Ebike commute from Reston to DC

[americancyclo]

@sjclaeys 148506 wrote:

So you agree with the assertion that started this conversation that the observation of one instance is sufficient to establish that operating an e-bike makes one a more courteous MUP user?

I agree that single user stories are not useful in creating compelling classifications of behavior based on mode of transport.

Can you tell I didn’t get to ride my bike enough today?

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 148501 wrote:

That’s cuz I flagged it and it disappeared from the leaderboard. There are others.

I meant the tag for ebike ride on my app.

[Judd]

@dasgeh 148482 wrote:

I just checked Strava. Not there. Maybe I’ll get it in the next update.

https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/113412?hl=en

Current version of Strava for Android is 5.5.0 which was released on 11/2/16.

[netlawyer]

Registered for the forum just to comment that there doesn’t seem to be a distinction between throttle controlled e-bikes (which can get crazy fast) and power assisted (European-syle) e-bikes. Completely understand the animosity against fully powered throttle-control but many e-bikes now (like my German Kalkhoff Agattu Impulse don’t have a throttle, only provide pedal assist and top out at 15-20 mph due to European regulations on what can be considered a bicycle.

I commute from Delray Alexandria to SW DC (7.5 miles door to door) and love using the power assist and wearing my work clothes in (no need to shower) and turning off the power assist altogether and huffing all 55lbs of that solid steel bike (plus battery) home in the evening wearing bike clothes.

So don’t tar us all with the same brush – if you didn’t notice the battery mounted on the seat post you’d probably never know I was riding an e-bike.

[EasyRider]

@netlawyer 150080 wrote:

if you didn’t notice the battery mounted on the seat post you’d probably never know I was riding an e-bike.

I dunno, I tend to notice cyclists who go 15 mph+ while sitting upright and wearing office clothes, and wonder how dey do dat

[netlawyer]

@EasyRider 150096 wrote:

I dunno, I tend to notice cyclists who go 15 mph+ while sitting upright and wearing office clothes, and wonder how dey do dat

LOL 😮 OK you got me there, but I’m talking about trail etiquette and the direction this thread took regarding folks using bike trails as a motorway.

Plenty of riders pass me, but hopefully they don’t care how hard I’m working (like I don’t care how hard they’re working, it’s not a contest) – only whether I’m riding politely and consistently with the rest of the other bike commuters. I tend to stay about 12 MPH with medium assist – I’m not super fit and it gives me the confidence to know that I’m not going to be walking my bike taking the ramp up to the 14th St Bridge off the Mt. Vernon trail (and slowing everyone else down) and helps with needing to carry clothes, shower stuff, make up for when I get to work. Otherwise, I’d just drive my car and not have to worry about all that. From my house (Delray) to SW DC it’s about the same amount of time bike vs drive (longer to metro).

If that’s an issue for other bike commuters, I’d be interested in why.

[mstone]

@netlawyer 150143 wrote:

If that’s an issue for other bike commuters, I’d be interested in why.

Since you don’t seem to have read the archive on this I’ll sum it up in the assumption you aren’t trolling for a flame war:

1) nobody cares about things on the trail that are being used safely and non disruptively

2) electric bikes have a huge potential for being unsafe and disruptive

3) the police seem to be de facto incapable of enforcement based on “safe”

4) therefore many people wish to keep the ban because it is something concrete which can actually be enforced, even thought that’s a roundabout way of getting to the real goal.

5) the chances of someone safe being impacted by the ban are pretty much zero, and this whole thing can be revisited if someone starts doing motor checkpoints.

6) if someone could come up with a way to enforce good behavior as its own thing that would be super, and we could get rid of all sorts of stupid laws.

[americancyclo]

@netlawyer 150143 wrote:

I’m riding politely and consistently with the rest of the other bike commuters. I tend to stay about 12 MPH with medium assist

Thanks for being a considerate trail user and adding your voice to the conversation.

[huskerdont]

@netlawyer 150143 wrote:

If that’s an issue for other bike commuters, I’d be interested in why.

There is no action you can take that someone somewhere won’t find an issue with, so all you can do is ride the best you can and not worry too much about it unless you happen upon a criticism that’s actually constructive or helpful. I worry sometimes that all the negativity keeps people from doing things or makes them stop, or they go the other way and don’t listen to any advice at all because they figure everything is negative. Lots of different ways to ride out there.

[Subby]

@netlawyer 150143 wrote:

it’s not a contest

Wait what?

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Subby 150152 wrote:

Wait what?

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

I quit.

[KLizotte]

I think mstone’s comments were out of line. I really don’t get the sense that she is “trolling”; rather just explaining her view of the world as a conscientious cyclist. I like the fact that she pointed out the difference between throttle driven e-bikes and those with e-assist. She has been polite and constructive in all of her comments. We should welcome those who are trying to constructively add to the dialogue.

[dkel]

@KLizotte 150176 wrote:

I think mstone’s comments were out of line. I really don’t get the sense that she is “trolling”; rather just explaining her view of the world as a conscientious cyclist. I like the fact that she pointed out the difference between throttle driven e-bikes and those with e-assist. She has been polite and constructive in all of her comments. We should welcome those who are trying to constructively add to the dialogue.

@mstone did say he was assuming that @netlawyer isn’t trolling. It did sound testy, but posts from @mstone always sound testy.

[mstone]

@KLizotte 150176 wrote:

I think mstone’s comments were out of line. I really don’t get the sense that she is “trolling”; rather just explaining her view of the world as a conscientious cyclist. I like the fact that she pointed out the difference between throttle driven e-bikes and those with e-assist. She has been polite and constructive in all of her comments. We should welcome those who are trying to constructively add to the dialogue.

yes, because nobody has ever come on the forum to stir things up with concern trolling, not once. but you’re right, I probably should have spent more time and linked some threads from the archive instead.

[Author]

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