E-bikes under fire as fatalities climb in NYC

[Art Deco]

This branding of unlicensed electric motorcycles as eBikes is what people who don't know or care about any bikes see and hence believe. It makes total sense to them.

You can twist the throttle and run over them, and they can't even hear you coming. No thought to a throttle on a motorized wheel chair.

 

[Asher]

The people framing the argument, or the crime, don't really care about the facts it seems. It's a means to an end to call anything electric with two wheels an ebike.

As if this wouldn't happen with an unassisted bicycle.

Saying analog bikes and ebikes lead to the same outcome is false. E-bike boosters are always saying that e-bikes boost cycling's appeal - which means more people riding, and more such incidents. Ebikes usually have sharper acceleration, and in the US, the 20+ mph top speed is higher than the speeds reached by the vast majority of casual riders on flat ground. It's why beach towns are passing restrictions on ebikes (linked below), after seeing them cause issues on the trail.

These issues can be managed of course, and I'm optimistic that they will be, but saying electrifying things changes nothing when it comes under criticism, and that it changes everything when it comes in for praise, is some amalgam of nonsense and falsehood.

San Clemente Amends Ordinance to Include E-Bikes Restrictions on Beach Trail

City staff has implemented an online portal to report e-bike incidents along beach trail.

www.google.com

 

[PedalUma]

I like that locals can try new approaches. In San Clemente it is seasonal and applies to the pier and a trail along the beach. I lived there for five years. In the Summer it is packed with tourists. Three year-olds in flip flops walking while eating ice cream. Bare footed elderly who are white as sheets and have not walked without shoes or been to a beach for years. Again it is packed. These are not commuters.

 

[Ken M]

Seems to me the way the data is collected is biased. Those are all fatalities where the victim was a motorcyclist or motor vehicle occupant,” a DOT spokeswoman said. The data on the ebike deaths / incidents includes those struck by an ebike or escooter.

 

[ActionJackson]

These are not commuters.

Communist lemmings ??

 

[PedalUma]

Communist lemmings ??

There are a bunch with Red Hats in San Clemente. Some captured by the FBI.

 

[ActionJackson]

Ebikes usually have sharper acceleration, and in the US, the 20+ mph top speed is higher than the speeds reached by the vast majority of casual riders on flat ground.

You’ve nailed the crux of the matter, especially for urban environments like NYC. Until the zealots back off supporting high powered cycles and come to a reasonable compromise in their position the city and public correctly perceive e-bikes as dangerous and requiring more restrictions.

The other issue in NYC is the majority of people’s attitude and persona - they seem to bask in gruff aggressive self centered behaviors, in other words like selfish assholes. Thank God the Statue of Liberty is in New Jersey hahahaha.

 

[J.R.]

After dooring an ebiker, Assemblyman flees the scene of the accident.

"Assemblyman Keith Wright was arraigned on September 17, 2021 after sending a biker flying over his car door in Manhattan."

"I was about to open my car door while he was riding an electric bike,” Wright allegedly blurted. “It is his fault for running into my door. I told him to go to the hospital. I did not exchange my information with him. I asked for his information but he did not give it to me."

"Dooring” — or opening a car door into moving traffic — is illegal in New York.

Exclusive | Keith Wright allegedly fled after opening door into cyclist

The boss of the Manhattan Democratic Party was busted for opening his car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist — sending the man flying — before allegedly fleeing the scene.

nypost.com

 

[Art Deco]

"It is his fault for running into my door". Enough said.

 

[reed scott]

Leadership. Whatayawannabet he skates on any charges. Hopefully he carries auto insurance.

 

[J.R.]

"It is his fault for running into my door". Enough said.

You obviously missed his point The evil one was riding an electric bike! Guilty!

"I was about to open my car door while he was riding an electric bike,”

Kind of curious how the evil ebiker hit the door before it was open That shows just how evil the ebiker was. 'Your honor, I was parked peacefully in a legal spot and this evil ebiker just hit my car for no reason!'

 

[Art Deco]

You obviously missed his point The evil one was riding an electric bike! Guilty!



Kind of curious how the evil ebiker hit the door before it was open That shows just how evil the ebiker was. 'Your honor, I was parked peacefully in a legal spot and this evil ebiker just hit my car for no reason!'

An invisible ebiker came out of nowhere, hit my car, and disappeared over the bars ...

 

[PedalUma]

What type of bike is not relevant. A bike is a bike. Does not matter if it was pink or yellow or purple, a ten-speed or electric green.
He could have theoretically gone out of the other door to the sidewalk butt that attempt would have taken him his entire lunch hour, resulting in failure to accomplish the mission to get a double cheesesteak.

 

[tomdutchie]

what i foun

After dooring an ebiker, Assemblyman flees the scene of the accident.

"Assemblyman Keith Wright was arraigned on September 17, 2021 after sending a biker flying over his car door in Manhattan."

"I was about to open my car door while he was riding an electric bike,” Wright allegedly blurted. “It is his fault for running into my door. I told him to go to the hospital. I did not exchange my information with him. I asked for his information but he did not give it to me."

"Dooring” — or opening a car door into moving traffic — is illegal in New York.

