[Dewey]

@lordofthemark 165852 wrote:

how many of them are there now?

Good question as I don’t think anyone is counting at the moment, I guesstimate maybe 16,200 e-bikes & conversion kit motors have been purchased in the DC metro area since 2012 based on National ebike retail sales of 200,000 in 2016 and the proportion of that figure sold in the DC metro census area estimated at 1.8% or 3,600 in 2016 based on a population based estimate of the proportion of DC metro area to DC+MD+VA bicycle sales. That number for each year since 2013, plus half for 2012 when lithium battery ebike sales began to replace the older heavy lead acid battery technology. I don’t know how to estimate what proportion are being used for commuting into DC vs other local destinations in the DC metro area. I’m hoping more useful data on ebike use comes out of the 2017 North American electric bicycle survey, but evidence from another survey suggests while “the western e-bike market has been driven, at least so far, by higher income and older adults who use them for recreation, some utility, and extended mobility”, younger ebike riders are very interested in using their ebike for commuting (see Figure 5 of Ziwen, Cherry, MacArthur & Weinert, 2017).

As for the math, 6 million DC Census Metro area residents as a fraction of the 15 million population of DC+MD+VA=40%. DC+MD+VA bike sales as a proportion of total US bike sales is 4.4%. 40% of 4.4% is 1.8% (probably an under-estimate given the wealth of the DC region vs the rest of MD and VA, but I’m being conservative). 1.8% of 200,000 ebike sales in 2016 is 3,600. 3,600 times 4 years 2013-2016 plus 1,800 in 2012 = 16,200

The number of Jump ebikeshare bikes was reported by GGW as 120 shared ebikes within the next 2 weeks and more during the dockless bikeshare trial period. If it is a success, it might encourage further innovation such as the Donk-ee cargo-ebikeshare trial in Cologne.

Sources:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/sites/default/files/downloads/resource/2014stats.pdf
https://www.levassociation.com/press-releases/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/326124/us-sales-of-electric-bicycles/
US Census Bureau Quick Facts
https://ggwash.org/view/64910/jump-up-dcs-hills-with-jump-bikeshare
Ziwen, L., Cherry, C. R., MacArthur, J. H., & Weinert, J. X. (2017). Differences of Cycling Experiences and Perceptions between E-Bike and Bicycle Users in the United States. Sustainability (2071-1050), 9(9), 1. doi:10.3390/su9091662

[Dewey]

@lordofthemark 165824 wrote:

Since I actually attended a meeting of BPAC’s legislative and policy sub comm, let me tell you what we determined…C. Most people seem okay with the status quo – on the one hand few folks have major complaints with ebikes rather than with bad users in general, and most ebikers who need the MVT to make connections (such as to access DC) are okay with being “scofflaws” if they are even aware they are.

At some point, when there are more ebikes, and we have gotten more where we want to be on a range of other issues, we can revisit the issue. But I would hope by then Vision Zero and other improvements would make biking in the streets more attractive to people on bikes in general, and esp to those capable of riding faster, however powered… Dasgeh has persuaded me that the impact of ebikes on this discourse is not worth worrying about…increasing the number of riders total is much more important to the entire range of bike related policy and politics issues

I’m not happy with having to break a municipal regulation every time I ride to and from work across one of the Potomac bridge sidewalks because it’s too dangerous to ride in the road. I suspect Dasgeh and every family/utility/commuter/ebikeshare Class 1 pedelec rider wanting to be safe crossing the river is unhappy about being branded as “scofflaws” because of our needing to cope with deficient infrastructure. With the introduction this week of dockless ebikeshare in the District at what point will we reach a critical mass of Class 1 pedelec riders such that cycling advocates can convincingly argue our case for changing this iniquitous rule to at least legitimize our riding on the bridge sidewalks until safer bicycle infrastructure is put in?

[Dewey]

@hozn 165833 wrote:

The class-3 e-bikes rolling at 20+mph are not the outliers on my commute. They are [almost] the only e-bikes on my commute. (There are about half a dozen that I see with my range of commute times.) I have seen a box bike once. I have not seen any lower-power/class-1 “regular” commuting bicycles. I would notice; as someone that is obsessed with bike gear, I look at everyone’s bike. But, yeah, class-1 e-bikes are quite different. They certainly wouldn’t stand out for the behavior that concerns sjclaeys. I don’t think we’d be having this conversation at all if the e-bikes on the trail were just class-1 e-bikes.

