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These things are still a bit far outside the mainstream, but if anyone hasn't tried an ebike yet, I highly encourage it! It really is magic mobility, with the

These things are still a bit far outside the mainstream, but if anyone hasn't tried an ebike yet, I highly encourage it! It really is magic mobility, with the free feeling of being on a bike, without the sweat or the necessary fitness to travel at 20 or even 25 mph. I don't think Twikes (or other recumbent bikes / velomobiles) will gain popularity in the near term, but I'm very confident that ebikes will continue to grow.

hkt 5y ago
In the UK they're limited to 15mph and only operate in assist mode (as opposed to full drive). Where are you that allows that kind of speed?
- samcheng 5y ago
  In the US they are limited to 20mph, unless you get the 'speed' version, in which case they are limited to 28mph and technically forbidden from most bike trails. 20mph is a pretty decent clip for a (manual) bicyclist, but 28mph is really moving!
- pornel 5y ago
  The limit is a bit annoying, but in practice cars in city traffic aren't moving much faster than this anyway[1]. During rush hours even a limited bike is faster than the cars. [1] https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2019/19767 https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2019/19767
  - hkt 5y ago
    No doubt, I just had misgivings about the speed. I can't find anything on how much safer 15mph is vs 28mph (sibling comment) but imagine the difference is considerable.
- gambiting 5y ago
  I mean, you can absolutely go faster than 15mph on an electric bike in the UK, it's just that it has to stop providing any boost past that point.
- jmrm 5y ago
  But who keep an eye on that? In Spain the speed limit of any bike is 45 km/h (around 28 mph), and when we are in the road with bigger limits to other vehicles, outside the city normally, we are faster than that (if we can) and nobody bothers. Even the police won't tell you anything unless you're doing something dangerous.
  - ofrzeta 5y ago
    Might be an insurance issue, though.
    - sunshineforever 5y ago
      Mandatory insurance to ride an e bike? How sad.

hkt 5y ago

In the UK they're limited to 15mph and only operate in assist mode (as opposed to full drive). Where are you that allows that kind of speed?

samcheng 5y ago
In the US they are limited to 20mph, unless you get the 'speed' version, in which case they are limited to 28mph and technically forbidden from most bike trails. 20mph is a pretty decent clip for a (manual) bicyclist, but 28mph is really moving!
pornel 5y ago
The limit is a bit annoying, but in practice cars in city traffic aren't moving much faster than this anyway[1]. During rush hours even a limited bike is faster than the cars. [1] https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2019/19767 https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2019/19767
- hkt 5y ago
  No doubt, I just had misgivings about the speed. I can't find anything on how much safer 15mph is vs 28mph (sibling comment) but imagine the difference is considerable.
gambiting 5y ago
I mean, you can absolutely go faster than 15mph on an electric bike in the UK, it's just that it has to stop providing any boost past that point.
jmrm 5y ago
But who keep an eye on that? In Spain the speed limit of any bike is 45 km/h (around 28 mph), and when we are in the road with bigger limits to other vehicles, outside the city normally, we are faster than that (if we can) and nobody bothers. Even the police won't tell you anything unless you're doing something dangerous.
- ofrzeta 5y ago
  Might be an insurance issue, though.
  - sunshineforever 5y ago
    Mandatory insurance to ride an e bike? How sad.