e-Bikes – Let’s talk

[Dewey]

@Judd 197802 wrote:

Multiple folks on Twitter indicated that the app says scan the front of your ID, but you actually need to scan the back to sign up.

Thanks, it worked! Going to try one of these bikes out later. I got to look at one yesterday and they look identical to the Class 1 pedelecs formerly used by the Ford GoBike ebikeshare fleet in San Francisco, subsequently rebranded as Bay Wheels when they switched to a different model bike. The 1st generation bikes were assembled in Ann Arbor, MI, by GenZe, the ebike division of Indian auto company Tata, and are a modified version of their Genze 200 with the step-through frame and some different component choices eg different front brake Helbiz get a Sturmey Archer drum brake on the front, and throttle deleted to keep it a Class 1 pedelec, otherwise pretty much the same equipment as the Genze 200 with disk brake on the back due to the rear hub motor, 8-speed derailleur with thumb microshifters, 36v Samsung battery pack side-loaded into the down-tube, I heard GenZe use a basic cadence pedal assist sensor. I wonder if Helbiz made a deal with Genze to buy up the SF GoBike’s to bring a fleet to the DC market quickly?

For comparison:

Ford GoBike+ (1st generation)
Helbiz Bike

FWIW if you like the Helbiz bike enough to want to buy one, Genze refurbish and sell used their earlier but similar 100-series ebikes through the Genze website.

[Dewey]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21087[/ATTACH]
So I took a Helbiz for a spin this lunchtime, the bike itself is mostly fine, adjustable seatpost but no adjustable stem, there is no way to change the pedal assist power level so it feels like its on full power when operating but there is a gradual ramp up so it wasn’t jerky, the thumb microshifters took a little getting used to but no chain derailments, standing on the pedals in top gear on the flat it felt like I was maxing out at maybe 16-18mph – there’s no speedo which is odd as its required to have a speed reading visible to the rider to operate an ebike in Arlington and soon in the state of Virginia. Sorry I forgot to check if it had working lights but I’m guessing it does? I took it up the new bridge outside Kennedy Center and it had no problems climbing the incline. I actually liked it has a cadence sensor because it meant I could rest my feet on the pedals when stopped at a light and the motor didn’t try to take off which can happen with pedal torque sensors.

The rental process started well enough once I had registered with the back of my drivers license, however the AXA frame lock didn’t work to let me return the bike when I reached my destination. I contacted Helbiz customer service via IM chat and they took the bike out of service, ended my trip in the app, and sent me an email confirming I was not liable for the unlocked bike while I went back to work.

[Dewey]

Another thread on the BikeArlington forum drew attention to this ArlNow article reporting Arlington County DES signage for sidewalks adjacent to PBL’s where ebikes and scooters are now not permitted to ride under the County’s Micro-Mobility Ordinance. Occasionally when riding my ebike in Arlington PBL’s I’ve had to leave the PBL to ride in the traffic lane or mount the sidewalk to go around: Construction, delivery trucks, moving vans, Uber’s, trash trucks, garbage cans left in the PBL by residents, joggers or scooters salmoning in the PBL, or when at an intersection I want to activate the crosswalk signal. I’m not a lawyer but my reading is the ebike sidewalk prohibition should in future apply only when PBL’s are not blocked in which case Virginia state law will permit ebikes to ride where you need to remain safe. An unintended consequence of § 46.2-1315 having been adopted in 2019, providing for localities to regulate scooter and ebike use, was that the County’s micromobility ordinance has been in effect since January 1, 2020, but until HB543/SB871 is signed by the governor and takes effect (I think on July 1, 2020) there is some uncertainty for ebike riders about whether we can legally ride around obstacles in the PBL. Under current Virginia law bicycles (and ebikes except where prohibited by local ordinance) are allowed to ride on sidewalks and the roadway. The wording in the upcoming revision of VA Code § 46.2-904.1 is “an electric power-assisted bicycle may be ridden in places where bicycles are allowed” and does not change VA Code § 46.2-905.3 which allows bicycles to leave the right curb or edge of the roadway “when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue.”

This is mostly a storm in a teacup but does remind me a little of Casey Neistats bike lanes crash video when NYC put in place a similar restriction for cyclists.

[Dewey]

HB543/SB871 was signed by Gov Northam yesterday, the 3-class E-bike system takes effect in Virginia July 1, 2020. Source http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=201&typ=bil&val=Hb543

[Dewey]

@Dewey 197942 wrote:

there’s no speedo which is odd as its required to have a speed reading visible to the rider to operate an ebike in Arlington and soon in the state of Virginia.

…Arlington County just refused an E-bikeshare operating license for this reason. Somebody please inform Lyft/Motivate their upcoming CaBi+ ebikes will need a speedo to operate in Arlington.

[Sunyata]

@Dewey 198957 wrote:

HB543/SB871 was signed by Gov Northam yesterday, the 3-class E-bike system takes effect in Virginia July 1, 2020. Source http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=201&typ=bil&val=Hb543

Hmm. Interesting that the bill requires Class III operators to wear a helmet. I am curious to know how (or how often) that will be enforced.

[Dewey]

@Sunyata 198982 wrote:

Hmm. Interesting that the bill requires Class III operators to wear a helmet. I am curious to know how (or how often) that will be enforced.

Also the new state law requires Class 3 ebikes to have a speedometer, but does not mention Class 1 & 2, whereas Arlington County regulations require all ebikes to have a speedo – that includes bikeshare so I’m hoping someone in the County sent a copy of the County requirements to Lyft/Motivate who are planning to redeploy a Capital Bikeshare ebike fleet this spring.

