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This was a pretty good read, if somewhat depressing. One optimistic thing I've noticed with respect to cheap (close-distance) travel is that personal electric

This was a pretty good read, if somewhat depressing. One optimistic thing I've noticed with respect to cheap (close-distance) travel is that personal electric scooters and bikes are becoming more noticeable on streets and sidewalks. I own a scooter and have considered consolidating vehicles with my wife, since I ride my scooter to work (winters are the main drawback). Transportation is called out specifically as a reason for dread in this terrific article https://www.residentcontrarian.com/i/32348260/transportation https://www.residentcontrarian.com/i/32348260/transportation Hopefully small electric transport can help.

rufus_foreman 3y ago
>> personal electric scooters and bikes are becoming more noticeable on streets and sidewalks How long does it take to get from Detroit to LA on a personal electric scooter?
- kylehotchkiss 3y ago
  This sounds like the beginning to an excellent Youtube series!
- throw0101c 3y ago
  These fellows did it in sixty-two days: * https://electrek.co/2020/08/27/segway-teases-new-electric-moped-after-4000-mile-cross-country-e-scooter-ride/ https://electrek.co/2020/08/27/segway-teases-new-electric-mo... * https://web.archive.org/web/20230507093230/https://riderguide.com/blog/scooter-crossing-documentary/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230507093230/https://riderguid... * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_PSH8MBTc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_PSH8MBTc * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransAmerica_Bicycle_Trail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransAmerica_Bicycle_Trail That was going a max of 18.6 mi/h (30 km/h); there are ones that can go >90 km/h: * https://escooternerds.com/fastest-electric-scooters/ https://escooternerds.com/fastest-electric-scooters/
  - rahimnathwani 3y ago
    swapping out scooters as each battery was depleted to avoid waiting around while the scooters charged. That doesn't seem feasible for a regular journey.
    - throw0101a 3y ago
      Connect a solar panel? * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZJqynNhOk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZJqynNhOk :)
  - komali2 3y ago
    In Taiwan my buddy combined the extensive battery swap electric scooter infrastructure with a huandao, which means around the island trip. It took him like a month. He said it was interesting but tedious, needing to stop sometimes every hour if he was riding hard in the mountains. I think the big scooters can go something like 120km flat on a double battery stack. That same ride can be done comfortably in a week on a gas motorcycle or overnight in a car if you can change drivers. In a train it can be done in just under a day. I just don't think personal vehicles are the path forward for moving humans.
    - lmm 3y ago
      You can ride around Taiwan in less than a week on a regular pedal bicycle (I've done the twin ride around Shikoku).
      - komali2 3y ago
        Yeah but it sucks lol. I could do it in 24 hours on my motorcycle but it would be miserable.
        lmm 3y ago
        I enjoyed it a lot, shrug.
rahimnathwani 3y ago
personal electric scooters and bikes are becoming more noticeable on streets and sidewalks Electric scooters on sidewalks are a hazard to pedestrians, at least the way they are typically ridden in San Francisco.
- kevincox 3y ago
  They would be great in bike lanes. If you can replace some cars with electric scooters that will likely help traffic.

rufus_foreman 3y ago

>> personal electric scooters and bikes are becoming more noticeable on streets and sidewalks How long does it take to get from Detroit to LA on a personal electric scooter?

kylehotchkiss 3y ago
This sounds like the beginning to an excellent Youtube series!
throw0101c 3y ago
These fellows did it in sixty-two days: * https://electrek.co/2020/08/27/segway-teases-new-electric-moped-after-4000-mile-cross-country-e-scooter-ride/ https://electrek.co/2020/08/27/segway-teases-new-electric-mo... * https://web.archive.org/web/20230507093230/https://riderguide.com/blog/scooter-crossing-documentary/ https://web.archive.org/web/20230507093230/https://riderguid... * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_PSH8MBTc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw_PSH8MBTc * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransAmerica_Bicycle_Trail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransAmerica_Bicycle_Trail That was going a max of 18.6 mi/h (30 km/h); there are ones that can go >90 km/h: * https://escooternerds.com/fastest-electric-scooters/ https://escooternerds.com/fastest-electric-scooters/
- rahimnathwani 3y ago
  swapping out scooters as each battery was depleted to avoid waiting around while the scooters charged. That doesn't seem feasible for a regular journey.
  - throw0101a 3y ago
    Connect a solar panel? * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZJqynNhOk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sZJqynNhOk :)
- komali2 3y ago
  In Taiwan my buddy combined the extensive battery swap electric scooter infrastructure with a huandao, which means around the island trip. It took him like a month. He said it was interesting but tedious, needing to stop sometimes every hour if he was riding hard in the mountains. I think the big scooters can go something like 120km flat on a double battery stack. That same ride can be done comfortably in a week on a gas motorcycle or overnight in a car if you can change drivers. In a train it can be done in just under a day. I just don't think personal vehicles are the path forward for moving humans.
  - lmm 3y ago
    You can ride around Taiwan in less than a week on a regular pedal bicycle (I've done the twin ride around Shikoku).
    - komali2 3y ago
      Yeah but it sucks lol. I could do it in 24 hours on my motorcycle but it would be miserable.
      - lmm 3y ago
        I enjoyed it a lot, shrug.

rahimnathwani 3y ago

personal electric scooters and bikes are becoming more noticeable on streets and sidewalks Electric scooters on sidewalks are a hazard to pedestrians, at least the way they are typically ridden in San Francisco.

kevincox 3y ago
They would be great in bike lanes. If you can replace some cars with electric scooters that will likely help traffic.