Proposed Dutch ebike restrictions - electronic speed reduction tech

RandallS

RandallS

Well-Known Member
Region
Canada
City
Calgary
Saw this in the Guardian.

www.theguardian.com

Dutch government pilots technology to cut e-bike road deaths

Digital system automatically reduces electric bicycles’ power in built-up areas
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

" discussions had been opened with manufacturers about how their bikes would interact with digital infrastructure built by local authorities."

The article also says the majority of the 65 people who died on e-bikes were 65+ males...
 
A "jump" from 57 to 65 seems like nothing.

What's the e-bike deaths per capita compared to pedal bikes?
How many MORE people were riding e-bikes year-over-year? It almost certainly wasn't LESS.
Also, did it being an e-bike (vs. pedal bike) contribute to the cause of death?

IIRC the Netherlands have seen a massive growth in e-bikes, even pre-COVID. 2019 saw e-bikes overtake pedal bikes in sales.

Out of curiosity, I checked statistica for numbers. In 2019, 203 cyclists died in the Netherlands (down from 228 the year before). If e-bikes have overtaken pedal bikes in sales, it suggests that e-bikes overall are safer than pedal bikes, without this motor-killing "infrastructure".

Seems like a solution looking for a non-existent problem to me. :D

"E-bikes safer than pedal bikes" seems to be the real takeaway here, unless the Dutch government is also going to hit pedal bikers in the knees as they ride into "built up" areas.

Also, from a general principle...

“But I think we helped them to understand that where vehicles should go and how fast is not up to a private party, a business. In a functioning democracy, that is the job of citizens and of government.”

...

“The whole narrative is about moving individuals from a self-centric mode,” Bhattacharya said. “You have been cycling through an empty stretch and you are mostly thinking of yourself and your experience, but now as you come into a built-up area it is about the collective good. By reducing the speed we are making it safer for everybody.”
Click to expand...
Since when did The Borg become a thing to strive for?
Whose "narrative" is this guy talking about?
I'm sure it's NOT a narrative that the citizens at large are looking for.
 
Just as a side note, a good rule of thumb is that "narrative" is just another word for "story", so what story is the speaker trying to sell you?

In this case, the guy is a strategist at a data-collection/tracking outfit, so that's just the story he's narrating. I classify this under the literary term "unreliable narrator" as the story he aims to tell would directly benefit him financially.

Then again, maybe I'm too jaded by the writings of Noam Chomsky and Umberto Eco. :D
 
antboy said:
Just as a side note, a good rule of thumb is that "narrative" is just another word for "story", so what story is the speaker trying to sell you?

In this case, the guy is a strategist at a data-collection/tracking outfit, so that's just the story he's narrating. I classify this under the literary term "unreliable narrator" as the story he aims to tell would directly benefit him financially.

Then again, maybe I'm too jaded by the writings of Noam Chomsky and Umberto Eco. :D
Click to expand...
I think you are spot on in your suspicions regarding this report. My life experiences have taught me that people seldom do anything without a motive or goal. When incomplete facts are presented, it generally is an attempt to create an opinion in others that probably cannot be supported when all the details are available. I'm still waiting for a comparison of the past 5 years seasonal flu deaths in the "At Risk" older, ill demographic compared to Covid-19. I have my suspicions.
 
RandallS said:
Saw this in the Guardian.

www.theguardian.com

Dutch government pilots technology to cut e-bike road deaths

Digital system automatically reduces electric bicycles’ power in built-up areas
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

" discussions had been opened with manufacturers about how their bikes would interact with digital infrastructure built by local authorities."

The article also says the majority of the 65 people who died on e-bikes were 65+ males...
Click to expand...
It will probably come to pass eventually. I’ve read articles recently where similar technology will be pre-installed on all cars as well where the driver won’t be able to surpass the posted speed limit even when depressing the pedal to increase speed.

Big bro run amok.
 
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