Article: How Far is Too Far to Bike to Work

[Tim Kelley]

https://mobilitylab.org/2017/02/27/how-far-bike-work/

What’s the consensus?

Topic

[Harry Meatmotor]

@vvill 156640 wrote:

I don’t think the issue is using an e-assist to make 15 miles easier. It’s the “I must do it in 45min and average 20mph, on the trails” (and on a vehicle that takes up much more of the trail than a bicycle). Some options for dealing with a bike commute that’s too much are) cut down the number of days or, b) go multi-modal or c) yes, potentially have an e-assist for some days so you can rest more. But not so you can average 20mph and endanger others.

Do you drive a car through a neighborhood signposted 25mph at 45mph to save time – because it takes too long to drive at a reasonable speed otherwise? Of course, you’d rather drive at 25mph but since it’s too far, y’know…

I think he’s using a car-shaped pseudo bike (illegally, arguably) because he doesn’t want to expend any effort beyond what it takes to pilot in an internal combustion-engined car, and he doesn’t like sitting in traffic (presumably because it represents a gross inefficiency in wasteful public infrastructure). He strikes me as one who (seldom publicly) generally accepts the conceit of free-riding, where ever possible for personal gain, but to the detriment of others’ liberties. Any claims towards the environmental benefit of the car-like contraption are likely only loosely tied to any personal conviction with any care for “the commons,” and are more likely derived from perceived cost savings.

[dasgeh]

_Anyone_ averaging 20MPH on the trails is probably riding unsafely. There are plenty of people who can do it on non-e-bikes, and more who can do it on e-bikes. It’s not the “e”, but the behavior that makes it a problem.

On roads, in order to average 20MPH for the trip, you’re probably talking about averaging 25mph or so while you’re going, to make up for stop signs, etc. There are plenty of people who can do that on non-e-bikes (but not as many as 20mph), and again, more people who can do that with e-bikes. So e-bikes make that commute accessible to more people.

[LhasaCM]

@dasgeh 156715 wrote:

_Anyone_ averaging 20MPH on the trails is probably riding unsafely. There are plenty of people who can do it on non-e-bikes, and more who can do it on e-bikes. It’s not the “e”, but the behavior that makes it a problem.

On roads, in order to average 20MPH for the trip, you’re probably talking about averaging 25mph or so while you’re going, to make up for stop signs, etc. There are plenty of people who can do that on non-e-bikes (but not as many as 20mph), and again, more people who can do that with e-bikes. So e-bikes make that commute accessible to more people.

So – as someone newish around here (the forum, not DC), is this a fair summary of the issue?
1. Some people can go fast on bikes.
2. More people can go fast on bikes with motors.
3. Motorized tricycles can also help people go faster.
4. How far someone can commute on a bike depends on the usual time/distance/effort calculations which depend on many many many factors.
5. If you’re too big/too fast to be safe on a trail, don’t use it.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@LhasaCM 156719 wrote:

5. If you’re too big/too fast to be safe on a trail, don’t use it.

That’s about all I care about…

[dasgeh]

@LhasaCM 156719 wrote:

5. If you’re too big/too fast to be safe on a trail, don’t use it.

If I may offer a friendly amendment, I’d say:

5. Don’t ride too fast to be safe on a trail, even if you can.
6. If you’re too big to be safe on a trail, don’t use it.

[Author]

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