Anonymous
05/21/2026 13:44
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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).
Anonymous
05/21/2026 11:05
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
Parents are INSANE around here. Nothing bad happens until something bad happens!
Anonymous
05/21/2026 08:40
Subject: Re:How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
If only we had a public transportation system….
Anonymous
05/21/2026 07:06
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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
Not a trauma nurse and also agree with this. Also, driving in traffic is not as pleasant cause they still get to breathe other car emissions as those on motorcycles. Difference is if major part of the route is on less busy roads.
Anonymous
05/21/2026 07:04
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
So one could argue that at those low speeds a car seat is unnecessary for a small child. You are traveling slower than a bicycle.
Anonymous
05/21/2026 07:01
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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
Or pedaling a regular bike at 20mph, in the end it is top speed, weight of vehicle should it roll over on you and heat generated by motorcycle engine (again if bike rolls over on you)
Anonymous
05/20/2026 19:45
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
People are nuts. And it’s just a matter of time before a very predictable tragedy occurs. I’d guarantee when that happens the poor car driver will be blamed. Darwin awards exist for a reason.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 17:08
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 17:03
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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….
Anonymous
05/20/2026 17:02
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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’s not. Unless on like a culde sack like neighborhood.
Once you introduce road rules via lots of stop signs, stop lights, bus lanes, right of way intersections, grid systems, traffic circles you need Drivers Ed and safety features and a license.
And maybe even safety checks on your w bike.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:49
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 16:20
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:58
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:57
Subject: How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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
Anonymous
05/20/2026 14:53
Subject: Re:How is driving your kids in traffic on an electric bike any different than having them on a motorcycle?
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.