3 ms·

I'm glad Americans are (re-)discovering the motorcycle. It's like the 1960s all over again. But this time instead of Hondas it's e-bikes. I just hope they ta

by mulmen 3y ago

I'm glad Americans are (re-)discovering the motorcycle. It's like the 1960s all over again. But this time instead of Hondas it's e-bikes. I just hope they take a safety class and stay on the road where they belong.

nicbou 3y ago
I have a motorcycle and a bicycle. They're not comparable. After riding my motorcycle in almost every European and Central Asian country, I'm about to sell it because every nice motorcycle day is a better bicycle day. My motorcycle is stuck on the road. I can ride my bicycle to the lake and back along nice trails. All of my friends have bicycles, so they can come too. I can also ride my bicycle wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and not lug a helmet around all day. I don't need thousands of euros worth of heavy, hot equipment. I don't need ear plugs that still leave me with tinnitus. I don't pay insurance or plates. I don't worry about inspections every other year or oil changes or tired. I need only five tools to fix everything myself, and it's dirt cheap. I'm over my motorcycle phase, but I'll ride a bicycle until I'm physically unable to.
- mulmen 3y ago
  So do I. I have ridden both. Class 3 e-bikes are mopeds at a minimum. I see them on mixed use bike paths daily, going 20mph or more.
  - sleepybrett 3y ago
    I was literally just on a bike/walk trail in seattle on my e-bike, probably going about 15mph and a non-e-bike blew past me like I was standing still. I'd guess he was clocking around 30mph. While e-bikes certainly can contribute to a problem of unsafe biking on a trail, they are not the only source of that problem.
    - mulmen 3y ago
      Yes but I see a lot more e-bikes doing that than conventional cyclists. I attribute it to the very thing that is beneficial about e-bikes. They attract people who don't otherwise ride bikes. At least in my neighborhood (Alki) the fast cyclists stick to the road. The scooters are the real menace. I see more mishaps on those than anything else.
- renewiltord 3y ago
  Same. I prefer riding my ebike to work. The portability is great. It means I can just take it with me into the office instead of having to park it somewhere. E-bikes and scooters are the future of city transportation for the able. I love them.
  - mulmen 3y ago
    > It means I can just take it with me into the office instead of having to park it somewhere. I'm glad that works for you. This is explicitly forbidden in my office, for good reason. It takes up a ton of space in the elevators and there's not much space in the office to store it. In the winter it would create a muddy, slippery mess. Most places I have worked have a bike locker for this reason.
    - renewiltord 3y ago
      Consider my statement amended to "in San Francisco" wherever required.
      - mulmen 3y ago
        Yeah maybe different down there. Probably depends on the office space too. I'm in Seattle for whatever that's worth.

by mulmen 3y ago

nicbou 3y ago

I have a motorcycle and a bicycle. They're not comparable. After riding my motorcycle in almost every European and Central Asian country, I'm about to sell it because every nice motorcycle day is a better bicycle day. My motorcycle is stuck on the road. I can ride my bicycle to the lake and back along nice trails. All of my friends have bicycles, so they can come too. I can also ride my bicycle wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and not lug a helmet around all day. I don't need thousands of euros worth of heavy, hot equipment. I don't need ear plugs that still leave me with tinnitus. I don't pay insurance or plates. I don't worry about inspections every other year or oil changes or tired. I need only five tools to fix everything myself, and it's dirt cheap. I'm over my motorcycle phase, but I'll ride a bicycle until I'm physically unable to.

mulmen 3y ago
So do I. I have ridden both. Class 3 e-bikes are mopeds at a minimum. I see them on mixed use bike paths daily, going 20mph or more.
- sleepybrett 3y ago
  I was literally just on a bike/walk trail in seattle on my e-bike, probably going about 15mph and a non-e-bike blew past me like I was standing still. I'd guess he was clocking around 30mph. While e-bikes certainly can contribute to a problem of unsafe biking on a trail, they are not the only source of that problem.
  - mulmen 3y ago
    Yes but I see a lot more e-bikes doing that than conventional cyclists. I attribute it to the very thing that is beneficial about e-bikes. They attract people who don't otherwise ride bikes. At least in my neighborhood (Alki) the fast cyclists stick to the road. The scooters are the real menace. I see more mishaps on those than anything else.
renewiltord 3y ago
Same. I prefer riding my ebike to work. The portability is great. It means I can just take it with me into the office instead of having to park it somewhere. E-bikes and scooters are the future of city transportation for the able. I love them.
- mulmen 3y ago
  > It means I can just take it with me into the office instead of having to park it somewhere. I'm glad that works for you. This is explicitly forbidden in my office, for good reason. It takes up a ton of space in the elevators and there's not much space in the office to store it. In the winter it would create a muddy, slippery mess. Most places I have worked have a bike locker for this reason.
  - renewiltord 3y ago
    Consider my statement amended to "in San Francisco" wherever required.
    - mulmen 3y ago
      Yeah maybe different down there. Probably depends on the office space too. I'm in Seattle for whatever that's worth.