4 ms·

Why? Is there supposed to be any problem in riding suitcases besides the very fact this formally breaks a law? Shouldn't they better just update the law to add

Why? Is there supposed to be any problem in riding suitcases besides the very fact this formally breaks a law? Shouldn't they better just update the law to add an exception?

fermentation 2y ago
The areas where these would be used are super crowded, it is likely that the riders are constantly bumping into people.
- qwerty456127 2y ago
  I see. Why not just limit the speed to that of a fast walking / slow running human and/or fine those who would ride carelessly enough to bump so people would have to remember deciding to ride means taking responsibility? Maybe also ban using smartphone while riding.
  - Avicebron 2y ago
    I think a formal way to assert that someone will follow those rules/be mindful is a license..
  - Loughla 2y ago
    >people would have to remember deciding to ride means taking responsibility And that, dear reader, is where the plan falls apart entirely. But for real, regulation exists because large groups of people generally can't be expected to act rationally.
    - shiroiushi 2y ago
      >But for real, regulation exists because large groups of people generally can't be expected to act rationally. Especially tourists, who are the main users of these electric suitcases.
- dheera 2y ago
  I imagine there is also a real concern that a lot of these things are using Lithium batteries from no-name companies that cannot be tracked down and held responsible if there is an explosion.
irjustin 2y ago
> Shouldn't they better just update the law to add an exception? No, the point is in crowded places like airports you don't want people zipping around on electric scooters, suitcases or otherwise, running into people - esp elderly.
- nomel 2y ago
  So, a speed limit rather than a complete ban?
  - ehnto 2y ago
    No one wants you zipping around them on a suitcase in general, I dont think a speed limit helps (also enforcement). A complete ban makes sense for the same reason you can't ride your bicycle or scooter in the airport.
  - irjustin 2y ago
    Enforcement is not worth the benefit of allowing luggage scooters. You've got to have "police" everywhere who need to be trained to identify when someone is going too fast. Who does enforcement? Actual police? You need a lot more police than normal. Airport staff? They're not enforcers. They keep the carts in the right location and bathrooms tidy. But, let's say you can have enforcers. So enforcer says slow down, kid says okayyyyyyy and then goes fast again right out of eye sight. But speed limits on the luggage! No way, so add an on/off button to comply because no one wants to buy only a slow luggage, but you've still got that person who "won't airplane mode". Repeat offenders? Now you've just confiscated their luggage. That's gonna be good. In this scenario, electric luggage == actual scooter. You don't ride actual scooters through an airport, but I've seen so many electric luggage scooters. I admit they're cool af and everytime I see someone on one I'm jelly. They're their own advertising. But they're at an airpot and it's crowded for the speed. I'm already stressed enough - I don't need your kid running into me at speed.
  - makeitdouble 2y ago
    That could be the way. Now would these still sell if the speed limit was 2km/h ?
inkyoto 2y ago
Saving money on a cab fare and getting the suitcase to drive its owner to the hotel either using footpaths or public roads.
ehnto 2y ago
Those rules are about delineation between scooters and bicycles. The easiest way to think about it is this: Bicycles have performance limitations for safety and licensing reasons, pedal assist with a speed limit has proven a convenient performance measure for a bicycle in a bunch of countries. Scooters have no such performance restrictions and as such require licensing, age limits, insurance and all that jazz. So TL;DR it's just a convenient demarcation between two classes of vehicle performance, that doesn't also limit human only powered bicycles or full scooters.

Why? Is there supposed to be any problem in riding suitcases besides the very fact this formally breaks a law? Shouldn't they better just update the law to add an exception?

fermentation 2y ago

The areas where these would be used are super crowded, it is likely that the riders are constantly bumping into people.

qwerty456127 2y ago
I see. Why not just limit the speed to that of a fast walking / slow running human and/or fine those who would ride carelessly enough to bump so people would have to remember deciding to ride means taking responsibility? Maybe also ban using smartphone while riding.
- Avicebron 2y ago
  I think a formal way to assert that someone will follow those rules/be mindful is a license..
- Loughla 2y ago
  >people would have to remember deciding to ride means taking responsibility And that, dear reader, is where the plan falls apart entirely. But for real, regulation exists because large groups of people generally can't be expected to act rationally.
  - shiroiushi 2y ago
    >But for real, regulation exists because large groups of people generally can't be expected to act rationally. Especially tourists, who are the main users of these electric suitcases.
dheera 2y ago
I imagine there is also a real concern that a lot of these things are using Lithium batteries from no-name companies that cannot be tracked down and held responsible if there is an explosion.

irjustin 2y ago

> Shouldn't they better just update the law to add an exception? No, the point is in crowded places like airports you don't want people zipping around on electric scooters, suitcases or otherwise, running into people - esp elderly.

nomel 2y ago
So, a speed limit rather than a complete ban?
- ehnto 2y ago
  No one wants you zipping around them on a suitcase in general, I dont think a speed limit helps (also enforcement). A complete ban makes sense for the same reason you can't ride your bicycle or scooter in the airport.
- irjustin 2y ago
  Enforcement is not worth the benefit of allowing luggage scooters. You've got to have "police" everywhere who need to be trained to identify when someone is going too fast. Who does enforcement? Actual police? You need a lot more police than normal. Airport staff? They're not enforcers. They keep the carts in the right location and bathrooms tidy. But, let's say you can have enforcers. So enforcer says slow down, kid says okayyyyyyy and then goes fast again right out of eye sight. But speed limits on the luggage! No way, so add an on/off button to comply because no one wants to buy only a slow luggage, but you've still got that person who "won't airplane mode". Repeat offenders? Now you've just confiscated their luggage. That's gonna be good. In this scenario, electric luggage == actual scooter. You don't ride actual scooters through an airport, but I've seen so many electric luggage scooters. I admit they're cool af and everytime I see someone on one I'm jelly. They're their own advertising. But they're at an airpot and it's crowded for the speed. I'm already stressed enough - I don't need your kid running into me at speed.
- makeitdouble 2y ago
  That could be the way. Now would these still sell if the speed limit was 2km/h ?

inkyoto 2y ago

Saving money on a cab fare and getting the suitcase to drive its owner to the hotel either using footpaths or public roads.

ehnto 2y ago

Those rules are about delineation between scooters and bicycles. The easiest way to think about it is this: Bicycles have performance limitations for safety and licensing reasons, pedal assist with a speed limit has proven a convenient performance measure for a bicycle in a bunch of countries. Scooters have no such performance restrictions and as such require licensing, age limits, insurance and all that jazz. So TL;DR it's just a convenient demarcation between two classes of vehicle performance, that doesn't also limit human only powered bicycles or full scooters.