Ebikes the answer
Author
Discussion

Flyingakite

Original Poster:

126 posts

1 month

Watching a few videos on cargo bikes etc it really does seem like ebikes are the answer to removing cars off the road.

They are able to do nearly all a car can do whilst consuming minimal energy in making and being used.

Massive cars consume vast resources ,they are more profitable for the car companies but making them is destroying the earth, due to the vast resources needed.

Why doesn't the government do more to move people from cars to ebikes? I'm not sore ev cars are the answer if we as humanity are focused on reducing our impact on the earth ecosystem.

_Rodders_

2,456 posts

45 months

Good luck with this one hehe

It works for me. My weekly commute costs me £0.05 so a little over £10 a year.

That's enough that it'll make a noticeable (months at least) difference to my retirement age.

But then I don't need to carry a van full of tools with me or a boot full of photocopiers or whatever it is salesmen do these days.

okgo

41,779 posts

224 months

Still the problem with anything bike vs car is the weather.

I’ve had a cargo bike for a number of years and it’s still miserable riding it in the rain. And my son probably would agree.

oddman

3,985 posts

278 months

I agree in principle but something needs to shift the dial on perception of bike riding to get general acceptance. Something like an ebike equivalent of the Austin Mini in the '60s. Something celebs/influencers are seen using; is clean, bombproof reliable and comes in around the same price as an iphone.

I used to commute from Hx to Leeds by bike several times a week. Due to traffic, even human powered, it was only 10 minutes slower than driving (obviously needed another 15 minutes for shower and change). It was pretty demanding 60km round trip with 800m of vert so not sustainable daily. If I was still doing that commute I would definitely be using an ebike and would expect it to be quicker than driving.

There's always perception of poor weather but it's surprising when you commit how rare a total drenching is. A good design could minimise the tyre spray and maybe even some kind of fairing.

Flyingakite

Original Poster:

126 posts

1 month

Well you need a proper linked cycle only road network.
You need charging points
You need a change in the mentality that buying ev cars will solve the issues facing the earth.

People need to take responsibility themselves by changing habits.

The Government needs to invest a lot more but in reality not as much as you think.

Imagine lightweight high strength materials. Motors batteries you end up with personal transport that could offer similar traits to cars with 10% of the required resources. Could all be driven by UK industry to form a blueprint for rest of the world.

Seeing massive ev or ice cars with 1 person in them is a travesty to the earth in my opinion.

Edited by Flyingakite on Sunday 7th June 09:15

_Rodders_

2,456 posts

45 months

okgo said:
Still the problem with anything bike vs car is the weather.

I ve had a cargo bike for a number of years and it s still miserable riding it in the rain. And my son probably would agree.
I've found that in reality the weather is much less of an issue than most people make out. Light drizzle or even moderate rain is really not that bad and with decent waterproof gear it's possible to arrive at work without looking like a drowned rat.

I probably swerve the bike on 1 or 2 days a year where it's obviously going to be lashing it down all day, the rest I just get on with it.

Trevor555

5,252 posts

110 months

Flyingakite said:
Watching a few videos on cargo bikes etc it really does seem like ebikes are the answer to removing cars off the road.
If the government was serious about this they'd also give us cheaper/better train travel, and invest more in local trams/buses.

I like the idea of an E-bike, but I know it'd get stolen at some point.

Flyingakite

Original Poster:

126 posts

1 month

_Rodders_ said:
I've found that in reality the weather is much less of an issue than most people make out. Light drizzle or even moderate rain is really not that bad and with decent waterproof gear it's possible to arrive at work without looking like a drowned rat.

I probably swerve the bike on 1 or 2 days a year where it's obviously going to be lashing it down all day, the rest I just get on with it.
Something like Sinclair c5 would work. Technology is now there. You just change environment by making ebike only lanes. Like superhighways. You tax massive cars to pay for it all.

Educate children at a young age you then start something that is much more ethical than current situation.

