Reckless ebikers

[ebikemom]

Well, ebikes are proliferating where I live. And, in the last day or two I've encountered ... ebikers riding way too fast on mixed use paths. Almost got creamed by one on a narrow mixed-use path today. He was going FAST and was in the center, and I could feel him WHOOSH by.

Let's keep it safe, folks! And, um, ride on the RIGHT side of the path? And, MIXED USE means a safe speed.

 

[The duke]

I am suffering from this disease. Hopping on my ebike, I feel like Thanos putting on the infinity gauntlet.



There's a gated community with a guard near my house. Recently, I've been cutting in as the gate closes. After squeezing into the private community, I use my e-mtb to climb up the steep embankment as the guard yells out at me. I know he can't run after me and the electric motor is just too quick up those short, steep hills. I laugh inside.

As I pass by analog road bikers on their climbs, I get perverse satisfaction from their surprised starts as I blow by, cutting really close. Deep down, I know it's because I'll never be that fit, and that it's the wrong way to let out frustration over being passed by them for so many years. But I like to sneak up on them so quietly and quickly that they don't even have time to see if I'm riding electric or just a fat old guy who's still a superior human specimen with Olympic legs.

I love startling people waiting for their dogs to poop. That's the best. When they wander 10 or 20 yards down a dirt road so no one sees them when they don't pick up their doggie doo....they're never expecting someone coming out of the bushes at 12mph uphill! I wish I had a camera to capture their non-plastic-bag-holding, startled selves.

I know I'm a terrible ambassador to this sport. I'm just new to ebikes and intoxicated by this one extra horsepower God and EasyMotion have bestowed upon me. It's given me a sort of God complex...as much as 250 watts can make you into a God....and I've found I'm behaving more like a devil. I promise I will try to change. ??

 

[christob]

I hope, Duke, you get that out of your system ASAP. You actively give all cyclists, and in particular E bike cyclists, an absolutely horrible reputation, And that you deliberately seek out to do this behavior, makes you a very dangerous element to all others around you.

 

[Ian Moone]

I am suffering from this disease. Hopping on my ebike, I feel like Thanos putting on the infinity gauntlet.

View attachment 33069

There's a gated community with a guard near my house. Recently, I've been cutting in as the gate closes. I use my e-mtb to climb up the steep embankment as the guard yells out at me. I know he can't run after me and the electric motor is just too quick up those short, steep hills. I laugh inside.

As I pass by analog road bikers on their climbs, I get perverse satisfaction from their surprised starts as I blow by, cutting really close. Deep down, I know it's because I'll never be that fit, and that it's the wrong way to let out frustration over being passed by them for so many years. But I like to sneak up on them so quietly and quickly that they don't even have time to see if I'm riding electric or just a fat old guy who's still a superior human specimen with Olympic legs.

I love startling people waiting for their dogs to poop. That's the best. When they wander 10 or 20 yards down a dirt road so no one sees them when they don't pick up their doggie doo....they're never expecting someone coming out of the bushes at 12mph uphill! I wish I had a camera to capture their non-plastic-bag-holding, startled selves.

I know I'm a terrible ambassador to this sport. I'm just new to ebikes and intoxicated by this one extra horsepower God and EasyMotion have bestowed upon me. It's given me a sort of God complex...as much as 250 watts can make you into a God....and I've found I'm behaving more like a devil. I promise I will try to change. ??

You'll Change , Or catch a Stick in your Spokes !! ?

 

[TForan]

I think that Mr Duke is being a bit sarcastic .

 

[AHicks]

I think that Mr Duke is being a bit sarcastic .

Yup, I caught that as well. This is where he comes clean: "as much as 250 watts can make you into a God.. "

 

[christob]

Hard to tell, based on some other posts, whether it is a sincere or sarcastic description!

 

[indianajo]

I am fortunate Clark County is too cheap to build bike paths. They paint bike symbols in the middle of the street.
I have more trouble with packs of athletic head forward road bikers. They think that since I was so stupid to stop at the 4 way, that I can certainly wait for 7 or 20 more of them to whiz right across. My time is valuable too.