I ride a class 1 pedelec I converted from a pedal bicycle using a 250w mid-drive motor that is visually identical to a 750w version from the same manufacturer. Motors have the continuous power rating stamped somewhere unobtrusive, you would have to literally turn my bike upside down to tell the difference, but of course you could also tell by the speed, I’m slow and try to be a PAL. Towing my 2 year old home from swim class during rush hour the other day I reflected I don’t want or need speed, I prefer to be slow and predictable for drivers at intersections, but I do need the assist getting up hills. On ebike forums I’ve read Class 3 speed pedelec riders are sometimes commuters from further out who want to go at a good clip to arrive at work in good time.

[Dewey]

Test ride report from GGW

[Dewey]

and now in DC.

[Dewey]

Just spotted the first mobike I’ve noticed on GW campus parked near the big giant head of George Washington at 23rd and I St near the entrance to Foggy Bottom metro station.

[Dewey]

@huskerdont 165579 wrote:

I saw that Baltimore’s bike share program was temporarily shutting down because of vandalism and theft.

Also Manchester, England for the same reasons, the rascally tykes.

Here’s a WTOP article on Mobike launching in Washington, DC, and another article from the Post states there are 200 of these bikes in DC.

[Dewey]

You: giant red trailer truck turning left onto Rhodes St to cross Arlington Blvd.
Me: hoping you will get on with it and clear the intersection
You: now having second thoughts about the wisdom of your turn given the road is far too narrow for your bleeding trailer rig so you decided to back up…
Me: Grrr GPS

[Dewey]

If you’re interested in a cheap belt drive bike here’s an article comparing the Ikea Sladda to the slightly cheaper/lighter Priority Classic which has 3-speeds compared with the Ikea’s 2.

This guy in Toronto converted an Ikea Sladda to an ebike with a front hub motor, despite the motor not being connected to the drivetrain he broke the Continental belt at 2,000km and got it replaced under warranty – the trouble with belt drives is most bike shops don’t carry the belts in stock so if it breaks while you’re out on a long ride you’ll have to get the bike back home somehow – AAA carry bicycles on a tow truck.

[Dewey]

@cvcalhoun 164789 wrote:

There was just a carefully concealed driver.

Thankfully not driving as recklessly as that James Bond fella driving a BMW with his phone from the back seat, the show off.

[Dewey]

Thankfully not driving as recklessly as that James Bond fella driving a BMW with his phone from the back seat.

[Dewey]

Mobility Lab article by an Arlington resident about “Why it’s so difficult for autonomous vehicles to see bikes“. The linked IEEE Spectrum blog post illustrates how far software still has to go before it can be trusted – only identifying which direction a bicycle is facing 59% of the time.

[Dewey]

Another source of Balance Bike reviews is two wheeling tots.

[Dewey]

Took Wilson Boulevard PBL coming home from work on Monday at 1pm. There is extensive utility work taking place, pedestrians are walking on the section of PBL between Rosslyn Highlands Park and N Quinn Street. There is an edge where uneven piles of temporary asphalt meet the cut road surface running right down the center of the PBL, it’s uncomfortable to ride on. At two points utility works close one then two of the three traffic lanes and the bike lane obliging you to ride uphill in the traffic lane. In the 15 minutes I rode between Rosslyn and Ballston I had to ride out into the traffic lane to pass delivery vehicles parked in the bike lane 8 times I was glad the traffic at lunchtime is lower than during rush hour.

I’ll take Key Blvd from Rosslyn to Clarendon until they sort out the mess.

[Dewey]

I find gender designating bicycle frame styles peculiar, I’m a 44 y.o. male and while my commuting bike has a diamond frame I prefer riding a Capital Bikeshare step through frame when I have occasion to use one because I find it easier to hop on and off. The article talks about Giant/Liv offering shorter cranks, narrower handlebars, and there’s certainly a need for components made to fit different size people e.g. brake handles with adjustable reach, etc.

[Author]

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