E-Bike options! Juiced vs Stromer

[lordofthemark]

@hozn 179781 wrote:

Except the MVT, right? And the NVRPA-run W&OD is certainly open to interpretation.

But it’s good you can at least use the bike lanes in VA. Of course, TwoWheels is in DC, so that’s not gonna help him too much.

You can use the trails owned by Arlington County and the City of Alexandria I am pretty sure (so Custis, Holmes Run, Four Mile Run, Eisenhower trail, PY trail, etc) and of course all the bike lanes – feel free to ride your ebikes up and down the King Street lanes!

[dasgeh]

@hozn 179781 wrote:

Except the MVT, right? And the NVRPA-run W&OD is certainly open to interpretation.

But it’s good you can at least use the bike lanes in VA. Of course, TwoWheels is in DC, so that’s not gonna help him too much.

I don’t see how NVRPA can violate state law, so W&OD is fine (and ACPD agrees).

DC law says:

Quote:

1201.18Except as otherwise permitted for a motor vehicle, no person shall operate a motorized bicycle on any sidewalk or any off-street bikepath or bicycle route within the District. This prohibition shall apply even though the motorized bicycle is being operated solely by human power.
1201.19A motorized bicycle may be operated on any part of a roadway designated for the use of bicycles.

If a bike lane is a “bicycle route”, ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t see that in the law. Otherwise, a bike lane really seems like “part of a roadway designated for the use of bicycles.”

[hozn]

@dasgeh 179791 wrote:

I don’t see how NVRPA can violate state law, so W&OD is fine (and ACPD agrees).

DC law says:

If a bike lane is a “bicycle route”, ebikes aren’t allowed, but I don’t see that in the law. Otherwise, a bike lane really seems like “part of a roadway designated for the use of bicycles.”

Well, you’re the lawyer. Though it would seem odd to me that they would specify that they are disallowed both on “off-street bikepaths” *and* on “bicycle routes” if you’re implying that “bicycle routes” are also off-street bike paths.

This is also contrary to what the DC gov’t says in their synopsis. https://dmv.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dmv/publication/attachments/May%2017%202013%20Non-traditional%20Motor%20Vehicle%20chart.pdf

[TwoWheelsDC]

Bringing this back around…I’m really interested to hear about the long-term quality of the Juiced. I don’t doubt that the components on a Trek Super Commuter or whatever are nicer than a CrossCurrent (or a Rad), but your typical Specialized or Trek is twice the price of a typical Juiced (and lacks a throttle and is less powerful). Is a Bosch or Shimano mid-drive system really that much better?

I gambled on “no,” and we’ll see how that turns out, but I’m curious what others’ experiences are.

[Judd]

Can we keep the arguing about e-bikes in the “Let’s argue about e-bikes thread?” Like TwoWheels, I’m interested and seeing how ebubar likes his sweet new bike and how it performs as the temperature drops.

[lordofthemark]

@Judd 179808 wrote:

Can we keep the arguing about e-bikes in the “Let’s argue about e-bikes thread?” Like TwoWheels, I’m interested and seeing how ebubar likes his sweet new bike and how it performs as the temperature drops.

Arguments about ebikes are as hard to contain as ebikes themselves.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Judd 179808 wrote:

how it performs as the temperature drops.

Ah shit…I forgot about the cold weather factor. I can charge the battery inside overnight but it’ll have to stay outside while I’m at work. Thankfully, I don’t think my commute will be pushing anywhere near maximum range, so I expect I’ll be okay in winter. Also, having boost for my PM commute is much less important.

[ebubar]

What have I started! I personally ride the bike wherever I please. If I’m on bike paths, I just stay in eco mode. It’s not like I can’t ride a regular bike just as fast as an ebike. I just can’t do that 5 days a week without a little motor help. This far the bike has been great! One charge can take me on the full round trip which was my goal. I plan to charge daily at work and home however to keep the battery in the ideal 20 to 80 percent charge window. The literature suggests this will vastly increase the useful charge cycles I can get. The bike has made cruising at 28 mph quite easy. The real benefit has been on uphills where it helps me maintain a decent speed without being exhausted and allows me to take the lane with confidence on Lee Highway. Now I just need to find the best way to cut through DC as the traffic light starting and stopping really wants into my time.

[ebubar]

@TwoWheelsDC 179814 wrote:

Ah shit…I forgot about the cold weather factor. I can charge the battery inside overnight but it’ll have to stay outside while I’m at work. Thankfully, I don’t think my commute will be pushing anywhere near maximum range, so I expect I’ll be okay in winter. Also, having boost for my PM commute is much less important.

Agreed! I am confident that the cold weather will sap some power, but with a round-trip being doable I think a one way trip and charging at each end will make it usable throughout the winter.

[Dewey]

In cold weather keep the battery indoors when not riding, maybe try a neoprene sleeve if you’re out riding for a few hours. https://www.fahrer-berlin.de/en/e-bike/fahrer-akku-cover/

[ebubar]

@Dewey 179843 wrote:

In cold weather keep the battery indoors when not riding, maybe try a neoprene sleeve if you’re out riding for a few hours. https://www.fahrer-berlin.de/en/e-bike/fahrer-akku-cover/

I’m lucky and have an understanding other who permits my bikes to always remain indoors and I have a nice large research lab that has space for a bike at work. Best parking spot on campus!

[Author]

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