Here’s my hot take: rental e-scooters and e-bikes are dog-shit terrible. They aren’t comfortable, don’t handle well, where I live they have solid tires which suck for traction and control, they weigh much more than they should, they are often not sized appropriately for each rider, and their power ramp is exceedingly poor compared to what the rider expects.
In other words, they are designed a certain way, and that design makes them much worse to ride.
Unfortunately, the data from rentals typically sets the stage for policy. “Oh, (rental) e-bikes are dangerous? Ban all e-bikes!”
This is compounded by the level of riding and handling skills of those who use those bikes being almost non-existent. My own experience of those riders is that they never shoulder check before moving into a space, just a cursory glance to the floor next to them. They frequently dump them in places where they block pavements and make accessibility for those needing it most, a lot harder.
Seconding the size thing. Scooters are easier to size at least, e-bikes are not. The e-bikes near me, for example, are huge and the first time I tried to get on one I literally just fell sideways before I could get anywhere.
Rentals.
Here’s my hot take: rental e-scooters and e-bikes are dog-shit terrible. They aren’t comfortable, don’t handle well, where I live they have solid tires which suck for traction and control, they weigh much more than they should, they are often not sized appropriately for each rider, and their power ramp is exceedingly poor compared to what the rider expects.
In other words, they are designed a certain way, and that design makes them much worse to ride.
Unfortunately, the data from rentals typically sets the stage for policy. “Oh, (rental) e-bikes are dangerous? Ban all e-bikes!”
If you dont want car, you may still need to move from place to place, not everyone is Lance Amstong
Doctors in A&E use the term ‘Lime bike leg’ for the crush injuries they see because the bikes weigh nearly 30kg and are akin to motorbike crash injuries.
This is compounded by the level of riding and handling skills of those who use those bikes being almost non-existent. My own experience of those riders is that they never shoulder check before moving into a space, just a cursory glance to the floor next to them. They frequently dump them in places where they block pavements and make accessibility for those needing it most, a lot harder.
Seconding the size thing. Scooters are easier to size at least, e-bikes are not. The e-bikes near me, for example, are huge and the first time I tried to get on one I literally just fell sideways before I could get anywhere.