 The Times is right — e-bikes are a scourge and we must do everything we can to protect our fragile SUV-driving elites from these teen terrors. I propose we construct a nationwide network of separated e-bike enclosures to segregate these monsters from god-fearing motorists. I’ve attached one such example from a European petrostate that has spent years valiantly protecting cars from the ravages of cycling. With work, we may be able to reduce the number of cyclist-on-motorist deaths to zero. 34 comments
@SamTheGeek over 40,000 people were killed in car crashes last year so it’s vital we regulate … e-bikes.  @jimray They only wrote about the injury and death from last week. I live in Encinitas and e-bikes have been a problem since 2020. We have tried to get separated bike lanes as we have a huge road/tri biking community, but it hasn't happened. Everyone here comments on how many kids are riding around on the e-bikes and the near misses (mostly because kids don't know the rules). Maybe the city and other cities will be prompted to make it safe to ride for everyone. Super sad story. @kricket56 @jimray The problem with ebikes here in Philly is that people ride them exactly like they ride regular bikes (running stop signs and red lights, riding on sidewalks when convenient, etc), but they do that at like twice the speed that someone would ride a regular bicycle in the same environment. Ebikes are great, but the way people use them in cities, they're more comparable to motorcycles than bicycles. @flatplutosociety @jimray I totally agree, they need to follow the rules, especially if they are riding as fast as traffic. And as the article stated, some folks are removing the max speed controls. Does anyone have a link to the NYT article? @yma @jimray The number of urban problems that would be solved by a robust (and enforced!) network of bike lanes is ridiculous. @jimray I’m glad I’m not the only one to see the Times is on a crusade against e-bikes @jimray @lisamelton In practice are these lanes reserved for bicycles and e-bides or are they also used by pedestrians and joggers? I am hoping the answer is bikers.  @paulc @jimray @lisamelton they’re for bikes/e-bikes only, but not for high speed pedelecs.  @jimray HEY! I know those streets! I was just walking them not three hours ago! I still think the conditions for pedestrians could be improved sommat, but if you're in Nederland and you're on a bike or a snorfiets (small scooter)? MECCA. Bikers have cultural priority over everyone else here, and the infrastructure is first class. This can be a bit intimidating when you're on shoeleather rather than tyres, but you get used to it.  @jimray honestly. As somebody that has grown up biking since age 4. I don’t like e-bikes on the bike lane. They move quick and press non-e-bikes to the side. It’s honestly caused a decent amount of danger in my day to day commute and has made me and my partner both feel like our bike lanes are being invaded. It’s been unpleasant. We need another option here than ending up with e-bikes claiming the bike lines. Though I’m not sure what it is. @jimray ps. It’s not really the teens that cause the most e-bike problems. It’s mostly middle aged and older people that seem to dominate the bike lanes with gusto and little care for others. @jimray In case any Americans are wondering why we give (e-)bikes their own lanes instead of banning them despite the danger, it's because banning won't work. The only way to defeat a bad guy with an e-bike is a good guy with an e-bike.   |
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@jimray I loved that they were only able to find TWO deaths. Like… how many people have died in an SUV this year?