6 ms·

We're plagued by these, and by souped up electric trail bikes. Kids far too young to die or get quadriplegia, blasting around in traffic. Usually with no sense

by ggm 8mo ago

We're plagued by these, and by souped up electric trail bikes. Kids far too young to die or get quadriplegia, blasting around in traffic. Usually with no sense of time and place. By law they are meant to be 25kph speed capped and require pedalling. They are doing 50pkh plus and take off like a scalded cat, doing wheelies. I'm terrified for my own safety and theirs. I can't see this ending well.

14 8mo ago
I also hate it when kids have fun
- ggm 8mo ago
  Look I get it, I deserve an "ok boomer" but they have got at BEST cycle protection, certainly not a full face helmet, rarely shoes even. It's a disaster waiting to happen. There were 14 deaths in Queensland in 2025 for this class of vehicle, way above normal level.
  - LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
    You know? Since about 1980 I did wheelies too, on my road bicycle. And up to 70kph on flat grounds for up to two minutes. Then having to go down to 55 to 60, which I could hold up for an hour, depending on weather, fitness (varying). No helmet, ever. Also no broken bones, or having caused others to crash. Annoyances maybe, but such is youth :-) I'm of the opinion that this "disaster waiting to happen" thinking is a disaster by itself. I may concede that some of these kids are too reckless too often to be good for them, because e-bikes make it too easy to go that fast, without having developed the ability to handle these speeds safely first, or knowing where not to(sharp curves, rain, wet leafs, sand, fine gravel, etc(Did I mention I rode iced roads in winter?)). But in principle the ride is getting more stable at higher speeds, because gyroscopically stabilized by the spinning wheels. I see it as a darwinian filter of fitness. Sieving out stupid. Just like that. If you don't give youth the chance to navigate that, there will be more and more unfit. No amount of laws will change that.
    - defrost 8mo ago
      We all took risks in the 1980s, kids thrive on risk. The element of risk existing is not the argument being made here by ggm - it's the morphing and stretching of of the acturial mortality and morbidity curve. The claim being made is that unregulateled electric bikes mixing in neophyte road users, suburban traffic, uncapped speeds, etc is increasing the per capita risk for an age band over what it was when "we" inhabited that demographic tribe back in our short pant days.
      - LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
        Just one of GAIA's ways of getting rid of "elite overproduction" in an already overpopulated world.
    - Levitating 8mo ago
      Do you live in areas where these fat bikes are popular? I am fine with youth experimenting with dangerous stuff. What I have a problem with is having my small bike-oriented city be filled with kids pretending to be gangsters racing around on electric bikes with complete disregard to others.
      - LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
        Depends. Where I spend most of my time they seem to be actually forbidden by the BLM, which covers most of possible tracks. Maybe because of that they are uncommon on downtown roads, too? It's also an image thing there, like "Electric assistance? Loser!" Tourists may see it different, but then they'd have to bring them with them. Seems impractical when most of them are already packed with skis, snowboards, and coming by regional plane from larger hubs. Which most them do. Where I only visit nowadays, they seem also to be uncommon, except for the feeble things capped to 25kph. E-Scooters are way more annoying there. Be it by their drivers, or them simply being dropped in the midst of the way for whatever reason.
    - NkVczPkybiXICG 8mo ago
      55kph is about how fast Remco Evenepoel just did a flat 12km time trial in the UAE tour, to win it. I think you’re being a touch overconfident if you think you can hold that for an hour.
- bartvk 8mo ago
  You probably joke but I'm an avid motorcycle rider and when I ride in the 30 km/h (20 mph) zones in my city, these kids race past me. No matter it scares the shit out of me, when an accident occurs then the injuries will be horrific. I'm not against them, to be sure. I don't know the solution, really. Maybe campaign for helmets, but how effective is that going to be?
  - blitzar 8mo ago
    > I don't know the solution Fat middle aged men could start riding them or instead of shouting at them as they ride by Karens could cruise past on theirs. That ought to do it.
    - adaml_623 8mo ago
      It seems to have stopped "6 7..." I understand even the British PM helped out with the cringe
- hennell 8mo ago
  Some kids near me had fun throwing rocks from a bridge above the motorway. Someone's windshield got smashed, but hey the kids had fun!
madaxe_again 8mo ago
I saw a young lady on a velocipede travelling at a positively indecent speed, wearing trousers, and several horses were rather badly startled. The moral degeneracy of the younger generation knows no bounds.

