4 ms·

I think we need some kind of education around them. In cities I've lived in people are extremely reckless on these bikes.

paulgb 3y ago
I’ve seen this in some cities too, but me this just says that those cities have such a lack of cycling infrastructure that only reckless people are willing to ride bikes. I don’t think there’s anything particular about e-bikes that attracts reckless people compared to trucks or motorcycles.
- roflyear 3y ago
  That's true, I would not be against making some streets bike-only. > I don’t think there’s anything particular about e-bikes that attracts reckless people compared to trucks or motorcycles. I would disagree with this. The people who are reckless are working - they are doing deliveries and trying to get as many jobs in as they can.
PpEY4fu85hkQpn 3y ago
There is plenty of data on this topic and it all shows that people riding bikes break rules at the same or lower rate than people driving cars. And unlike cars, they aren't one of the leading causes of death in the US. https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/03/study-cyclists-dont-break-traffic-laws-any-more-than-drivers-do/ https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/03/study-cyclists-dont-b... https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists-break-far-fewer-road-rules-than-motorists-finds-new-video-study/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists... https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/871 https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/871 https://daily.jstor.org/are-cyclists-reckless-lawbreakers/ https://daily.jstor.org/are-cyclists-reckless-lawbreakers/
- roflyear 3y ago
  I break the law on my bike a lot more than my car, but I don't ride an ebike on the sidewalk where pedestrians are. That's what I'm talking about. I run stop signs on my bike all the time (like at 4 way stops) - I don't think this is very dangerous if you do it properly. Obviously I slow down to like a few MPH and can stop quickly if I see a car/someone crossing the street/whatever.
analog31 3y ago
I've noticed that rider behavior has gradually improved. Beginners tend to bring their car driving habits with them, such as "when in doubt, accelerate." And it takes time to master starting and stopping, especially on a heavy bike that's a bit ungainly at low speeds. They also figure out what speed is appropriate for their bike handling skills, which is often not the top speed of the bike. There are a few people who ride balls out, but tend to be in control of their bikes.
sleepybrett 3y ago
.. i'll take a reckless bicyclist over a reckless driver behind the wheel of a car every day of the week.
- roflyear 3y ago
  ebike is a lot different than a bicycle, they are often really big and heavy.
  - sleepybrett 3y ago
    I'm aware, I own one. My point still stands. I'd rather be hit by an ebike going 25mph than a ford f150 going 25mph, hell even a model3 going 25mph.
    - roflyear 3y ago
      I think it's pretty rare for F150s to be driving on the sidewalk, thankfully.
      - sleepybrett 3y ago
        pretty common in unprotected bike lanes being as wide as they are, kills lots of people in crosswalks as well.

paulgb 3y ago

I’ve seen this in some cities too, but me this just says that those cities have such a lack of cycling infrastructure that only reckless people are willing to ride bikes. I don’t think there’s anything particular about e-bikes that attracts reckless people compared to trucks or motorcycles.

roflyear 3y ago
That's true, I would not be against making some streets bike-only. > I don’t think there’s anything particular about e-bikes that attracts reckless people compared to trucks or motorcycles. I would disagree with this. The people who are reckless are working - they are doing deliveries and trying to get as many jobs in as they can.

PpEY4fu85hkQpn 3y ago

There is plenty of data on this topic and it all shows that people riding bikes break rules at the same or lower rate than people driving cars. And unlike cars, they aren't one of the leading causes of death in the US. https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/03/study-cyclists-dont-break-traffic-laws-any-more-than-drivers-do/ https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/03/study-cyclists-dont-b... https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists-break-far-fewer-road-rules-than-motorists-finds-new-video-study/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2019/05/10/cyclists... https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/871 https://www.jtlu.org/index.php/jtlu/article/view/871 https://daily.jstor.org/are-cyclists-reckless-lawbreakers/ https://daily.jstor.org/are-cyclists-reckless-lawbreakers/

roflyear 3y ago
I break the law on my bike a lot more than my car, but I don't ride an ebike on the sidewalk where pedestrians are. That's what I'm talking about. I run stop signs on my bike all the time (like at 4 way stops) - I don't think this is very dangerous if you do it properly. Obviously I slow down to like a few MPH and can stop quickly if I see a car/someone crossing the street/whatever.

analog31 3y ago

I've noticed that rider behavior has gradually improved. Beginners tend to bring their car driving habits with them, such as "when in doubt, accelerate." And it takes time to master starting and stopping, especially on a heavy bike that's a bit ungainly at low speeds. They also figure out what speed is appropriate for their bike handling skills, which is often not the top speed of the bike. There are a few people who ride balls out, but tend to be in control of their bikes.

sleepybrett 3y ago

.. i'll take a reckless bicyclist over a reckless driver behind the wheel of a car every day of the week.

roflyear 3y ago
ebike is a lot different than a bicycle, they are often really big and heavy.
- sleepybrett 3y ago
  I'm aware, I own one. My point still stands. I'd rather be hit by an ebike going 25mph than a ford f150 going 25mph, hell even a model3 going 25mph.
  - roflyear 3y ago
    I think it's pretty rare for F150s to be driving on the sidewalk, thankfully.
    - sleepybrett 3y ago
      pretty common in unprotected bike lanes being as wide as they are, kills lots of people in crosswalks as well.