micromobility

magicbastarder

an interesting read; but am a little bemused at the idea of referring to this as 'micromobility' where i'd just call it 'mobility'; the notion that a new way of travelling has been invented with electric bikes and electric scooters is i guess possibly coming from an american standpoint?

Like autonomous vehicles, electric bikes and scooters are an order of magnitude cleaner and safer than human-driven cars. But unlike self-driving cars, they also bring order of magnitude improvements in space and energy efficiency, on top of being very cheap. And we can deploy them today.

Any single one of these improvements would be a game changer in and of itself, the kind that car companies would spend billions to pursue. Bundled together, they’re an innovation like we see only once a century.

https://florentcrivello.com/index.php/2019/01/28/five-promises-of-micromobility/

Dravokivich

For shame...

6.9 billion hours is roughly 9,000 lives, or the equivalent of three 9/11s per year

magicbastarder

though i do have an issue with his graph on road death reductions, which he links to the use of bikes in the netherlands; ireland's road deaths peaked in 178 and are now less than a quarter of the peak, and that's certainly not down to a massive cycling network being built.

beauf

It has huge potential.

I'm not sure it will take off here we still have a stone age mentality even with cycling.

magicbastarder

one issue here in relation to it is legislation surrounding electric scooters; AFAIK there's none.
it's a little weird to see someone in the distance who appears to be standing still but who may be doing 25km/h.

Sarn

Only a matter of time before they enforce the requirement for tax, insurance and a licence.

Lumen

Dravokivich wrote: »

For shame...

I wonder how many 9/11s-in-wasted-hours boards.ie is responsible for?

Victor

magicbastarder wrote: »

Like autonomous vehicles ... are an order of magnitude cleaner and safer than human-driven cars.

Autonomous vehicles still produce a lot of the tyre and brake debris that other cars produce - which ends up in people's lungs.

Then there is the manufacturing and energy processes that also produce pollution.

Yes, AVs are safer in certain circumstances, but wait until the general population gets their hands on them.

magicbastarder wrote: »

one issue here in relation to it is legislation surrounding electric scooters; AFAIK there's none.

There is no electric scooter-specific legislation, but they are covered by the legislation for vehicles and electric vehicles generally.

There are regulations dealing with ped-elecs - bikes with electric assist.

magicbastarder

Uber’s e-bike plan for Dublin rejected on safety grounds
Possibility of vandalism by some operators against competitors also cited by council
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/uber-s-e-bike-plan-for-dublin-rejected-on-safety-grounds-1.3803079

Mrs OBumble

We really need a lot more two-wheeler lanes before things will take off properly, though. And probably dedicated speed-limits for them

magicbastarder

since two wheeled vehicles weigh *far* less than cars, it's reasonable then to expect that the speed limits should be higher for them.

ED E

magicbastarder wrote: »

since two wheeled vehicles weigh *far* less than cars, it's reasonable then to expect that the speed limits should be higher for them.

We need to be careful. This is a scooter. Its electric. I dont want to share a bike lane with it.

Mrs OBumble

ED E wrote: »

We need to be careful. This is a scooter. Its electric. I dont want to share a bike lane with it.

Why not?



Also , they may weigh less meaning they hurt other people less in a crash ..... but they provide the driver with a lot less protection. Speed limits are needed to protect riders from themselves.

magicbastarder

electric scooters are subject to the normal speed limits for motorised vehicles.

coylemj

magicbastarder wrote: »

electric scooters are subject to the normal speed limits for motorised vehicles.

+1 The Road Traffic Act 1961 makes no distinction between vehicles propelled by an internal combustion engine, an electric motor or a combination of both....

“mechanically propelled vehicle” means, subject to subsection (2) of this section, a vehicle intended or adapted for propulsion by mechanical means, including—

(a) a bicycle or tricycle with an attachment for propelling it by mechanical power, whether or not the attachment is being used,

(b) a vehicle the means of propulsion of which is electrical or partly electrical and partly mechanical,

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1961/en/act/pub/0024/sec0003.html#sec3