by ggm 8mo ago

14 8mo ago

I also hate it when kids have fun

ggm 8mo ago
Look I get it, I deserve an "ok boomer" but they have got at BEST cycle protection, certainly not a full face helmet, rarely shoes even. It's a disaster waiting to happen. There were 14 deaths in Queensland in 2025 for this class of vehicle, way above normal level.
- LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
  You know? Since about 1980 I did wheelies too, on my road bicycle. And up to 70kph on flat grounds for up to two minutes. Then having to go down to 55 to 60, which I could hold up for an hour, depending on weather, fitness (varying). No helmet, ever. Also no broken bones, or having caused others to crash. Annoyances maybe, but such is youth :-) I'm of the opinion that this "disaster waiting to happen" thinking is a disaster by itself. I may concede that some of these kids are too reckless too often to be good for them, because e-bikes make it too easy to go that fast, without having developed the ability to handle these speeds safely first, or knowing where not to(sharp curves, rain, wet leafs, sand, fine gravel, etc(Did I mention I rode iced roads in winter?)). But in principle the ride is getting more stable at higher speeds, because gyroscopically stabilized by the spinning wheels. I see it as a darwinian filter of fitness. Sieving out stupid. Just like that. If you don't give youth the chance to navigate that, there will be more and more unfit. No amount of laws will change that.
  - defrost 8mo ago
    We all took risks in the 1980s, kids thrive on risk. The element of risk existing is not the argument being made here by ggm - it's the morphing and stretching of of the acturial mortality and morbidity curve. The claim being made is that unregulateled electric bikes mixing in neophyte road users, suburban traffic, uncapped speeds, etc is increasing the per capita risk for an age band over what it was when "we" inhabited that demographic tribe back in our short pant days.
    - LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
      Just one of GAIA's ways of getting rid of "elite overproduction" in an already overpopulated world.
  - Levitating 8mo ago
    Do you live in areas where these fat bikes are popular? I am fine with youth experimenting with dangerous stuff. What I have a problem with is having my small bike-oriented city be filled with kids pretending to be gangsters racing around on electric bikes with complete disregard to others.
    - LargoLasskhyfv 8mo ago
      Depends. Where I spend most of my time they seem to be actually forbidden by the BLM, which covers most of possible tracks. Maybe because of that they are uncommon on downtown roads, too? It's also an image thing there, like "Electric assistance? Loser!" Tourists may see it different, but then they'd have to bring them with them. Seems impractical when most of them are already packed with skis, snowboards, and coming by regional plane from larger hubs. Which most them do. Where I only visit nowadays, they seem also to be uncommon, except for the feeble things capped to 25kph. E-Scooters are way more annoying there. Be it by their drivers, or them simply being dropped in the midst of the way for whatever reason.
  - NkVczPkybiXICG 8mo ago
    55kph is about how fast Remco Evenepoel just did a flat 12km time trial in the UAE tour, to win it. I think you’re being a touch overconfident if you think you can hold that for an hour.
bartvk 8mo ago
You probably joke but I'm an avid motorcycle rider and when I ride in the 30 km/h (20 mph) zones in my city, these kids race past me. No matter it scares the shit out of me, when an accident occurs then the injuries will be horrific. I'm not against them, to be sure. I don't know the solution, really. Maybe campaign for helmets, but how effective is that going to be?
- blitzar 8mo ago
  > I don't know the solution Fat middle aged men could start riding them or instead of shouting at them as they ride by Karens could cruise past on theirs. That ought to do it.
  - adaml_623 8mo ago
    It seems to have stopped "6 7..." I understand even the British PM helped out with the cringe
hennell 8mo ago
Some kids near me had fun throwing rocks from a bridge above the motorway. Someone's windshield got smashed, but hey the kids had fun!

madaxe_again 8mo ago

I saw a young lady on a velocipede travelling at a positively indecent speed, wearing trousers, and several horses were rather badly startled. The moral degeneracy of the younger generation knows no bounds.