They’re fast. Pedestrians are furious: ‘fat’ ebikes divide Australian beach suburbs
They’re fast. Pedestrians are furious: ‘fat’ ebikes divide Australian beach suburbs
Popular among teenagers, the large electric bikes have triggered ‘numerous complaints’ to councils as fears grow for the safety of riders and pedestrians
But they have also garnered a cult status among young people, who are using them to get around with friends, take their surfboard to the beach and commute to school.
Hmm, it's almost like young people aren't being given other viable transportation options, so they flock to the mode which affords them freedom and flexibility. Should we be surprised then, that the artificial barrier for youths was breached one day, and that day is now?
IMO, the story starts far earlier, with poor government policy failing to provide transport for all. I'm no expert on Australia transport priorities, but whatever they've been doing for the last so-and-so years clearly isn't working for the youth. So it's no surprise that these councils are being caught off-guard, when their negligence finally comes to bear.
It's not the ebikes, it's certain users/usage of it.
More precisely, a certain type of ebike which is designed to go very fast and its governor can be easily bypassed.
Some even add a throttle on the handlebar and remove the pedals making it an unlicenced and uninsured electric motorcycle.
I am all for replacing cars with bicycles and push for ebikes for those who need the assistance, but we need to clearly define and regulate what's a bicycle and a motorcycle and where they are allowed to ride and at what speed.
Nothing inherently wrong with throttle IMO
Oooh, they are SO close to figuring it out. It involves narrowing the roads, putting in a barrier-separated lane with traffic signals for bikes, and a wider walkway for pedestrians. All the puzzle pieces are there, lol.
These bikes make me feel unsafe! They should ride on the road where they will feel unsafe.
To be fair we have pretty much all of that in the Netherlands and Fat bikes are still a pretty big issue
It always seemed weird to me that it's such a problem over there. I ride an electric fatbike in the US sometimes but I make a point not to ride like an asshole, most other riders seem to be reasonably courteous on paths and streets.
Same here. The bikes don't even need to be fat for that.
The same bikers that rightfully complain about cars parking on bike lanes have absolutely no qualms of recklessly speeding through pedestrian zones moments later. And they not only hunt pedestrians - this week a teenager ran over a child on a bike and sped off without stopping. At least the childs' presence in the pedestrian zone was legal due to the childs age.
You are absolutely correct that these types of bicycle riders do exist and are negligent and selfish. That said, the altitudes and actions of a minority of cyclists are not representative of the attitudes and actions of the majority. For instance, I ride a bike and I complain about cars parking in the bike lane because it’s a safety hazard for everyone involved. I also would never speed through a pedestrian area for the same exact reason.
Side story: I was cycling on a multiuse trail the other day and came upon a guy jogging. Before I attempted to pass him, i rang my bell to signal my presence. Unfortunately he had earbuds in and didn’t hear me, and he walked right into my path without looking behind him first because he was moving across the trail to get to a bench on the other side. It’s my responsibility to yield to pedestrians and avoid accidents , so I braked really hard and stopped like a foot short of hitting him. My brakes squealed a bit, I yelled out, yet the guy still never heard me and never turned around.
I guess my point is that most of us are trying to do the right thing.
The other day, I was at a four-way stop, with one car (12 o' clock) arriving just before me, and another (9 o' clock) arriving just after me. I slowed and waited for the first car to go, but they did that annoying thing where they want to let me go first because they think they're helping. I defiantly got off my bike and waited in the intersection (because I'd rolled forward a few feet by this point) until they went. When I made my turn, 9 o' clock shouted from his truck that "maybe I should just stop at the stop sign next time".
Moral of the story is, because of the lack of communication between cyclists and drivers, some people will always come away from interactions like those angry.
Those are not the same bikers.
I've been a kid. I've got two kids. It's not that kids are dumb, it's just that they think they know everything.
The issue will be figuring out how to get young people to ride responsibly. Something the world has struggled with for years.
I can't personally see a solution, except something draconian like banning anyone who doesn't have a motorcycle licence from having them.
We can't even make adults drive cars responsibly, and they require licensed.
You can't see a solution? Bike infrastructure maybe????
These fast, unthrottled ebikes have no place on cycle paths if you ask me.
Nice username btw
Of course. But, even there you see the kids doing the wrong thing. Because they're kids. It's not their fault, it's just they're not emotionally, nor intellectually mature enough.
They do the odd "helmet blitz" in my city. Every few months the cops walk around the beach and foreshore just write tickets to everyone not wearing a helmet. In general most people wear their helmets all the time because who knows when the next one will be.
A few weeks of fines or confiscations for people riding on the footpath like dickheads would probably knock the worst of it on the head.
we really need to stop stealing things. it would be nice to leave my bike and helmet outside of a store and be able to come back to it. if the Japanese can do it, why can't we?
The police walk around and issue tickets to cyclists not wearing a helmet?
…What a waste of time and energy, and a violation of personal liberty.
A three year old was left with a broken leg after being hit by a teenager on a fat bike in Sydney’s south in April.
ugh
Think of the children... just not about how many were hit by cars?