SDK

3,198 posts

279 months

I used to ride to work : 20 miles each way. The rain is the least of the problems; try convincing people when it’s very cold (minus Celsius) and dark!

Also, it only works when you don’t have any family/children time commitments.

SDK

3,198 posts

279 months

Flyingakite said:
Seeing massive ev or ice cars with 1 person in them is a travesty to the earth in my opinion.
Week days I’m often the only person in my huge SUV EV, but at weekends it’s a family and friends taxi service.
Running more cars, vs one, to satisfy judgemental people is probably worse for the earth.


Edited by SDK on Sunday 7th June 09:49

missing the VR6

2,521 posts

215 months

Maybe in cities, I've got a 28 mile commute, no thanks!

A500leroy

8,003 posts

144 months

Plus hills, we need to get rid of all hills that go upwards. Quite a few in Matlock.

Flyingakite

Original Poster:

126 posts

1 month

SDK said:
Week days I m often the only person in my huge SUV EV, but at weekends it s a family and friends taxi service.
Running more cars, vs one, to satisfy judgemental people is probably worse for the earth.


Edited by SDK on Sunday 7th June 09:49
Judgemental. It's a fact. Car manufacturers are making bigger cars for higer profit margins, whilst consuming vast resources. If people even with education miss this point that's not judgemental that ignorance.

People are inherently egotistic, if the government offers other options and education I think people would change. Ecargo bikes are very good. And would help reduce the impact of massive resource consumption on the earth.

These ecargo bikes have space for 2 kids etc . I also imagine kids might enjoy it more than sitting in the back of cars on their screens. If cycle roads were built around Forrest's etc would make it much more enjoyable


missing the VR6

2,521 posts

215 months

I'm pretty sure you're on here trolling for fun, why come on a car website and bash cars if not? If you are into cars and I'm guessing it would be EV's then maybe a form called Pistonheads (inherently an ICE car website) isn't for you. I understand this is the cycling section and but I'm sure we're also car enthusiasts too.

CoolHands

22,738 posts

221 months

“They are able to do nearly all a car can do”

Except remain where you parked them. You can’t leave them as theft in this country is not dealt with, so your expensive ebike will be long gone after your enjoyable evening out.

s p a c e m a n

11,793 posts

174 months

In cities they will be stolen and they're not practical in the countryside.

Being cold sucks.

I live in the suburbs and I struggle to make an actual motorcycle much faster than a car by the time I've got dressed and taken all of the security off of it and I don't need a shower after using it.

irc

9,570 posts

162 months

For me at a minimum the legal assistance limit would need to be raised to 20mph. Then I could go with the traffic flow on all the 20 mph roads.

Travel time on my commute would be fairly competitive compared with now where depending on time of day it is 2 or 3 times longer.

Even then anvebikecwoild be in addition to my car not a replacement. An ebike can't carry two large dogs, a load of stuff for the dump, or a relative not fit enough to cycle.

Opapayer

1,692 posts

11 months

irc said:
For me at a minimum the legal assistance limit would need to be raised to 20mph. Then I could go with the traffic flow on all the 20 mph roads.

Travel time on my commute would be fairly competitive compared with now where depending on time of day it is 2 or 3 times longer.

Even then anvebikecwoild be in addition to my car not a replacement. An ebike can't carry two large dogs, a load of stuff for the dump, or a relative not fit enough to cycle.
I can ride my e-bike at any speed I want. It’s tough after 15.5mph admittedly, but it’s plenty fast enough overall.

Callerton

144 posts

74 months

I gave up using my bike to travel into the city centre after I learned about the level of thefts & the unlikelyhood of getting my bike back.

Some form of secure storage might make me change my mind - even if it involved a (modest) payment.

Opapayer

1,692 posts

11 months

A500leroy said:
Plus hills, we need to get rid of all hills that go upwards. Quite a few in Matlock.
The “e” bit of e-bike is what deals with the hills. You increase the assistance level via one of the multiple modes the bike has. Obviously, the higher the assistance, the more battery you use, but as your fitness increases you need less assistance.