 

[Cowlitz]

I worry about being regulated off of trails. I read Rad facebook posts and it seems like we will soon be banned, as many folks are doing what you can do if you are tech smart and overriding the speed thing. I think about what my next bike will be, and then cancel that because I think we are doomed. We live in rude times.

No bike paths here either. There are some in the valleys to either side. There is talk of building a bike/walking trail ----to access a casino.

 

[ebikemom]

I think that @The duke is a master satirist!

 

[ebikemom]

I read Rad facebook posts and it seems like we will soon be banned, as many folks are doing what you can do if you are tech smart and overriding the speed thing.

Maybe something like "ski patrol" will emerge?? "Trail patrol"?? I guess the problem is that trail use isn't fee-based, so no $$$ to pay folks to keep things safe and sane.

 

[TForan]

It's not just Ebikers. I live by miles of paved paths and the analog bikes are the worst. Especially the Tour De France wannabes. I go way over board being courteous to everyone I share the path with and I expect the same from everybody else. Either ring a bell or announce you are passing on the left.

 

[christob]

It's not just Ebikers. I live by miles of paved paths and the analog bikes are the worst. Especially the Tour De France wannabes. I go way over board being courteous to everyone I share the path with and I expect the same from everybody else. Either ring a bell or announce you are passing on the left.

Yeah, if you're one to generally follow the rules of the road and also aim to be courteous to others, then it always seems the trails are full of people who apparently weren't raised that way, often exhibiting (whether deliberately or through ignorance) complete disregard for all others around them. Using a mixed-use trail properly is not rocket science, not even a little challenging, but so many seemingly can't be bothered.

 

[Flash Gordon]

I worry about being regulated off of trails. I read Rad facebook posts and it seems like we will soon be banned, as many folks are doing what you can do if you are tech smart and overriding the speed thing. I think about what my next bike will be, and then cancel that because I think we are doomed. We live in rude times.

No bike paths here either. There are some in the valleys to either side. There is talk of building a bike/walking trail ----to access a casino.

Agree with Cowlitz, with the proliferation of e-bikes it is only a matter of times before many trails are off limits, especially if e-bikers are not courteous with their less-than-god-given-power.

There is a beach path near me that is open to "bikes" and I took it once - and never again - which is heavily used by walkers. It is fairly narrow in places and walkers would have to step to the side to allow me to pass. I felt that it was rude for bikes to be such a bother to folks who rightfully, IMHO, had first priority to the path. Let's be prudent on how we use our bikes and maybe we might prolong our access.

 

[Cowlitz]

Maybe something like "ski patrol" will emerge?? "Trail patrol"?? I guess the problem is that trail use isn't fee-based, so no $$$ to pay folks to keep things safe and sane.

There are no lift tickets to take away.

I had my first horse encounter last month. I wasn't going fast and had seen nobody on the trails all that morning. I putted around the corner and there was a horse and rider coming along. Both horse and I were startled a bit but I stopped and pulled off and all was well. I am not into "fast".

 

[AlanDB]

I still don't see many ebikes on my local trails, but the few I do encounter have been ridden by older folks like me and all have been riding safely. They are obviously riding more for relaxing recreation and exercise and not trying to impress with how fast or far they can go. The discourteous speeders and unsafe passers I have run across have all been on road bikes, but thankfully even that is rare where I ride. Most riders of all ages are friendly, courteous and helpful.

 

[City Commuter]

I've even seen a few people texting while biking on pathways now.

 

[Ian Moone]

Maybe something like "ski patrol" will emerge?? "Trail patrol"?? I guess the problem is that trail use isn't fee-based, so no $$$ to pay folks to keep things safe and sane.

Yep, the Spoke Police !! ?

 

[AHicks]

I think that @The duke is a master satirist!

Yes, you've found the word I was looking for. Satirist. Not so much sarcastic, but a very good satirist. So subtle.... Kinda like an Englishman's dry humor. Many times we don't catch on for a bit, which makes it twice as good when you do - often resulting in snorting your morning coffee!! Often makes for a love/hate thing.... -Al

 

[ebikemom]

There was a great satire blog post called something like "I hate your damned ebike." It's posted somewhere on this forum. Really funny blog entry written to show road bikers what a great addition to cycling an ebike is.