We can care about both.
Sidewalks need to be safe. Personal mobility devices need a safe area to drive, separated from pedestrians. Both need to be separated from cars. The endgame should be car-free cities.
In the meantime, nobody should be hurt or killed just because they're trying to get around town.
Here a kid was hit by another biker in a f-ing pedestrian zone. A place where kids (and adult) pedestrians should be reasonably safe.
Similar thing last week here. It was not a fat bike, and the kid here was five or something, but yes. And the teenager here drove off without stopping, and is still at large.
Some kid the town over from me was going max speed (~50km/h) and smoked their leg on a mailbox. Probably needed over a dozen stitches, judging by the picture.
I won't be surprised if they get regulated to half their current speed, or even needing basic licensure and an age limit to operate one.
In Norway they are locked to about 21kmh and throttles are not allowed. Need to have pedals. You are also "required" to not go above walking speed when passing close by pedestrians. Although that last one is not really enforced.
You are also required to be insured, even those e-scooters
I'd be surprised if this won't be the standard everywhere in a few years.
Not sure what Australian government has been doing. Legislation was in place asap over here
That said, regulation sucks and it's be way more fun to just go 50kmph on a bike with just a throttle. But then you are not really a bike anymore. Probably more of an electric motorcycle and would need a license and be constrained to roads.
I’m on board with all these regulations except the mandatory insurance; active mobility (walking, bicycling, kick scooters, skateboarding, etc) should not require insurance.
That said, regulation sucks and it’s be way more fun to just go 50kmph on a bike with just a throttle. But then you are not really a bike anymore. Probably more of an electric motorcycle and would need a license and be constrained to roads.
Indeed, then they should fall under the same legal definition as a motorcycle, with tags, insurance, driving licence, etc.
Perhaps it's just the US, but most of the time, the speeding bikes on bike paths here are non-electric, lycra clad fellows doing well over 40kmh on road bikes. I can't even keep up with them on an ebike, haha. They also fly through the red lights, which makes me feel a bit unwell thinking about what could potentially happen if they are unlucky.
I'm a bit worried their aggressive behavior is reflecting poorly on the larger community while cars kinda get off with a slap on the wrist for things of a similar nature.
A family friend actually got pulled over for doing 64 kmh on his road bike. Non electric, but he was speed gunned and pulled over, haha.
Japan also (though not sure on max speed's exact value). Bicycles here aren't generally allowed on sidewalks, either (with exceptions for kids/elderly)
How much will regulation do if there are a few inquisitive teenage minds working on ways to get around such restricttions?
Regulations would show that the bike manufacturers would be doing their part to increase safety.
Regulations would show that the bicycle owners would have to purposefully go out of their way to make their bikes faster.
Regulations allow us to hold people accountable when the rules are broken or when negligent accidents happen.
I will never understand why average people get so freaked out by people moving quickly
I obliterated a lady on my bike as a kid. I get it.
Depends on the location:
Street - Probably fine
Crowded pedestrian sidewalk - Not ok
Just don't ride like an asshole and you'll be fine.
Fat bike with studded winter tires, tubeless is so nice for winter work commute though. I use mine with cheaper tires in the warm season but if the stars align I'll be getting a lighter bike for the warm seasons instead because the fat bike is just really damn heavy. The only issues I have with pedestrians are the sections where people regularly walk the bike lane even though there is a double wide sidewalk as well, and the bike lane is flanked with plants so it's not even more convenient.
Fat tires can't be beat when it comes to sand and snow, it's true.
Reminder to everyone: Don't ride like an asshole or you might get ebikes banned in your area (also, just not being an asshole is its own reward)
Imagine driving like an asshole got cars banned in your area.
Time for Big E-bike to start an anti-"jaydriving" propaganda campaign.
Worse, they'll probably make people jump through unnecessary hoops (licensing, testing and so on) for people to use them and it will become out of reach for most, due to affordability.
I mean it would be great to have people educated on rules etc of course, but imho that should be something done as free public service.
Certainly we would need better public transit when cars are banned from my entire state.
There was a phase of idiots riding the rental scooters irresponsibly in my city when they appeared.
As they've become normal, tho, the novelty has worn off and you mostly just see people calmly getting from point A to B, and parking them in sane spots. Ebikes have been more gradual so there's not been a wave of dangerous behavior at all.
I ride a high performance electric skateboard, myself, and though I like my fun, I make it a point to never put pedestrians in danger. I do unintentionally scare people at times, as they don't expect a dude on a skateboard to be capable of stopping on a dime when needed.
Douchebags seem to push the limits on new things like this, at first, but at least in my city, courteous rider etiquette has developed.
Lucky you. Here, the idiot e-scooter riders have become the new "normal" to the point of cities just banning them.
Well, try getting this through the assholes thick skulls. Good luck with that.
So that's just the common fucking reaction to everything now, eh? BAN IT!
Ebikes are here to stay old fart
k, cool.
Don't ride like an asshole though, regardless of what you're riding.