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>"The mini scooter is pretty revolutionary IMO because it offers the convenience of the bike, but it’s much easier to balance and feels safer than a bike, and o

>"The mini scooter is pretty revolutionary IMO because it offers the convenience of the bike, but it’s much easier to balance and feels safer than a bike, and of course the motor." How do you reckon this? In my experience, razor-style mini scooters are harder to control at speed, and their tiny wheels are prone to catching ruts and not very good at riding over uneven surfaces. Compare this to bikes, which basically balance themselves once moving, and have large wheels that easily ride over bumps and ruts, and provide some additional cushioning inherent to spoked wheels.

milesskorpen 8y ago
I think it matters the pretty much anyone can use the scooter no matter what they're wearing (whereas bikes can be tough with heels, or tighter suits)
- grogenaut 8y ago
  Dresses, robes, etc. Also bikes give rooster tails really bad, which is no-bueno for really any non-biking clothes.
  - KozmoNau7 8y ago
    Ladies' bikes and underbone frames give plenty of room for long coats or dresses. They're very common for commuter bikes. Similarly, fenders are standard equipment, you almost have to go out of your way to find a bike without them.
    - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
      > Similarly, fenders are standard equipment, you almost have to go out of your way to find a bike without them. Oh, man, I wish that were true. My last bike I couldn't even get an aftermarket mudguard, because the frame didn't have the right mounting points.
      - KozmoNau7 8y ago
        Maybe they're not on your local market, but I've seen fenders that attach to the seat post and directly to the front forks. Lots of people have similar frames and want fenders, that options have popped up :-)
      - llampx 8y ago
        There's a really big difference between the US and Europe that I've seen in terms of bikes. It seems that in the US, only enthusiasts buy bikes. In most countries in Western Europe however, it is much more egalitarian. City bikes for example have to be sold with lights and two brakes, front and back. You almost have to go out of your way to buy a bike without the necessary accoutrements for city riding, be it lights, brakes, fenders or even a luggage carrier.
burlesona 8y ago
I base this on the experience of my wife and young kids trying them out. I love biking and do it all the time, but they don’t. To me biking feels glued to the road. To them it feels like sitting on a wobbly rail. When they tried the scooters the first time it was like a revelation, “wow this is so easy!” So, anecdotal, but I’ve heard this from others as well.
- KozmoNau7 8y ago
  Sure, it's easier to just jump on and go, but there are huge limitations compared to bicycles. In addition to what I mentioned, you just can't go very fast nor very far. When the battery runs out, it's a really crap form of locomotion. At least when an e-bike runs out, you've still got a (somewhat heavy) bike :-)
  - grogenaut 8y ago
    sure but when the e-scooter runs out, you just leave it on the sidewalk and you still have your LEGS. With a bike you still have the bike. And the GP is right, many people have real issues with bikes, they're harder to do right. Scooters are easier because of their limitations for many. I feel the safety (frequent crashes) is because people underestimate their safety and ease of use at speed. They're great when you're going at running speed or less for obvious reasons. People super mis-estimate how fast they can run tho, and if you get off one at the wrong speed you're taking a header. Bikes are easier to control in a run-away, but only if you know how to do it.
    - KozmoNau7 8y ago
      You won't just leave your own scooter behind on the sidewalk. Conversely, you could just as well leave a dockless rental bike behind. Or you continue riding the bike, without e-assist.
      - annywhey 8y ago
        The folding scooters(which do come in e-form) strike a good balance between transportation and transportable: You can take them on transit, and carry them inside. Folding and unfolding - on well designed examples, with a bit of practice - can be accomplished in seconds. Walking a bike really doesn't compare. I see non-folding e-scooters as a category restricted to "stunt users" (who need the extra structural integrity) and "rental companies" - who, as we know, are going to encourage leaving them on the sidewalk. Electric skateboards and roller skates can boast being even lighter, but most folks will gravitate away from them as a commute device since maintaining control is much more difficult.
woolvalley 8y ago
You don't go as fast as a bike, but you go faster than walking.
- grogenaut 8y ago
  And you don't have to use your own legs like a sucker.

milesskorpen 8y ago

I think it matters the pretty much anyone can use the scooter no matter what they're wearing (whereas bikes can be tough with heels, or tighter suits)

grogenaut 8y ago
Dresses, robes, etc. Also bikes give rooster tails really bad, which is no-bueno for really any non-biking clothes.
- KozmoNau7 8y ago
  Ladies' bikes and underbone frames give plenty of room for long coats or dresses. They're very common for commuter bikes. Similarly, fenders are standard equipment, you almost have to go out of your way to find a bike without them.
  - PhasmaFelis 8y ago
    > Similarly, fenders are standard equipment, you almost have to go out of your way to find a bike without them. Oh, man, I wish that were true. My last bike I couldn't even get an aftermarket mudguard, because the frame didn't have the right mounting points.
    - KozmoNau7 8y ago
      Maybe they're not on your local market, but I've seen fenders that attach to the seat post and directly to the front forks. Lots of people have similar frames and want fenders, that options have popped up :-)
    - llampx 8y ago
      There's a really big difference between the US and Europe that I've seen in terms of bikes. It seems that in the US, only enthusiasts buy bikes. In most countries in Western Europe however, it is much more egalitarian. City bikes for example have to be sold with lights and two brakes, front and back. You almost have to go out of your way to buy a bike without the necessary accoutrements for city riding, be it lights, brakes, fenders or even a luggage carrier.

burlesona 8y ago

I base this on the experience of my wife and young kids trying them out. I love biking and do it all the time, but they don’t. To me biking feels glued to the road. To them it feels like sitting on a wobbly rail. When they tried the scooters the first time it was like a revelation, “wow this is so easy!” So, anecdotal, but I’ve heard this from others as well.

KozmoNau7 8y ago
Sure, it's easier to just jump on and go, but there are huge limitations compared to bicycles. In addition to what I mentioned, you just can't go very fast nor very far. When the battery runs out, it's a really crap form of locomotion. At least when an e-bike runs out, you've still got a (somewhat heavy) bike :-)
- grogenaut 8y ago
  sure but when the e-scooter runs out, you just leave it on the sidewalk and you still have your LEGS. With a bike you still have the bike. And the GP is right, many people have real issues with bikes, they're harder to do right. Scooters are easier because of their limitations for many. I feel the safety (frequent crashes) is because people underestimate their safety and ease of use at speed. They're great when you're going at running speed or less for obvious reasons. People super mis-estimate how fast they can run tho, and if you get off one at the wrong speed you're taking a header. Bikes are easier to control in a run-away, but only if you know how to do it.
  - KozmoNau7 8y ago
    You won't just leave your own scooter behind on the sidewalk. Conversely, you could just as well leave a dockless rental bike behind. Or you continue riding the bike, without e-assist.
    - annywhey 8y ago
      The folding scooters(which do come in e-form) strike a good balance between transportation and transportable: You can take them on transit, and carry them inside. Folding and unfolding - on well designed examples, with a bit of practice - can be accomplished in seconds. Walking a bike really doesn't compare. I see non-folding e-scooters as a category restricted to "stunt users" (who need the extra structural integrity) and "rental companies" - who, as we know, are going to encourage leaving them on the sidewalk. Electric skateboards and roller skates can boast being even lighter, but most folks will gravitate away from them as a commute device since maintaining control is much more difficult.

woolvalley 8y ago

You don't go as fast as a bike, but you go faster than walking.

grogenaut 8y ago
And you don't have to use your own legs like a sucker.