4 ms·

I would love to be able to bike to work. But I can't, even if there were bike lanes. I live in an American suburb, which by design is located far from industria

by Lendal 5y ago

I would love to be able to bike to work. But I can't, even if there were bike lanes. I live in an American suburb, which by design is located far from industrial areas, where jobs are. Too far to bike. There are a few high-density residential buildings in the CBD, but they are only affordable for millionaires. The public transportation here is for show. Two years ago, the highway nearby completed a 5-year widening project. During that time, traffic was so bad I had to check Google Maps every day to find out which route I should use. Now that the project is complete, I never check Google Maps anymore. I just use the highway without even bothering, as the cost to drive on it is now clearly the cheapest. My life is better in the short term, but eventually more homes will be built, traffic will increase, at some point I'll have to go back to checking Google Maps every day, and they'll start another road-widening project. I've lived here long enough to experience this cycle first-hand, and nothing has changed logically that would stop this loop from executing again and again. At some point, I'm sure a physical limit will be reached. Either we run out of space, or run out of money, or something else.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
breput 5y ago
Electric bikes really change the "too far to bike" equation. Depending on your fitness level and the route, you could easily ride 10 miles (or more) and arrive with minimal sweat.
- abfan1127 5y ago
  I agree about the "too far to bike". my current commute is 30+ miles. It still falls into the "too far" category. I do plan on moving within 10 mi which I'm very interested in the bike. Issues still stand that it limits my ability to run errands during the day. I don't run errands every day, but now I'd have to plan. Another downside is I live in Phoenix where summers are 110degF for 60-70 days. Winter is nice!
  - Lendal 5y ago
    I'm within 10 miles, so now I guess I need to go to some city council meetings and lobby for a bike lane or sidewalk or something. Right now, of all the highways leading to this industrial park (yes it's well within city limits), none of them have a sidewalk or bike lane. The road shoulders are high grass. It's not a new highway either. This highway has been here literally for decades. Yet it has no sidewalks, bike lanes, or shoulders. Plenty of room to build them. The will is simply not there.
    - andylynch 5y ago
      Good idea. 10 miles is a very bikable distance (my ride is 8), but it sounds like the bigger problem is your roads are only built for one kind of traffic.
- gnarcoregrizz 5y ago
  There are some crazy cool electric mopeds and motorcycles now too (6k watts+). Small, <100 lbs, 50 mph, 30 miles+ range, full suspension, nearly silent... so fun. Seems like they fly under the radar enough to not attract attention but are still ridden around on the roads unplated or in the bike lanes. Personally I don't care but some people get mad at that stuff. I'm of the opinion that its one less car on the road. Maybe some infrastructure will be dedicated to those types of vehicles because riding on the roads is just too dangerous considering that the flow of traffic in California is often 60+ mph on regular sized throughways. Anecdotally, I'm seeing a lot more kids and teens on e-everything
  - bobthepanda 5y ago
    50mph is going to kill somebody, potentially two people, if someone loses control and crashes into a much slower moving manual bike or pedestrian.
    - avhon1 5y ago
      These are "electric mopeds and motorcycles", legal street vehicles that are operated on streets, not bike lanes or sidewalks. They fit in the same niche as 49cc scooters and 125cc motorcycles, and are quieter and cleaner.
      - bagacrap 5y ago
        "ridden around on the roads unplated or in the bike lanes" I share GP's concern.
    - gnarcoregrizz 5y ago
      I agree which is why I would like to see more infrastructure dedicated to these types of vehicles. They don't quite fit into bike lanes as long as there are actual bikers (also bike lanes in the US generally suck). Riding on sidewalks sucks for pedestrians. Riding on roads is too dangerous in my opinion because drivers suck and traffic moves too quickly. So, higher power e-vehicles are stuck to roads and bike lanes because there's nowhere else to ride. I've heard they are difficult or impossible to get plated (seems like it depends on whos working at the dmv). A lot don't bother because emopeds are stealth (small, look like bike, quiet), so people/police don't bother them unless they're being a total dick

by Lendal 5y ago

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

breput 5y ago

Electric bikes really change the "too far to bike" equation. Depending on your fitness level and the route, you could easily ride 10 miles (or more) and arrive with minimal sweat.

abfan1127 5y ago
I agree about the "too far to bike". my current commute is 30+ miles. It still falls into the "too far" category. I do plan on moving within 10 mi which I'm very interested in the bike. Issues still stand that it limits my ability to run errands during the day. I don't run errands every day, but now I'd have to plan. Another downside is I live in Phoenix where summers are 110degF for 60-70 days. Winter is nice!
- Lendal 5y ago
  I'm within 10 miles, so now I guess I need to go to some city council meetings and lobby for a bike lane or sidewalk or something. Right now, of all the highways leading to this industrial park (yes it's well within city limits), none of them have a sidewalk or bike lane. The road shoulders are high grass. It's not a new highway either. This highway has been here literally for decades. Yet it has no sidewalks, bike lanes, or shoulders. Plenty of room to build them. The will is simply not there.
  - andylynch 5y ago
    Good idea. 10 miles is a very bikable distance (my ride is 8), but it sounds like the bigger problem is your roads are only built for one kind of traffic.
gnarcoregrizz 5y ago
There are some crazy cool electric mopeds and motorcycles now too (6k watts+). Small, <100 lbs, 50 mph, 30 miles+ range, full suspension, nearly silent... so fun. Seems like they fly under the radar enough to not attract attention but are still ridden around on the roads unplated or in the bike lanes. Personally I don't care but some people get mad at that stuff. I'm of the opinion that its one less car on the road. Maybe some infrastructure will be dedicated to those types of vehicles because riding on the roads is just too dangerous considering that the flow of traffic in California is often 60+ mph on regular sized throughways. Anecdotally, I'm seeing a lot more kids and teens on e-everything
- bobthepanda 5y ago
  50mph is going to kill somebody, potentially two people, if someone loses control and crashes into a much slower moving manual bike or pedestrian.
  - avhon1 5y ago
    These are "electric mopeds and motorcycles", legal street vehicles that are operated on streets, not bike lanes or sidewalks. They fit in the same niche as 49cc scooters and 125cc motorcycles, and are quieter and cleaner.
    - bagacrap 5y ago
      "ridden around on the roads unplated or in the bike lanes" I share GP's concern.
  - gnarcoregrizz 5y ago
    I agree which is why I would like to see more infrastructure dedicated to these types of vehicles. They don't quite fit into bike lanes as long as there are actual bikers (also bike lanes in the US generally suck). Riding on sidewalks sucks for pedestrians. Riding on roads is too dangerous in my opinion because drivers suck and traffic moves too quickly. So, higher power e-vehicles are stuck to roads and bike lanes because there's nowhere else to ride. I've heard they are difficult or impossible to get plated (seems like it depends on whos working at the dmv). A lot don't bother because emopeds are stealth (small, look like bike, quiet), so people/police don't bother them unless they're being a total dick