How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering lately, as I have witnessed so many parents with their toddlers on their electric bikes driving in rush hour how it is any different than having them on a motorcycle? At least on a motorcycle, people wear more than a bike helmet?

It drives me nuts that parents will -
not drink coffee while pregnant
or eat cold cuts
or sushi
or drink
and make sure their breastmilk is filter from forever plastics
will get the uber expensive crib that monitors breathing
But have no problem with their toddler being on an ebike

There's a simple explanation. It's performative, not safety, behaviors.

Yes. What all the thinks PP lists have in common with riding around with your kids on an cargo e-bike is that they are all things UMC people can do to project that they are educated, left leaning, urban, and cosmopolitan.

I say this as an educated, left-leaning, city person. There are also other reasons to do all of those things, but there is an inherent hypocrisy that a lot of my peers ignore because living a certain lifestyle/projecting a certain images matters more to them than adhering to any actual values system or even logic.

I don't know. I was annoyed by the look of these until I tried one and then realized how easy they make life. I'm truly not trying to signal anything. I do use it to take my son to school, on very slow city streets, averaging 12 mph. It's much faster than driving -- when driving i regularly get caught in a line at a red light and sometimes have to wait for a few light cycles, but ebikes can always go to the front of the block so you never get stuck. And you can park anywhere. and it feels much safer than my child biking himself, though we do that, too.

the commute is 1.5 miles

ebike commute: 7 minutes
car commute: 15 minutes
him biking himself: 20 minutes.

This person is the perfect example. Let me risk my child's life so I can save myself a few minutes (while cutting in front of all the other cars).

Risking the life of my child? The facts are that driving on the beltway is much, much more dangerous than any time riding a bike. Period. WTF is wrong with you? Mind your own business because you don't have the facts right from the very beginning. You can save your ignorant judgment.

Apples to oranges. Riding in a rocket would be even more dangerous, but you don't commute to school on the ISS.

No, actually riding on a rocket would be safer than either. You are not very adept at interpreting risk so maybe just stop trying. And if you are so obviously bad at risk assessment then why not stop judging other parents for your own lack of judgement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is not any different if a motorcycle is traveling at 20 mph and a fat tire bike is traveling 20 mph

- trauma nurse. Not a pediatric one, thankfully

This is the right answer. People who put these kids on these things are nuts.

It was safe for me to get him to preschool in our hilly bethesda neighborhood. But I wasn’t crossing river road or Wisconsin Ave….

Safe until someone comes around a blind curve or iver a hil and plows into your precious cargo.

Don't drlude yourself that you are doing anything but putting your kid at extreme risk.

Is this an argument against e-bikes or against all non-car transportation? Because this same thing can happen walking, or pushing a kid in a stroller, biking a bike that isn’t electric, etc.

I don’t have an e bike and I am shocked at some of what I see parents do with them, but this statement is pretty ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering lately, as I have witnessed so many parents with their toddlers on their electric bikes driving in rush hour how it is any different than having them on a motorcycle? At least on a motorcycle, people wear more than a bike helmet?

It drives me nuts that parents will -
not drink coffee while pregnant
or eat cold cuts
or sushi
or drink
and make sure their breastmilk is filter from forever plastics
will get the uber expensive crib that monitors breathing
But have no problem with their toddler being on an ebike

There's a simple explanation. It's performative, not safety, behaviors.

Yes. What all the thinks PP lists have in common with riding around with your kids on an cargo e-bike is that they are all things UMC people can do to project that they are educated, left leaning, urban, and cosmopolitan.

I say this as an educated, left-leaning, city person. There are also other reasons to do all of those things, but there is an inherent hypocrisy that a lot of my peers ignore because living a certain lifestyle/projecting a certain images matters more to them than adhering to any actual values system or even logic.

I don't know. I was annoyed by the look of these until I tried one and then realized how easy they make life. I'm truly not trying to signal anything. I do use it to take my son to school, on very slow city streets, averaging 12 mph. It's much faster than driving -- when driving i regularly get caught in a line at a red light and sometimes have to wait for a few light cycles, but ebikes can always go to the front of the block so you never get stuck. And you can park anywhere. and it feels much safer than my child biking himself, though we do that, too.

the commute is 1.5 miles

ebike commute: 7 minutes
car commute: 15 minutes
him biking himself: 20 minutes.

This person is the perfect example. Let me risk my child's life so I can save myself a few minutes (while cutting in front of all the other cars).

