[jnva]

It seems like people are mostly concerned that more ebikes on wod/custis will mean more accidents and less overall safety. I don’t agree with this but it keeps getting mentioned. I wonder if anyone has seen an ebike cause an accident due to high speed? I think it’s just annoying to get passed, especially if you aren’t warned. “There goes another ebike speeding away, he’s going to kill someone. I’m going to write an article in the post and complain about them on the internet” lol.

[jnva]

For conversion kits, take a look at em3ev.com. I’m happy with the stuff I’ve bought from them.

[jnva]

@lordofthemark 148420 wrote:

Trails on the other hand, go places roads don’t go. Or go there more directly (especially in places like NoVa where well developed street grids are lacking). And they provide an experience of nature that is completely different. Ergo, there is a reason why an ebiker would want to ride on them.

Bingo! I have no desire to ride my ebike on the WOD for any other reason.

[jnva]

@sjclaeys 148385 wrote:

Most of the complaints on the forum are about regular bikes because the vast majority of wheeled MUP users are regular bikes, not e-bikes. You could have 10% of regular bike users be jerks and 75% of e-bike users be jerks, and still have the absolute number of regular bike users who are jerks be much greater than the absolute number of e-bike users who are jerks. I strongly agree that it is the user, not the vehicle, that is the jerk, but I am responding to the suggestion that e-bikes somehow make riders more courteous MUP users. As far as the assistance of the electric motors of e-bikes to their speeds, high speed passes by e-bikes with the riders not peddling shows that is often not the case.

If you yell loud enough at those ebikers, they’ll stop doing that.

[jnva]

@EasyRider 148369 wrote:

LOL. Thanks for the opening, I’ll bite!

At lunch I posted a reminiscience about the Puch Maxi moped, and the similarities with modern e-bikes: Puchs were no bigger, no faster, had operable pedals, etc. If “it’s the rider not the bike,” should responsibly, courteously-ridden gas mopeds be allowed on multi-use paths? I think most of us would say, “of course not!”

I used to have one of those Puch mopeds! Yeah, the peddles were only used to start the motor. And I agree that’s what the signs were intended for…

[jnva]

@sjclaeys 148355 wrote:

And I have been dangerously passed many times on the Custis and MVT by e-bikes riders going much faster than the rest of the MUP traffic and not announcing passes. Also, others on the forum have noted e-bike riders going through stop lights, etc., so there is that.

This argument will never end… it’s the rider not the bike. Lol.

[jnva]

Just don’t pass anyone on the trails and you’ll be fine . I’ve found it’s much easier to just ride on the roads, especially if you want to ride faster. You’ll still get yelled at by car drivers though. But it’s worth it not to have to use metro

[jnva]

@DrP 147768 wrote:

So, did you think the “kids first” plate meant you were supposed to try to hit them first?

[jnva]

@pmf 147717 wrote:

I’m guessing more than just me does this given how sensitive you are about it. I’ve decided to quit being such an a-hole and not saying anything to you guys as you buzz by. I do worry what commuting is going to become when a substantial portion of the bikes on the path are motorized. I ride 4000-5000 miles a year. Maybe I don’t look like I’m in great shape, but I’m in a lot better shape than I’d be if my bike was motorized. Yeah, I’ve got kids and a 17 mile each way commute, so save the excuses.

The reason I’m offended by your accusation is because it’s not true. I don’t buzz by anybody. As a matter of fact, I’m often buzzed by “you guys”. Thank you for not being an a-hole from now on, I appreciate it.

I usually don’t ride on the path because it’s more convenient to ride with traffic now that I can keep up. It’s all about getting to work for me, exercise is secondary. I also run marathons, so I don’t really need it anyway….

There’s been a lot of posts recently about bad behavior on the bike path. I think it’s indicative of the type of people who live in the DC area. I regret raising my kids in this area and plan to retire somewhere else. I can’t wait to get out of here…

[jnva]

Yep, for real. I’ve been yelled at a lot and I’m used to it.

[jnva]

@pmf 147684 wrote:

Excuse me if this has already been debated to death — I’m new here.

I’ve been commuting from Vienna to DC for over 20 years. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of electric bikes on the trail. Is this legal? Seems like they qualify as a motorized vehicle to me. Over the years I’ve seen one or two a week, but lately, they’re everywhere. The big problem I have are the people riding these things — they’re lousy bike riders — and they’re able to go 20+ mph on these bikes. It’s a safety hazard. Kind of like giving a 16 year old kid a race car. There are times when I yell at them “Get a real bike”. This seems to strike a cord in some of them — so I must not be the only cyclist who does this. One guy slowed down and told me that he was trying to get in shape to ride to work. He was at least 10 years younger and 20 lbs lighter than I am. I asked him how buying a motorized bike is going to accomplish that. He told me to F-off and buzzed away. I was at Spokes recently and there was a guy with an electric bike. I asked him how he liked it. He said it is just great. I can get to work from Vienna to DC in 45 minutes (takes me an hour) and I “get my exercise”. I damn near asked him if he had a motorized elliptical machine at home to use when it snows. Or maybe watching golf on TV would suffice. I asked a guy in DC while waiting at a light about the range he gets. He said 25 miles, but since his commute was 12 miles each way, he charges it at the office in the daytime just to make sure it’s fully charged for the ride home. “You really don’t want to have to pedal this thing”

If it keeps going at the pace it’s been going, half the bikes on the path are going to be electric bikes in the next 5-10 years. How can people be so lazy?

I know exactly who OP is, as he has told me to “get a real bike”. This guy is a rude rude a-hole. What kind of person does this? Just shouts at people like this? For your info, buddy, I do have a “real” bike. I’ve been bike commuting to DC longer than you have. It’s funny that you really aren’t in great shape considering all the riding you do, but that’s none of my business.

I only ride on the mup when I have to (mainly to cross 495 and 7) or when it’s raining.

[jnva]

@sjclaeys 147578 wrote:

And soon he will be able to join Freezing Saddles!

Why, did the rules change?

[jnva]

@Vicegrip 143210 wrote:

E power bikes have no place in the woods.

I grew up riding around wakefield on a Schwinn stingray with knobbies before there were trails. Kids, potheads and the random cop was all there was back then.

There were trails at Wakefield – and ironically they were dirt bike trails LOL.

[jnva]

I’d feel kind of strange riding my ebike at Wakefield or fountainhead, mainly because I grew up riding those trails on a no suspension trek7000 (which I still ride). It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

[jnva]

@sjclaeys 142205 wrote:

Fancy e-bike?

I can’t tell if there are pedals, but this is what will cause all ebikes to be banned. Come on people don’t be this stupid.

[Author]

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