is driving 100mph then that is an extreme outlier.. Assume most autos are going 25-40mph on city streets. Fatalities between two cars that are not head-on at those speeds are relatively low (but still possible). My point is something that is a minor fender bender between two cars becomes something extremely serious when a bicycle is involved. No matter how much they want their traffic rights to be equal, a bicycle is no m
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Yes, WA is backwards about lane splitting. Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, California - legal for about 95% of the world's population. Why not in the rest of the US? Because we prefer more grid-lock?
Either way, dooring someone (which, opening a door in traffic would be a definitely provable offense) is illegal. In Washington, the statute is quite clear [wa.gov].
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Imagine being a free country and then limiting the movement of people under their own muscle power just because a rule says so, not because there's actually no space for them to move.
"Living in the land of the free and the home of the brave means being legally obligated to wait for hours in traffic each day behind the biggest cars on the planet no matter what the actual size and width of your own vehicle are or the police will hunt you down and choke you if you don't. Freedom and bravery means not being all
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So racists aren't people to you?
How convenient. Now you can define anyone you dislike as "racist" and dispose of them without guilt. Where in my history book have I seen this move...? Ah yes, I remember.
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Lane splitting is still an inherently dangerous activity, which is what the California Highway Patrol guidelines state first thing in their guidelines for lane splitting. Moving vehicles are dangerous when you're on a motorcycle, and even more so on a bicycle. It's better to play it safe.
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Re: Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:1)
Don't be surprised if you're fired upon after trying to murder a cyclist by intentionally dooring him.
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Don't be surprised if my car door opens while you're attempting that illegal maneuver.
Let me guess: You key Teslas on sight, too.
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I haven't seen any Teslas lane splitting, so I'm not sure what parallel you somehow think you're drawing. In fact, the Teslas I see in the Seattle area are almost always, as a rule, driven quite responsibly. Perhaps that's not the case where you live though.
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I'm not sure what parallel you somehow think you're drawing.
https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
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Re:Bikes "squeezing through nightmare traffic" (Score:5, Funny)
Don't be surprised if after I get off the ground the police and ambulance will be involved. It will take complicated surgery to remove my bicycle from your arse.
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And don't be surprised when I haul you out of your car and punch your lights out.
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Check with your local motor vehicle department for the appropriate regulations.
In Australia (varies by state but fairly uniform):
- An electrically powered bike under 250W and speed limited to 25 km/hr (the motor can not provide assistance above this speed) is considered a standard bicycle not requiring a license (can be used on dual use pathways / bicycle lanes).
- An electrically powered bike that exceeds the 250W or does not limit the speed to 25 km/hr is considered a motor cycle (electric moped falls into
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Same here in Norway but it must be driven by pedals to go faster than 6 km/h. You can also make electric scooters, but they go max 20 km/t and is under a different set of limitations.
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That seems rather... anemic. In the U.S. the federal definition of a "low speed electric bicycle"—which states are not required to adopt, but most are—is up to 750W and 20 MPH (32 km/h). Maryland seems to be the only state recognizing e-bikes as bicycles which imposes a lower power limit (500W), and there are no states with lower max speeds. If the e-bike requires pedaling and the assist stays within those limits on level ground then it will generally be considered a bicycle, not a moped or othe
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Selfish (Score:2)
I am sorry you modded troll. I don't think perhaps it's deserving, but I do think you are looking at the problem wrong.
If cyclists are popular enough to warrant better infrastructure as you claim, then maybe you should support that.
I also support pedal assist, because it makes cycles more inclusive for those with health issues or are simply old. I seriously considered one because hills.
But with electric cycles you don't have to pedal, those are scooters, and should be treated as such.
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Also most people, myself included, paint with a broad brush when we comment in places like this because I at least don't have time to write a comment the size of War and Peace so I cover all the edge-cases and outliers; yes there are little old men and little old ladies who are on e-bikes because they're too old and/or i
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Also for whatever it's worth, I don't like the idea of e-bikes, even pedal-assist, since most people don't get anywhere near enough exercise to begin with. I think they should all just ride regular bikes at a sustainable pace and get some real exercise, not 'pedal assist'. 2-3 months of riding a few days a week and most will be surprised at how much better they feel and how much better riders they'll become. My $0.02 worth.
While that may be true, your argument could be applied equally as well to any form of exercise that is less beneficial than any other form of exercise. At the end of the day, the biggest barriers to exercise are mental ones, so anything we can do to make entry easier is a good thing.
For my part, I've done the "wake up at 5am and run several miles" daily routine for years at a time (sometimes with "then hit up the gym" tacked on too), and while there were gains—noticeably better endurance and a bit mor