Risking the life of my child? The facts are that driving on the beltway is much, much more dangerous than any time riding a bike. Period. WTF is wrong with you? Mind your own business because you don't have the facts right from the very beginning. You can save your ignorant judgment.

Apples to oranges. Riding in a rocket would be even more dangerous, but you don't commute to school on the ISS.

No, actually riding on a rocket would be safer than either. You are not very adept at interpreting risk so maybe just stop trying. And if you are so obviously bad at risk assessment then why not stop judging other parents for your own lack of judgement?

We had 2 complete failures in 135 Shuttle missions. I wouldn't take those odds. The Russians have 7 deaths in 170 manned flights. But sure, you do you and ride a rocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering lately, as I have witnessed so many parents with their toddlers on their electric bikes driving in rush hour how it is any different than having them on a motorcycle? At least on a motorcycle, people wear more than a bike helmet?

It drives me nuts that parents will -
not drink coffee while pregnant
or eat cold cuts
or sushi
or drink
and make sure their breastmilk is filter from forever plastics
will get the uber expensive crib that monitors breathing
But have no problem with their toddler being on an ebike

There's a simple explanation. It's performative, not safety, behaviors.

Yes. What all the thinks PP lists have in common with riding around with your kids on an cargo e-bike is that they are all things UMC people can do to project that they are educated, left leaning, urban, and cosmopolitan.

I say this as an educated, left-leaning, city person. There are also other reasons to do all of those things, but there is an inherent hypocrisy that a lot of my peers ignore because living a certain lifestyle/projecting a certain images matters more to them than adhering to any actual values system or even logic.

I don't know. I was annoyed by the look of these until I tried one and then realized how easy they make life. I'm truly not trying to signal anything. I do use it to take my son to school, on very slow city streets, averaging 12 mph. It's much faster than driving -- when driving i regularly get caught in a line at a red light and sometimes have to wait for a few light cycles, but ebikes can always go to the front of the block so you never get stuck. And you can park anywhere. and it feels much safer than my child biking himself, though we do that, too.

the commute is 1.5 miles

ebike commute: 7 minutes
car commute: 15 minutes
him biking himself: 20 minutes.

This person is the perfect example. Let me risk my child's life so I can save myself a few minutes (while cutting in front of all the other cars).

Risking the life of my child? The facts are that driving on the beltway is much, much more dangerous than any time riding a bike. Period. WTF is wrong with you? Mind your own business because you don't have the facts right from the very beginning. You can save your ignorant judgment.

Apples to oranges. Riding in a rocket would be even more dangerous, but you don't commute to school on the ISS.

No, actually riding on a rocket would be safer than either. You are not very adept at interpreting risk so maybe just stop trying. And if you are so obviously bad at risk assessment then why not stop judging other parents for your own lack of judgement?

We had 2 complete failures in 135 Shuttle missions. I wouldn't take those odds. The Russians have 7 deaths in 170 manned flights. But sure, you do you and ride a rocket.

If you want to compare rocket safety from decades ago then you can also compare vehicle safety from the 1989’s and see where that gets you lol. Just stop this stupidity.

[Anonymous]

My issue is bike lanes that are visually obstructed (eg it is behind a bus stop so not visible to cars) and so when a car is turning right they can't see the bike coming. If it is an e-bike it will get there too fast for the driver to see it and stop in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue is bike lanes that are visually obstructed (eg it is behind a bus stop so not visible to cars) and so when a car is turning right they can't see the bike coming. If it is an e-bike it will get there too fast for the driver to see it and stop in time.

If a car can't see far enough to make sure that a turn is clear then the car shouldn't make the turn. Where did you learn to drive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not. I hope someone in this city runs on banning those things. They are nothing but a nuisance and a public safety hazard.

+1. I also can’t wrap my head around smug adults who think they’re being healthy (or something?) riding these. Obnoxious losers.

I give a pass to tweens and teens because of course they’re going to prefer e-scooters and e-bikes to cover more ground faster to hang with friends.

[Anonymous]

Family friend is in his 50s and nearly died in an e-bike accident a month ago.

[Anonymous]

Parents who put their kids on any type of bike with them are playing with fire. They are negligent parents.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even ride a bike alone on the street in DC or really anywhere in the US, especially with distracted driving. Parents who think they are saving the earth are just doing performative risk taking with this nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not. I hope someone in this city runs on banning those things. They are nothing but a nuisance and a public safety hazard.

