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Denmark and the Netherlands both have lots of shit weather and enormous amounts of cycling. As titzer pointed out, the Bay area has neither. Weather is not a p

Denmark and the Netherlands both have lots of shit weather and enormous amounts of cycling. As titzer pointed out, the Bay area has neither. Weather is not a problem with a raincoat, rain pants, and the right attitude :) I always reach the office dry. Admittedly, my commute is fairly short by US standards (5km / 15 minutes), but that's not atypical for cities in Germany. Winters are no problem with the right tyres, as bike paths are cleared of snow by the city. As for luggage: Panniers are awesome. I have 30 year old Ortlieb bags (see https://www.ortlieb.com/en/Back-Roller%20City/ https://www.ortlieb.com/en/Back-Roller%20City/ for the modern version), 40 litres of cargo volume right there. That's enough for my weekly grocery shopping and you still have space on the luggage rack for a basket or whatever. Oh, and to your last point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSZPNwZex9s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSZPNwZex9s - like that? ;)

cgriswald 10y ago
As I responded to titzer, my comments here are about "the world" and whether electric cars have a place in public transit. As I've already mentioned, bicycles have a place, but that place is not everywhere at all times. I'm aghast at how hostile I feel some of the responses have been. I am for multiple forms of transit, and I think public electric have a place that other forms don't quite fill. I think the Google self-driving bicycle (which is awesome) is a strong argument in favor of electric cars having such a place. Just imagine a vehicle roughly the size of a bike, but enclosed instead. :) But the "cars" could be many shapes and sizes, intended for different passenger and cargo loads.
- lorenzhs 10y ago
  Yes, I saw your pointless reference to Minnesota winters. Let me just point out that a typical city car also requires roads to be cleared. If you live in rural Minnesota, you need a different vehicle than for a California city. Surprise, surprise. There is no "one size fits all"-solution, and your premise is absurd. The Google self driving bicycle was an April fool's joke, and if today was April 1st then I'd assume your argument was, too. Ubiquitous self-driving electric vehicles for all are an absurd techno-fantasy. When such vehicles become reality, they'll be a luxury product for a niche clientele of high earners (like SV engineers) for quite a while. Even when they reach a mass market, they won't be for all. They'll be a nice replacement for taxis, sure. But what about people who can't afford to regularly take a taxi today? There is no way that they could ever come close to the price of a bicycle. Most students here ride used bikes, most of which probably cost around $100. How do you suggest they afford such vehicles for their daily commute to university? You're suggesting a solution that might work in Silicon Valley in a few years as a panacea. Bicycles work in lots of places around the world today, and have for decades.
  - cgriswald 10y ago
    Keep beating that strawman. The poster I originally responded to said electric cars have no place in public transportation because of space issues. I merely objected to that by pointing out that other means of transportation do not cover all bases, to which I received a bunch of nonsense saying "but they work in these conditions". Well, yes, they do, but they don't work in others, like Minnesota winters. Taxis should make it obvious that, yes, there is a place for these vehicles. Electric cars as a panacea? That wasn't anything I ever argued. In fact, outside downtown Minneapolis, I think autonomous vehicles would have a very difficult time in Minnesota winters as well. But I suspect, once autonomous vehicles hit the road, it's going to be a lot more ubiquitous than you think.

cgriswald 10y ago

As I responded to titzer, my comments here are about "the world" and whether electric cars have a place in public transit. As I've already mentioned, bicycles have a place, but that place is not everywhere at all times. I'm aghast at how hostile I feel some of the responses have been. I am for multiple forms of transit, and I think public electric have a place that other forms don't quite fill. I think the Google self-driving bicycle (which is awesome) is a strong argument in favor of electric cars having such a place. Just imagine a vehicle roughly the size of a bike, but enclosed instead. :) But the "cars" could be many shapes and sizes, intended for different passenger and cargo loads.

lorenzhs 10y ago
Yes, I saw your pointless reference to Minnesota winters. Let me just point out that a typical city car also requires roads to be cleared. If you live in rural Minnesota, you need a different vehicle than for a California city. Surprise, surprise. There is no "one size fits all"-solution, and your premise is absurd. The Google self driving bicycle was an April fool's joke, and if today was April 1st then I'd assume your argument was, too. Ubiquitous self-driving electric vehicles for all are an absurd techno-fantasy. When such vehicles become reality, they'll be a luxury product for a niche clientele of high earners (like SV engineers) for quite a while. Even when they reach a mass market, they won't be for all. They'll be a nice replacement for taxis, sure. But what about people who can't afford to regularly take a taxi today? There is no way that they could ever come close to the price of a bicycle. Most students here ride used bikes, most of which probably cost around $100. How do you suggest they afford such vehicles for their daily commute to university? You're suggesting a solution that might work in Silicon Valley in a few years as a panacea. Bicycles work in lots of places around the world today, and have for decades.
- cgriswald 10y ago
  Keep beating that strawman. The poster I originally responded to said electric cars have no place in public transportation because of space issues. I merely objected to that by pointing out that other means of transportation do not cover all bases, to which I received a bunch of nonsense saying "but they work in these conditions". Well, yes, they do, but they don't work in others, like Minnesota winters. Taxis should make it obvious that, yes, there is a place for these vehicles. Electric cars as a panacea? That wasn't anything I ever argued. In fact, outside downtown Minneapolis, I think autonomous vehicles would have a very difficult time in Minnesota winters as well. But I suspect, once autonomous vehicles hit the road, it's going to be a lot more ubiquitous than you think.