Can we agree that bikes are a dead end for urban transport?
Discussion
Can we please stop with this nonsence "Bycicles are the future of urban transportation". No they are not. They are typewriters of the mobility world. They are fine when used as exercise machines (especially when fixed to the floor, with a roof overhead and safe from traffic) but let's not kid ourselves about their future. I for one do not see myself riding a metal dildo with spandex pants for potection from multi-ton vehicles and in freezing rain. Let's just look at the negatives.
1. They require acrobatic/physical skill. So if you are drinking or old or disabled, they are a bad idea.
2. Exposed to the elements. Rain, snow - in many countries they a regular occurence.
3. Physical exertion. Fine if you want to drop a kilo or two, but when it's +30 outside and you are wearing a suit?
4. Lack of storage. Can't get much shopping into one without fatally altering the balance and center of gravity.
5. Health. Riding so much hard metal is surely bad for the prostate.
6. Injury. Self explanatory.
7. Speed. If you want to ride safe and not get tired, it's not much higher then a brisk walk.
The Green Big Brothers and other Green Shirts keep harping how it's the ONLY solution to traffic problems. What about all the other solutions we can use, which take us out of early 20th century China and into the 21st century?
Take for example the underappreciated Segway. I still think that with some modifications it's the future. Imagine the current Segway but with a strong crash-cell around it to protect from accidents and from the weather. A rudimentary climate control. Auto-pilot.
Bike lanes to be converted to accept these kind of vehicles and provide auto-navigation/driving (untill we perfect true self-driving). Also vehicles similiar to the Renault Twizy but with total encapsulation. All electric, all connected to a central processing grid which routs the vehicles in auto-pilot mode for best traffic dispertion and optimized travel time. Technology for this has existed for over a decade, yet we still debate about promoting steam-age solutions. What's next? Pony lanes? Pulled rickshaws? (a fixture already in many Euro cities)
1. They require acrobatic/physical skill. So if you are drinking or old or disabled, they are a bad idea.
2. Exposed to the elements. Rain, snow - in many countries they a regular occurence.
3. Physical exertion. Fine if you want to drop a kilo or two, but when it's +30 outside and you are wearing a suit?
4. Lack of storage. Can't get much shopping into one without fatally altering the balance and center of gravity.
5. Health. Riding so much hard metal is surely bad for the prostate.
6. Injury. Self explanatory.
7. Speed. If you want to ride safe and not get tired, it's not much higher then a brisk walk.
The Green Big Brothers and other Green Shirts keep harping how it's the ONLY solution to traffic problems. What about all the other solutions we can use, which take us out of early 20th century China and into the 21st century?
Take for example the underappreciated Segway. I still think that with some modifications it's the future. Imagine the current Segway but with a strong crash-cell around it to protect from accidents and from the weather. A rudimentary climate control. Auto-pilot.
Bike lanes to be converted to accept these kind of vehicles and provide auto-navigation/driving (untill we perfect true self-driving). Also vehicles similiar to the Renault Twizy but with total encapsulation. All electric, all connected to a central processing grid which routs the vehicles in auto-pilot mode for best traffic dispertion and optimized travel time. Technology for this has existed for over a decade, yet we still debate about promoting steam-age solutions. What's next? Pony lanes? Pulled rickshaws? (a fixture already in many Euro cities)
Edited by Nikolai Petroff on Monday 9th December 16:38
warp9 said:
How advanced we are as a society is debatable. However, maybe the reason nothing has challenged the basic premise of the bike, is that it's really the best design there is.
I just proposed you better options.BTW the only reason the Segway didn't take off is because of regulation. You can't use it on the road, sidewalk or bike lane.
I do agree with the first few lines. Less so, the rest of it.So basically, the OP is incredibly lazy and thinks whatever meets his short term needs is the future.
I hope my future doesn't have to involve paying for your coronary. I know my present certainly involves moving past miles of stationary cars, even on Sundays, dreading the next time I'm going to have to join that lot. A situation I don't thank you for one bit.
Agree with chrisw666. At least find something original to troll about.
I hope my future doesn't have to involve paying for your coronary. I know my present certainly involves moving past miles of stationary cars, even on Sundays, dreading the next time I'm going to have to join that lot. A situation I don't thank you for one bit.
Agree with chrisw666. At least find something original to troll about.
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