Oh puhlease, they are a perfect alternative for someone who can't spend, or does not want to spend the money on a car. I live near the French School in Bethesda and they are all over here, they are very useful and way better than having cars on the road for people who don't have a big commute.

it's adorable that you think any of those people don't also have cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is bike lanes that are visually obstructed (eg it is behind a bus stop so not visible to cars) and so when a car is turning right they can't see the bike coming. If it is an e-bike it will get there too fast for the driver to see it and stop in time.

If a car can't see far enough to make sure that a turn is clear then the car shouldn't make the turn. Where did you learn to drive?

That might be true. But if you're riding your e-bike with your toddler in the seat, and you're hit by a car doing what they shouldn't be doing, you can still end up with a dead toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is bike lanes that are visually obstructed (eg it is behind a bus stop so not visible to cars) and so when a car is turning right they can't see the bike coming. If it is an e-bike it will get there too fast for the driver to see it and stop in time.

If a car can't see far enough to make sure that a turn is clear then the car shouldn't make the turn. Where did you learn to drive?

That might be true. But if you're riding your e-bike with your toddler in the seat, and you're hit by a car doing what they shouldn't be doing, you can still end up with a dead toddler.

Yup. Not only are there visibility issues, but bikers always weave in and out between cars. Car drivers are not omniscient. They have no idea which way you’re going to turn or move when you’re on a bike. It’s so disorderly.

It’s also so obnoxious how often bikers ignore traffic rules, because they don’t want to lose momentum and/or wait at a light or stop sign like the rest of us. F off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue is bike lanes that are visually obstructed (eg it is behind a bus stop so not visible to cars) and so when a car is turning right they can't see the bike coming. If it is an e-bike it will get there too fast for the driver to see it and stop in time.

If a car can't see far enough to make sure that a turn is clear then the car shouldn't make the turn. Where did you learn to drive?

That might be true. But if you're riding your e-bike with your toddler in the seat, and you're hit by a car doing what they shouldn't be doing, you can still end up with a dead toddler.

I watch for turning cars when riding my bike. Toddlers die in cars every day. More than bikes by a huge margin so you are being irrational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering lately, as I have witnessed so many parents with their toddlers on their electric bikes driving in rush hour how it is any different than having them on a motorcycle? At least on a motorcycle, people wear more than a bike helmet?

It drives me nuts that parents will -
not drink coffee while pregnant
or eat cold cuts
or sushi
or drink
and make sure their breastmilk is filter from forever plastics
will get the uber expensive crib that monitors breathing
But have no problem with their toddler being on an ebike

There's a simple explanation. It's performative, not safety, behaviors.

Yes. What all the thinks PP lists have in common with riding around with your kids on an cargo e-bike is that they are all things UMC people can do to project that they are educated, left leaning, urban, and cosmopolitan.

I say this as an educated, left-leaning, city person. There are also other reasons to do all of those things, but there is an inherent hypocrisy that a lot of my peers ignore because living a certain lifestyle/projecting a certain images matters more to them than adhering to any actual values system or even logic.

I don't know. I was annoyed by the look of these until I tried one and then realized how easy they make life. I'm truly not trying to signal anything. I do use it to take my son to school, on very slow city streets, averaging 12 mph. It's much faster than driving -- when driving i regularly get caught in a line at a red light and sometimes have to wait for a few light cycles, but ebikes can always go to the front of the block so you never get stuck. And you can park anywhere. and it feels much safer than my child biking himself, though we do that, too.

the commute is 1.5 miles

ebike commute: 7 minutes
car commute: 15 minutes
him biking himself: 20 minutes.

This person is the perfect example. Let me risk my child's life so I can save myself a few minutes (while cutting in front of all the other cars).

Risking the life of my child? The facts are that driving on the beltway is much, much more dangerous than any time riding a bike. Period. WTF is wrong with you? Mind your own business because you don't have the facts right from the very beginning. You can save your ignorant judgment.

Apples to oranges. Riding in a rocket would be even more dangerous, but you don't commute to school on the ISS.

No, actually riding on a rocket would be safer than either. You are not very adept at interpreting risk so maybe just stop trying. And if you are so obviously bad at risk assessment then why not stop judging other parents for your own lack of judgement?

We had 2 complete failures in 135 Shuttle missions. I wouldn't take those odds. The Russians have 7 deaths in 170 manned flights. But sure, you do you and ride a rocket.

If you want to compare rocket safety from decades ago then you can also compare vehicle safety from the 1989’s and see where that gets you lol. Just stop this stupidity.

Ah, I didn't know I get to cherrypick the data. Rockets are 100% fatal.