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> Cars weigh many tons and take up an entire lane. Bicycles do not. Nor does my motorcycle, which is narrower than many of the bicycle+cart/recumbent bike comb

> Cars weigh many tons and take up an entire lane. Bicycles do not. Nor does my motorcycle, which is narrower than many of the bicycle+cart/recumbent bike combinations I see these days. And my car weighs far less than "many tons", less than two in fact. > This demand that we come to a complete stop every 30 seconds Maybe for pushbikes. But "bicycle" now includes all the electric bikes that, imho, are getting close to motorcycles in terms of speed (ie they can maintain the speed limit). Stopping every thirty seconds is just the price of using the road. If you don't want to stop then lobby for and use separate bicycle paths away from the street.

chitowneats 5y ago
You've misunderstood my position. I'm not talking about vehicles with motors. Your original comment refers to "bicycles".
- sandworm101 5y ago
  Oh, I understand, but pushbikes are now just a subset. I was passed this morning in a school zone by a fat-tire electric "bicycle" doing at least 45 in a 30kph zone (he also blew through a crosswalk with kids in it). The fact that some people choose to move their bikes with human muscle, and others use a mix of muscle and motor, is beside the point. They are all just unregulated bicycles.
  - asoneth 5y ago
    <strike>It is misleading to refer to anything going 45mph as a "bicycle" even with quotes. It's an unlicensed motorcycle. E-bikes top out at 28mph or less in most US states. In many other countries the limit is ~15mph. Many mopeds can't even hit 45mph. But to your anecdote, it's not altogether surprising that someone driving an illegal motorcycle is also willing to break traffic laws.</strike> My mistake, I misread 45 as 45mph. I agree that anyone riding like you describe is breaking the law and should be ticketed/fined. (Personally I would not consider a fat bike that can be throttled up to 28mph to be a "bicycle" in any meaningful sense of the word, but I acknowledge that is a semantic battle that has already been lost.)
    - sandworm101 5y ago
      Please read more carefully. 28mph equals 45kph. So the bike I mentioned was very likely doing 28mph, his max speed, roughly 50% over the posted limit and well within pushbike territory in hilly terrain. (School zone are generally 30kph.)
      - asoneth 5y ago
        My mistake, I will correct. (Though I am curious where you are that has a 28mph ebike limit but that uses kph measurements.)
    - iso1631 5y ago
      In the UK an e-bike should only provide power when traveling at 20mph/32km or below. Above that it's classed as a moped and needs a helmet, license, etc.

chitowneats 5y ago

You've misunderstood my position. I'm not talking about vehicles with motors. Your original comment refers to "bicycles".

sandworm101 5y ago
Oh, I understand, but pushbikes are now just a subset. I was passed this morning in a school zone by a fat-tire electric "bicycle" doing at least 45 in a 30kph zone (he also blew through a crosswalk with kids in it). The fact that some people choose to move their bikes with human muscle, and others use a mix of muscle and motor, is beside the point. They are all just unregulated bicycles.
- asoneth 5y ago
  <strike>It is misleading to refer to anything going 45mph as a "bicycle" even with quotes. It's an unlicensed motorcycle. E-bikes top out at 28mph or less in most US states. In many other countries the limit is ~15mph. Many mopeds can't even hit 45mph. But to your anecdote, it's not altogether surprising that someone driving an illegal motorcycle is also willing to break traffic laws.</strike> My mistake, I misread 45 as 45mph. I agree that anyone riding like you describe is breaking the law and should be ticketed/fined. (Personally I would not consider a fat bike that can be throttled up to 28mph to be a "bicycle" in any meaningful sense of the word, but I acknowledge that is a semantic battle that has already been lost.)
  - sandworm101 5y ago
    Please read more carefully. 28mph equals 45kph. So the bike I mentioned was very likely doing 28mph, his max speed, roughly 50% over the posted limit and well within pushbike territory in hilly terrain. (School zone are generally 30kph.)
    - asoneth 5y ago
      My mistake, I will correct. (Though I am curious where you are that has a 28mph ebike limit but that uses kph measurements.)
  - iso1631 5y ago
    In the UK an e-bike should only provide power when traveling at 20mph/32km or below. Above that it's classed as a moped and needs a helmet, license, etc.