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If the built environment didn’t make them unsafe to use, e-bikes use a fraction of the battery and weight and cover most use cases, because most people are not

If the built environment didn’t make them unsafe to use, e-bikes use a fraction of the battery and weight and cover most use cases, because most people are not doing things like moving a couch most of the time. The US has some of the most bonkers bike lanes I’ve ever seen; my favorite is a bike lane sandwiched between a main travel lane and a high-speed right-turn slip lane.

monknomo 3y ago
those are bonkers and yet, when there is no bike lane, it's usually even worse
- lostlogin 3y ago
  I’m not convinced it’s worse - I often bike on the road with a cycle lane next to me. Bins, rubbish, man holes, street signs, uneven surfaces etc etc ruin bike lanes.
hibikir 3y ago
In large parts of the US, suburban distances and very bad biking weather make e-bikes cover relatively few use cases: When a shopping trip is a 15 minute car drive, and a typical commute to work is 40 minutes, the e-bike doesn't win at all. Perfect lanes don't cut bad distances, 100F summers or -10F winters. And often yes, what we see in US bike infrastructure is unsafe, leading to basically no cyclist using it. Bikes are great when your development pattern is Netherlands-like: Not dense enough for serious public transport to the home, or to do everything on foot, yet not so light that many trips go past 10 miles. I bet there's a few large metro areas that could support this, but in a lot of the country, it's not about unsafe lanes.
- bobthepanda 3y ago
  I think there is more here than meets the eye. The modern suburban arterial often has light cycles measured in a few minutes, which adds up if you're hitting a bunch of them. Dedicated bike infrastructure, even at high volumes, does not require coming to a full stop, so while the top speed might be lower, the average is more competitive than it appears. And grade separating a bike lane is a lot easier than a whole suburban road.
- campl3r 3y ago
  Weather is not a major factor in ridership given good infrastructure.
  - devilbunny 3y ago
    On what planet? Finns ride bikes in very cold weather, but what do you do about New Orleans, where it's 75 F at 4 AM with 100% humidity? You absolutely need showers at work for anyone who is going to bike in because they will be covered in sweat. A lot more people in this world live in the tropics than the frigid north.
    - okr 3y ago
      Frigid north? What are you implying?
      - devilbunny 3y ago
        It’s cold close to the poles, right? Been that way every time I’ve gotten near.
        okr 3y ago
        Maybe it would not be that cold, if
        devilbunny 3y ago
        If what?

monknomo 3y ago

those are bonkers and yet, when there is no bike lane, it's usually even worse

lostlogin 3y ago
I’m not convinced it’s worse - I often bike on the road with a cycle lane next to me. Bins, rubbish, man holes, street signs, uneven surfaces etc etc ruin bike lanes.

hibikir 3y ago

In large parts of the US, suburban distances and very bad biking weather make e-bikes cover relatively few use cases: When a shopping trip is a 15 minute car drive, and a typical commute to work is 40 minutes, the e-bike doesn't win at all. Perfect lanes don't cut bad distances, 100F summers or -10F winters. And often yes, what we see in US bike infrastructure is unsafe, leading to basically no cyclist using it. Bikes are great when your development pattern is Netherlands-like: Not dense enough for serious public transport to the home, or to do everything on foot, yet not so light that many trips go past 10 miles. I bet there's a few large metro areas that could support this, but in a lot of the country, it's not about unsafe lanes.

bobthepanda 3y ago
I think there is more here than meets the eye. The modern suburban arterial often has light cycles measured in a few minutes, which adds up if you're hitting a bunch of them. Dedicated bike infrastructure, even at high volumes, does not require coming to a full stop, so while the top speed might be lower, the average is more competitive than it appears. And grade separating a bike lane is a lot easier than a whole suburban road.
campl3r 3y ago
Weather is not a major factor in ridership given good infrastructure.
- devilbunny 3y ago
  On what planet? Finns ride bikes in very cold weather, but what do you do about New Orleans, where it's 75 F at 4 AM with 100% humidity? You absolutely need showers at work for anyone who is going to bike in because they will be covered in sweat. A lot more people in this world live in the tropics than the frigid north.
  - okr 3y ago
    Frigid north? What are you implying?
    - devilbunny 3y ago
      It’s cold close to the poles, right? Been that way every time I’ve gotten near.
      - okr 3y ago
        Maybe it would not be that cold, if
        devilbunny 3y ago
        If what?