Exclusive | Keith Wright allegedly fled after opening door into cyclist

The boss of the Manhattan Democratic Party was busted for opening his car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist — sending the man flying — before allegedly fleeing the scene.

nypost.com

What I found interesting:
"He added that there is also a New York City administrative regulation that says just about any contact between a car and a pedestrian and bicyclist is presumptively the driver’s fault."
As this is also the rule in my country (NL), and put forward as one of the reasons why we bike so much/without helmet kind of wondering where this regulation also, and if there is any measurable effect of implementing this? [because seems pretty simple ruling with maybe large effect: more bicycles, which would pressurize call for good infrastructure]

 

[Ken M]

Saying analog bikes and ebikes lead to the same outcome is false. E-bike boosters are always saying that e-bikes boost cycling's appeal - which means more people riding, and more such incidents. Ebikes usually have sharper acceleration, and in the US, the 20+ mph top speed is higher than the speeds reached by the vast majority of casual riders on flat ground. It's why beach towns are passing restrictions on ebikes (linked below), after seeing them cause issues on the trail.

These issues can be managed of course, and I'm optimistic that they will be, but saying electrifying things changes nothing when it comes under criticism, and that it changes everything when it comes in for praise, is some amalgam of nonsense and falsehood.

San Clemente Amends Ordinance to Include E-Bikes Restrictions on Beach Trail

City staff has implemented an online portal to report e-bike incidents along beach trail.

www.google.com

First question: Is there any data indicating that an ebikes faster acceleration has been responsible for any of the increase in accidents or fatalities? Probably not.

The largest bike speed study ever conducted showed that the top speed reached by over 95% of riders was upwards of 32mph because when they do these studies the speed hit going downhill is also included....as it should be. The average speeds are increased from about 8mph for a traditional bike to 14mph for an ebike mainly because hills are flattened. The challenge is determining if that increase in "average" speed is responsible for a significant % of any significant increase in accidents of ebikes. It's so easy to set up statistical studies that support conclusions already made .... like your claim that "the speeds reached by the vast majority of casual riders on flat ground" is relevant to an increase in accidents. Maybe it's just more ebikes on the streets.

 

[J.R.]

what i foun

What I found interesting:
"He added that there is also a New York City administrative regulation that says just about any contact between a car and a pedestrian and bicyclist is presumptively the driver’s fault."
As this is also the rule in my country (NL), and put forward as one of the reasons why we bike so much/without helmet kind of wondering where this regulation also, and if there is any measurable effect of implementing this? [because seems pretty simple ruling with maybe large effect: more bicycles, which would pressurize call for good infrastructure]

It's pretty much the same law in most states. The ebike story is pretty contentious in NYC and this Assemblyman is using the tension to demonize the cyclist as an ebiker, in order to cast himself as the victim. Hopefully it won't work. He'll probably will throw a fistful of dollars at the rider, money he got from taxpayers and the judge will give him a slap on the wrist. 'You've been a naughty boy! Don't do it again.' Dooring anything, a car, pedestrian or bike is dangerous and a crime. Unfortunately it happens all over the world

 

[PedalUma]

Dooring anything, a car, pedestrian or bike is dangerous and a crime. Unfortunately it happens all over the world
Depends on the kind of doors.

 

[tomdutchie]

It's pretty much the same law in most states. The ebike story is pretty contentious in NYC and this Assemblyman is using the tension to demonize the cyclist as an ebiker, in order to cast himself as the victim. Hopefully it won't work. He'll probably will throw a fistful of dollars at the rider, money he got from taxpayers and the judge will give him a slap on the wrist. 'You've been a naughty boy! Don't do it again.' Dooring anything, a car, pedestrian or bike is dangerous and a crime. Unfortunately it happens all over the world

Yeah, dooring is a problem (mainly stupidity but also because of bad infra decisions).

To avoid you need a pretty hard separation of parked cars/bike roads. Problem is that drivers have to look behind before crossing the bike path, about the same problem on right turns in intersections. A solution might be reversing the direction of bikes, but that would also be a large change (and in many places would increase the seriousness of collisions)
Also can't see a simple detection in cars for this upcoming traffic (although, maybe in cars with full camera systems this could be implemented, warning or disabling the doorhandle?)

 

[PedalUma]

Yeah, dooring is a problem (mainly because of bad infra decisions).

To avoid you need a pretty hard separation of parked cars/bike roads. Problem is that drivers have to look behind before crossing the bike path, about the same problem on right turns in intersections. A solution might be reversing the direction of bikes, but that would also be a large change (and in many places would increase the seriousness of collisions)
Also can't see a simple detection in cars for this upcoming traffic (although, maybe in cars with full camera systems this could be implemented, warning or disabling the doorhandle?)

People just need to look before they open their door. Layers of complexity will not solve the problem. Having a phone app to tell you if it is safe to cross the street is not better than keeping your head up and being aware.

 

[tomdutchie]

People just need to look before they open their door. Layers of complexity will not solve the problem. Having a phone app to tell you if it is safe to cross the street is not better than keeping your head up and being aware.

True, but avoiding harm because mistakes people tend to make is also pretty important [see blindspot mirrors in trucks, maybe some adaption possible for passenger seats?]
Not putting blame on anybody else but the one causing a collision, but there are maybe ways to avoid: from [better] education to making it impossible it can happen.
I think I would rather have lights/protected crossway to go to the other side of a street than trust in the instinct if it is save to cross
[app to cross the street.. as an extra to the lights on the pavement at crossings? ]