E-scooter and E-bike fires 1

[ctopher]

IRstuff,
I agree. I always let others know when passing.
Most people do not learn the rules.
eBikes and scooters, they make it worse.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

 

[Sparweb]

While biking, I found that a very VERY VERY loud bell helps.
Pedestrians wear earbuds with music blasting.

 

[ctopher]

A lot of bikers and cyclists wear earbuds too.
I don't use anything with sounds, some people get startled and jerk the wheel in front of me, especially kids.

I once saw a homeless person in the riverbed trying to start a campfire with an electric scooter battery. One of those green rental scooters.
I don't know if he was successful. I called authorities to let them know, then moved on.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

 

[CWB1]

Given the lax enforcement of existing bicycle and scooter laws stateside I dont foresee e-bike usage ever being regulated. Technically you need a license, registration, and insurance for scooters just as you need to walk a bicycle across every intersection but nobody bothers nor cares. Personally I'd like to see them all banished to the sidewalks, shoulders, trails, etc where they pose relatively little risk while I'm walking/running compared to driving.

 

[waross]

On the sidewalks, shoulders, trails, etc. the ebikes pose a threat to others.
On roadways they are more of a threat to themselves.
Pick your bias.
Personally, "it is what it is".
I will try hard to avoid hitting or being hit.
Isn't that an aspect life in general?
Sort of like "Cover your ASSets"?

--------------------
Ohm's law
Not just a good idea;
It's the LAW!

 

[CWB1]

I don't agree that e-bikes are mostly a threat to themselves on the road. As a pedestrian running full-tilt I have relatively little momentum so can quickly and easily avoid or minimize/absorb the impact of colliding with bikes/e-bikes/scooters along with subsequent damage. We collide, we fall, we stop within a few feet, and from collisions I've seen its unlike the damage will be much worse than broken bones or a concussion. A vehicle OTOH has far more momentum and if the driver loses control it can very easily lead to major death and destruction. Last I checked vehicle accidents are one of the top causes of death stateside, and differing vehicle speeds the top cause of accidents so having slow bikes/e-bikes/scooters/etc on roadways seems illogical to me.

20 years ago a bicyclist ran a red light directly in front of my pickup. Thankfully traffic was light and at 45 mph I was able to swerve/drift the truck enough so that only my front corner hit the bike, sending the bicyclist down the side of my truck rather than underneath. Had we been in rush hour traffic things could've been far worse for both of us.

A side-note that I believe true, fascinating, and relevant is that purportedly human brains are somehow instinctually wired to preserve human life. Personally I've hit quite a few animals, lost several radiators to deer, and always intentionally avoided swerving (per driver's ed training) nor felt much worry before impact, usually just anger. Before hitting the bicyclist tho I both swerved and felt genuine fear, I believe bc he was human. Ive also never minded the smell of roadkill but struggled with the smell of human decomposition in the military. Both could just be me, but I suspect there's something to "instinct" that most would struggle to overcome in unavoidable collisions with bikes.

 

[hokie66]

The Emergency Room doctors at Brisbane's largest hospitals report that e-bikes accidents cause horrific injuries to riders and pedestrians on footpaths. Accidents occurring on the road surface are to riders, but these do not differ in seriousness from motor vehicle collisions with pedestrians.

 

[ctopher]

Why everyone should wear a helmet.
I have had two bad crashes on a bike, both I split my helmet. The 2nd one the Dr told me the helmet saved my life. I wasn't walking straight for a week. It was 7 years ago, still have no sense of smell.
Especially eBikes/scooters. They go much faster. A collision with a car is worse.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

 

[hokie66]

A helmet provides some protection for the skull. But many of the injuries are broken bones, torn tendons, knocked out teeth, etc. Maybe it is because you stand on a scooter rather than having a saddle.

 

[ctopher]

I would rather have some broken again than another bad concussion.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks
ctophers home

 

[hokie66]

Most pedestrians are not wearing a helmet. Count me as one senior citizen who doesn't want to be hit by one of these contraptions. And before you say I should be more vigilant, I don't often use a rear view mirror when walking.

 

[davefitz]

Here is a link to recent lithium ion battery fires and how New York City is addressing it:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/e-bike-battery-fires-became-120807964.html

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick

 

[Alistair_Heaton]

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/fire-killed-three-probably-caused-152300786.html

just another one

 

[davefitz]

Here are some more e-bike battery fires that killed residents in their apartments , and how NY and the peoples republic of Kalifornia are now dealing with it:

https://www.zerohedge.com/technolog...-battery-fires-spread-new-york-and-california

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick