The Biking thread

[Bada-Bing!]

Watch as e-bike rider crashes into pedestrian in Port Talbot

Sergiu Stanciu, 18, admits dangerous driving and will spend 14 months at a young offenders site.

www.bbc.co.uk

Why do media outlets like the BBC refer to these Surron bikes as e-bikes? when they are motorbikes.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

They always go to London and never outside. LTNs still pretty much non existent where I live. A loop around the town that was supposed to be completed this month hasn’t even got started.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Putting this up here, but it's on bbc iplayer for UK viewers (Panarama) if it gets taken down because of copyright. Presented by Adrian Chiles who is an e-bike novice- but looks like he rides motorbike, so why so scared on an e-bike?
Been heavily criticised in bike forums as conflating legal e-bikes and illegal e-bikes including not differentiating Sur-ron e-motorbikes, when they are more powerful and have no pedals.

A lot of confusion out there atm in the public and not helped by delivery riders riding ones illegally to get as many deliveries in. Ridden legally and responsibly they can be great transport devices and help cutting down on congestion and emissions.

 

[AlRums]

Cyclists to face education course or fine for 10 new offences — including "dangerous" riding, cycling "without due care and attention" and riding without lights at night

Government to add host of cycling offences to Road Traffic Offender Act, with cycling dangerously, offences in London's Royal Parks, and mandatory light use at night all proposed

road.cc

At last cyclists being held accountable for their indescretions, and at last fining them for bad behaviour.

Next, I hope number players to identify the ********.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Cyclists to face education course or fine for 10 new offences — including "dangerous" riding, cycling "without due care and attention" and riding without lights at night

Government to add host of cycling offences to Road Traffic Offender Act, with cycling dangerously, offences in London's Royal Parks, and mandatory light use at night all proposed

road.cc

At last cyclists being held accountable for their indescretions, and at last fining them for bad behaviour.

Next, I hope number players to identify the ********.

It's the enforcement that is the problem/issue. Police don't want to waste time on cyclists who break the law unless it's serious and endangering others. Identifying them etc. Then there is the trade off with getting peeps out of their cars - they cause a hell of a lot more damage and kill when not driven properly. As a nation we are unfit and then there’s the elephant in the room - burning of fossil fuels.

You can have all the rules and regulations in place but if it's not being enforced then it means Sweet FA. Which comes down to society. Peeps don't want to be told what to do. I think it's what you call the whole Freedom mentality.

 

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This annoys me when cycling on a contra-flow cycling lane.

And:

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.cyclingelectric.com/news/500w-e-bike-consultation-rejected

So Government has quietly released the result of last year’s E-bike consultation under Rishi’s and it’s concluded that it won’t be taking the proposals forward. So those already riding bikes with 500+ watt motors and throttles not type approved will continue to operate outside the law. No change there.

Also interesting bit on why having a national registration scheme and compulsory insurance for cyclists would not be worth it and not take off in this country. I believe only North Korea has a registration scheme for cyclists.

 

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Basically don’t be a doofus when cycling on shared paths. Ride with consideration for pedestrians.

 

[dirty harry]

I'm currently looking at a cargo bike (2 young children under 8 years old) we cycle to school older on her bike, younger on mine, but it's a treacherous journey, takes 30 mins in 4 lanes of traffic (us on the path). I could do the journey in 10 mins alone lol.

I cycle regularly, have a 40k in a few weeks for the Tri, but the family journeys are horrendously bad.

Are these cargo bikes any good, I don't know anyone with one! I've had a few E bikes, and a Surron (I know I know), so maybe I'm a bit ruined now.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I'm currently looking at a cargo bike (2 young children under 8 years old) we cycle to school older on her bike, younger on mine, but it's a treacherous journey, takes 30 mins in 4 lanes of traffic (us on the path). I could do the journey in 10 mins alone lol.

I cycle regularly, have a 40k in a few weeks for the Tri, but the family journeys are horrendously bad.

Are these cargo bikes any good, I don't know anyone with one! I've had a few E bikes, and a Surron (I know I know), so maybe I'm a bit ruined now.

Have a look at the review below. Also you got to decide between front loading or backloading and where you want to carry your kids - there's another one Si does comparing the two, as he has two of his own. Their safety is paramount. Sad thing is that there isn't really the protected infrastructure yet to make cargo bikes worthwhile IMO. If you ride on the roads, you'll annoy car drivers trying to get past you and the shared paths are too narrow or littered with obstacles. Modal filters - well depends if they are wide enough to fit through. If you cycle regularly you'll know what I mean.

I'd also stick with the legal ones ie EAPCs and branded motors/batteries Bosch do a performance line cargo motor, which is more than powerful enough but are mid drive motors, which will be more expensive. Don't skimp on the motor or battery, like choosing a rear hub one, which a **** at going up hills.

