5 ms·

It could replace cars as long as it's not snowing, or raining, or too cold outside, or you don't have stuff to carry. You know what could replace cars for mill

It could replace cars as long as it's not snowing, or raining, or too cold outside, or you don't have stuff to carry. You know what could replace cars for millions of people? A subway. But first we have to work on legalizing high-density urban environments with narrow streets...

jessaustin 9y ago
Most communities will be filled with e-bikes long before they get a subway.
- maxharris 9y ago
  Sure, more communities could get e-bikes before they get subways. But this isn't an appropriate metric because it puts a tiny village on the same footing as a dense city. To really get somewhere, we have to look a little deeper and ask "where do the majority of people live?" The populations of large metropolitan areas in the United States: NYC: 20.2 million LA: 13.1 million Chicago: 9.5 million SF: 4.6 million Seattle: 3.7 million Denver: 2.8 million According to the last census, 62.7% of Americans live in cities: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33.html https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33....
  - jessaustin 9y ago
    Four of those already have a subway. (Of course their subways could probably be improved...) Denver will never have a subway. It has a fair light rail system, to which more lines and stops could probably be added, but it will never be dense enough that a subway would be an improvement. I haven't spent much time in Seattle.
Broken_Hippo 9y ago
I live in a city in Norway. Rain? Yeah, that's really no issue. Just dress properly and maybe take a change of clothes. Grocery store trips? Totally doable. I walk to the grocery and carry the stuff back. I did so in the states too - you just don't make huge trips. A lot of commuter bikes have places to carry your basic stuff anyway. Add a backpack and you are generally good. Too cold? Again, dress well most of the time and it isn't much of an issue. Your tolerance for cold grows over time. I'm not sure walking is warmer: On one hand, you move slower but on the other, it takes longer. Some forms of cold do suck, but one deals. Now, I'd like to agree with you on snow and ice. It seems risky to me - but I'm from Indiana. But they sell studded tires for bikes, and folks ride them in the winter here in town.
- grogenaut 9y ago
  Studded tires on a 2 wheeled vehicle require real skill to handle. Like near snowboarding levels with generally worse crash consequences (pavement not snow)

jessaustin 9y ago

Most communities will be filled with e-bikes long before they get a subway.

maxharris 9y ago
Sure, more communities could get e-bikes before they get subways. But this isn't an appropriate metric because it puts a tiny village on the same footing as a dense city. To really get somewhere, we have to look a little deeper and ask "where do the majority of people live?" The populations of large metropolitan areas in the United States: NYC: 20.2 million LA: 13.1 million Chicago: 9.5 million SF: 4.6 million Seattle: 3.7 million Denver: 2.8 million According to the last census, 62.7% of Americans live in cities: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33.html https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-33....
- jessaustin 9y ago
  Four of those already have a subway. (Of course their subways could probably be improved...) Denver will never have a subway. It has a fair light rail system, to which more lines and stops could probably be added, but it will never be dense enough that a subway would be an improvement. I haven't spent much time in Seattle.

Broken_Hippo 9y ago

I live in a city in Norway. Rain? Yeah, that's really no issue. Just dress properly and maybe take a change of clothes. Grocery store trips? Totally doable. I walk to the grocery and carry the stuff back. I did so in the states too - you just don't make huge trips. A lot of commuter bikes have places to carry your basic stuff anyway. Add a backpack and you are generally good. Too cold? Again, dress well most of the time and it isn't much of an issue. Your tolerance for cold grows over time. I'm not sure walking is warmer: On one hand, you move slower but on the other, it takes longer. Some forms of cold do suck, but one deals. Now, I'd like to agree with you on snow and ice. It seems risky to me - but I'm from Indiana. But they sell studded tires for bikes, and folks ride them in the winter here in town.

grogenaut 9y ago
Studded tires on a 2 wheeled vehicle require real skill to handle. Like near snowboarding levels with generally worse crash consequences (pavement not snow)