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Electric scooters/skateboards and e-bikes are a menace to society. I'm a NYC cyclist whose travels went from terrifying to death-defying ever since e-bikes beca

Electric scooters/skateboards and e-bikes are a menace to society. I'm a NYC cyclist whose travels went from terrifying to death-defying ever since e-bikes became commonplace here. These things travel at a flat 20mph in total silence. Such speed is beyond what most plain old cyclists can achieve by simply pedaling. On a daily basis I'm forced to dodge when a e-bike/board/scooter rider recklessly passes me with not an inch to spare. These people treat common courtesy and traffic laws as loose guidelines meant for someone else. There are good reasons why personal electric vehicles are illegal in New York: they're unsafe for everyone involved without proper licensing of operators and safety inspection of vehicles. Drivers of motor vehicles are obligated to carry insurance and are held accountable for their offenses under the law, but operators of e-bikes/boards/scooters will kill or maim another person just as well as a car will, but will face no consequences except for maybe, possibly a civil lawsuit... assuming they're ever caught. Now yet another hyped up startup is making an attempt to profit at the expense of my and my family's safety. I will not allow this, and will continue my citizen's campaign against illegal vehicles in my city. No quarter will be given until they're all gone. I consider e-bikes/boards/scooters a physical assault against my personal safety, and respond just like I would respond to any physical assault.

zethraeus 8y ago
> respond just like I would respond to any physical assault. Do tell.
- always_good 8y ago
  I raise my arms in an X-formation to absorb the blow. Then I take off my sunglasses, look them dead in the eye, and coolly give them a piece of my mind, terminated with a small wink to let them know I'm not going to escalate any further if they don't want to. But, heh, usually they comply like puddy in my hands due to my tall muscular 5'10 build. Not usually a problem. ;)
jonknee 8y ago
> but operators of e-bikes/boards/scooters will kill or maim another person just as well as a car will If you can't tell the difference between a Bird scooter and an SUV you're not going to get a lot of buy in to your resistance movement. Also, there are plenty of asshole cyclists without battery assists, but somehow society marches forward without requiring everyone with a bike to hold insurance.
madamelic 8y ago
I agree. Rude bicyclists are the problem. It doesn't matter if it is going 5mph or 20mph, getting hit is going to hurt. And honestly I've never been almost hit by an e-bike, but I have definitely almost been hit by a bike going the wrong way or not obeying traffic sign(al)s. Let's just admit it: commuting in NYC, regardless of your mode, is absurdly dangerous and none of us obey traffic sign(al)s anyway so watch out.
tlrobinson 8y ago
This sounds a lot like a horse and buggy driver complaining about cars when they were first introduced. Sorry, but light electric vehicles are incredibly practical, efficient, and eco-friendly. They're not going anywhere.

zethraeus 8y ago

> respond just like I would respond to any physical assault. Do tell.

always_good 8y ago
I raise my arms in an X-formation to absorb the blow. Then I take off my sunglasses, look them dead in the eye, and coolly give them a piece of my mind, terminated with a small wink to let them know I'm not going to escalate any further if they don't want to. But, heh, usually they comply like puddy in my hands due to my tall muscular 5'10 build. Not usually a problem. ;)

jonknee 8y ago

> but operators of e-bikes/boards/scooters will kill or maim another person just as well as a car will If you can't tell the difference between a Bird scooter and an SUV you're not going to get a lot of buy in to your resistance movement. Also, there are plenty of asshole cyclists without battery assists, but somehow society marches forward without requiring everyone with a bike to hold insurance.

madamelic 8y ago

I agree. Rude bicyclists are the problem. It doesn't matter if it is going 5mph or 20mph, getting hit is going to hurt. And honestly I've never been almost hit by an e-bike, but I have definitely almost been hit by a bike going the wrong way or not obeying traffic sign(al)s. Let's just admit it: commuting in NYC, regardless of your mode, is absurdly dangerous and none of us obey traffic sign(al)s anyway so watch out.

tlrobinson 8y ago

This sounds a lot like a horse and buggy driver complaining about cars when they were first introduced. Sorry, but light electric vehicles are incredibly practical, efficient, and eco-friendly. They're not going anywhere.