Another state requirement from next year is a label indicating the ebike Class, continuous rated power in watts, & maximum speed setting in the controller:
§ 46.2-904.1
C.1. On and after January 1, 2021, manufacturers and distributors of electric power-assisted bicycles shall permanently affix a label, in a prominent location, to each electric power-assisted bicycle that they manufacture or distribute. The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric power-assisted bicycle and shall be printed in Arial font in at least nine-point type.
D. No person shall tamper with or modify an electric power-assisted bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of an electric power-assisted bicycle, unless the label required by subdivision C 1 is replaced after modification.

Class/power/speed labels/decals are fairly common now on ebikes sold through bike shops, but are sometimes absent from mail-order ebikes, and usually absent from e-bike kits. There are after-market retailers from whom you can purchase the labels eg Bolton. I am not a lawyer but my reading is a label from the manufacturer or distributor is only required at the point of sale, the rider can then apply a new label if they subsequently change the power/speed controller settings or add/remove a throttle to change the ebike Class, for example Juiced Bikes supply bikes in Class 2 configuration but provide instructions for changing the settings to a Class 3 and you can peel off the Class 2 label to reveal a Class 3 label underneath if so chosen. Ebikes with Bosch motors do not permit the rider to change the power/speed controller settings, Bosch have enabled software that detect if a rider tries to circumvent the settings by adding an after-market power/speed chip that disable the controller, brick the motor, and invalidate the warranty. Also the new state law requires all ebikes to have brake activated motor inhibitors, some kits don’t come with them but they’re easily available.

[dasgeh]

@Dewey 198989 wrote:

Arlington County regulations require all ebikes to have a speedo – that includes bikeshare

I don’t think this is correct. The only requirement for a speedometer is in Article X of section 14 (scroll way down in the pdf of just word search), which only applies to a “Mirco-Mobility Businesss”, which is defined as:

“Micro-Mobility Business” means the entity providing Micro-Mobility Devices for-hire. These Businesses rely on the right-of-way to store Micro-Mobility Devices for customer access and use. Micro-Mobility Businesses shall not include regional multi-jurisdictional or County provided shared transportation services.

It clearly doesn’t apply to private ownership and doesn’t seem to apply to CaBi.

[Dewey]

That’s a relief, I was worried about the CaBi+ ebikes after the County just refused an operating permit to an e-bikeshare company for this reason, I think it was likely Helbiz who were granted a permit to operate in Alexandria.
The County will need to revise the Code to reflect the new 750W power limit.

[Dewey]

Lighter ebikes

This week ebike forums have been abuzz with chatter about the Specialized Turbo Vado SL, a lighter fitness/commuter/road ebike with a Class 3 speed pedelec mid-drive motor and smaller batteries. ebikes are not known for lightness and those are typically more expensive models such as the Specialized Turbo Creo SL or boutique brands like Desiknio, Coboc, etc. Less expensive lighter ebike models have removed weight by using less powerful Class 1 motors (eg Propella), or fragile all-in-one hub motors, or have been decontented, or simply convert light bicycles like BikeFriday’s 20″ folders. The Specialized Turbo Vado SL is an offering from one of the big three sold in bike shops that brings technology from the pricier Turbo Creo models such as a through-axle carbon fork, ‘future shock’ suspension headset on the more expensive 5.0, and a motor/internal battery setup that adds 10lb. Mail order competitors using the Bafang M800 mid-drive will appear over the summer.

In other news, from September DC based ebike brand Riide will offer a regular heavier 2nd generation Class 3 single speed model under their lease-to-own scheme.

[Dewey]

DC journalist Gordon Chaffin’s review of the Riide 2nd gen ebike.

https://streetjustice.substack.com/p/bike-review-28-mph-e-bike-from-dc

https://youtu.be/2c7BmfQFWI4

[EasyRider]

@Dewey 200806 wrote:

Lighter ebikes

This week ebike forums have been abuzz with chatter about the Specialized Turbo Vado SL, a lighter fitness/commuter/road ebike with a Class 3 speed pedelec mid-drive motor and smaller batteries. ebikes are not known for lightness and those are typically more expensive models such as the Specialized Turbo Creo SL or boutique brands like Desiknio, Coboc, etc. Less expensive lighter ebike models have removed weight by using less powerful Class 1 motors (eg Propella), or fragile all-in-one hub motors, or have been decontented, or simply convert light bicycles like BikeFriday’s 20″ folders. The Specialized Turbo Vado SL is an offering from one of the big three sold in bike shops that brings technology from the pricier Turbo Creo models such as a through-axle carbon fork, ‘future shock’ suspension headset on the more expensive 5.0, and a motor/internal battery setup that adds 10lb. Mail order competitors using the Bafang M800 mid-drive will appear over the summer.

In other news, from September DC based ebike brand Riide will offer a regular heavier 2nd generation Class 3 single speed model under their lease-to-own scheme.

28mph. Sounds really practical.

[Dewey]

Helbiz ebikeshare has lost its bike supplier after Mahindra shut down the Genze electric bike & scooter operation Michigan https://electrek.co/2020/06/14/genze-closes-electric-scooter-bicycle-made-in-america/

[Dewey]

Helbiz to operate 100 scooters in Arlington, announces plan to expand DC ebikeshare fleet to 2,000, though no word yet on who will be their new ebike supplier. Source, https://wtop.com/business-finance/2020/07/helbiz-e-scooters-come-to-arlington-alexandria/

[lordofthemark]

So, ALXNOW (the little sibling to ARLNOW) did a piece last week on ebikes, quoting the guy from Pedego about sales.

Some commenter said “well at a minimum price of $2000, these are luxuries for the affluent, not transportation for working class people”

Somehow the message that there are auto replacements did not get through.

When I pointed out how much cheaper this was compared to even a small used car, someone else said “Well okay, let’s apply the personal property tax to them”. Oy.

[Author]

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