 

[dirty harry]

Have a look at the review below. Also you got to decide between front loading or backloading and where you want to carry your kids - there's another one Si does comparing the two, as he has two of his own. Their safety is paramount. Sad thing is that there isn't really the protected infrastructure yet to make cargo bikes worthwhile IMO. If you ride on the roads, you'll annoy car drivers trying to get past you and the shared paths are too narrow or littered with obstacles. Modal filters - well depends if they are wide enough to fit through. If you cycle regularly you'll know what I mean.

I'd also stick with the legal ones ie EAPCs and branded motors/batteries Bosch do a performance line cargo motor, which is more than powerful enough but are mid drive motors, which will be more expensive. Don't skimp on the motor or battery, like choosing a rear hub one, which a **** at going up hills.

I think I've written front loading out, those buckets freak me out!

Cycle paths aren't fit for purpose now, let alone added width and size from a cargo bike, not to mention all the plank riders (yes I'm putting a semi focus on light jumpers and food delivery drivers). TBH I have always felt more safe in traffic than on a cycle path, I can predict cars easily, pedestrians, other cyclists and path routes are much more chaotic IMO, maybe that's as I'm a motorcycle rider though, and live with the mindset that every car wants to kill me.

My big concern are hills and weight limits, I'm 110kg alone, added 2 x 20kgs and another 20kg in bags etc all adds up. I think I'd only buy new and probably would only consider the higher end manufacturers.

I do have some real funky safety equipment for the kids, got handles on my jacket, straps and helmets etc, still I never feel confident with them.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The other thing is to go and try one. That's the thing trying to find e-cargo bike shops and also I'd advise finding one close to you get it serviced unless you're used to maintaining one yourself. The motors on the Bosch should last ages - my one has done nearly 8000 miles no problems in 2 years and read they can last up to 50k miles. The battery is great, as long as you take care of them. Just depends how you use it and yes with your size and carrying extra valuable cargo, it will likely reduce the range. But there are trade offs but the benefits really outweigh them IMO.

Part of the reason I got an EAPC was for the exercise because they are just so much damn fun and I can still get a reasonable workout. I think they are perfect for round trips of between 20-30 miles and can replace the car/motorbike.

 

[dirty harry]

The other thing is to go and try one. That's the thing trying to find e-cargo bike shops and also I'd advise finding one close to you get it serviced unless you're used to maintaining one yourself. The motors on the Bosch should last ages - my one has done nearly 8000 miles no problems in 2 years and read they can last up to 50k miles. The battery is great, as long as you take care of them. Just depends how you use it and yes with your size and carrying extra valuable cargo, it will likely reduce the range. But there are trade offs but the benefits really outweigh them IMO.

Part of the reason I got an EAPC was for the exercise because they are just so much damn fun and I can still get a reasonable workout. I think they are perfect for round trips of between 20-30 miles and can replace the car/motorbike.

Ye my average journey would be about 10 miles at most, school drop off, pop to office and return.

My height might be an issue, at 6'5 I can struggle hahahaha

I'm going to go and do some proper research, thanks for the info bud!

 

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[dirty harry]

It's hard to judge any collision, when slowed down and with hindsight everyone is an expert.

All I can say is, I've never collided with a pedestrian, mostly because I expect them to act like lemmings.

The only close call I've ever had is similar to this, queueing traffic, I'm flying in the bus lane and a ******** stepped out... I saw it and missed him by 1m. No crash not swearing no rage....

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think the problem in that video is the pedestrian is so distracted by his phone he doesn’t look right before crossing. A common problem and nothing the cyclist could do as no clues he was just going to walk out. Too many pedestrians just glued to their phones nowadays.

His sorries reminded me of the inbetweeners bus Wankers’ scene.

 

[dirty harry]

It's hard to judge any collision, when slowed down and with hindsight everyone is an expert.

All I can say is, I've never collided with a pedestrian, mostly because I expect them to act like lemmings.

The only close call I've ever had is similar to this, queueing traffic, I'm flying in the bus lane and a ******** stepped out... I saw it and missed him by 1m. No crash not swearing no rage....

I've re watched, you know what I've become jaded lol

I think my instinct is that the rider should be more central, and expect the pedestrian to do something stupid, he also never slowed going into what was a pretty ominous situation, truck stopped obscured his view of the central reservation, there are children all around, of differing ages, it's clearly school knock off time etc...

However that's all unfair on the cyclist, going central would obscure his view more of behind the truck, and the pedestrian steps out so late even at 5mph he's hitting him.

It's a very British collision though hahahaha

I think I'm more judgemental as I've watched plenty of motorcycle riding footage of accidents and near misses, near all are instigated by the rider who plays victim after the fact.

 

[Saintjay]

The riders hazard perception is pretty rubbish. Maybe should have eased off as you've slow traffic, vision isn't great for pedestrians crossing the road.

Drive to the conditions and all that.