Forum Topic

e-bike ban

Who says the French aren't sensible? Parisians have voted heavily to get rid of e-bikes. They are a menace here too and should be banned.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1096d17 Comments

You are nit-picking, Richard - but true to form, if I may say so.venture to say so!

Alexander MacLeod ● 1095d

So you think there is an "overwhelming case" for making human brains illegal? It would solve a lot of problems I guess.

Michael Winstanley ● 1095d

Matt:  You may be right about the Lime bikes just being able to be ridden free.  I don't know but from the way it was being ridden I'd say that Alexander is also right about the lack of tissue or state of it between the ears.The Lime bike I saw was overtaking a car at a junction with a main road - in order to go the same way!You have to have a driving licence to ride one of the hire e-scooters in the official Government trials in the specified areas and those are still the only ones legally allowed on public roads. Sadly that doesn't mean that riders know the rules of the road.  It is still only legal to ride personally owned e-scooters on private property - but for how long?Beware that One Way (No Entry) roads are sometimes officially two-way for cycles and e-bikes and e-scooters.

Philippa Bond ● 1095d

"I am often bashed into by rucksacks on public transport - the people wearing them seem to forget they have them. An overwhelming case for banning rucksacks if you ask me."I've managed to trip up a speeding woman on an underground platform using only a wheeled suitcase, so I'm not sure that your ban would solve the problem.

David Ainsworth ● 1095d

So, to be clear (and not to labour the point), it was actually you who was "veering off the key issue"!

Richard Carter ● 1095d

To clarify: My point is that my encounter with an e-bike, recklessly ridden, had the same effect as an encounter with an e-scooter. It cut across me without warning, ignored a red traffice light and made a right hand turn into a no-entry street. The key point is not only the bike type, but the human tissue that lies between riders' ears - or doesn't.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1095d

The meaning of words seems to matter little to Alexander. He describes as "overwhelming" the case for banning all such devices altogether. I can't say I am overwhelmed.I think though that there IS a good case for regulating the use of such devices and policing those regulations. A souped up e-bike or e-scooter is illegal, just as is a car without a current MOT (though the latter is considerably more dangerous).Surprise, surprise - there are already regulations.I am often bashed into by rucksacks on public transport - the people wearing them seem to forget they have them. An overwhelming case for banning rucksacks if you ask me.

Michael Winstanley ● 1095d

"As ever, the Forum is at risk of veering off the key issue on points of nomenclature."Alexander, I'm not quite sure what your point is here. Notwithstanding your unfortunate encounter with an e-bike, it isn't simply a point of nomenclature as they are clearly not the same as e-scooters; the Paris vote was about them and not e-bikes.

Richard Carter ● 1095d

As I understand it the hacked Lime bikes can be ridden for free, not that they can violate their speed limit.Could be wrong though!

Matt Palmer ● 1095d

Some of the ones that whizz past have been hacked so they are free or souped up to go faster than they are allowed by law. Or possibly both? I'm told that the clacking Lime bikes have been hacked.https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-ruleshttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users#

Philippa Bond ● 1095d

Electric cars are also horribly silent!I noticed this morning that the stores selling e-scooters were 'trending' which made me re-read the announcement about Paris.We desperately need more teaching and learning and regulation and attention too the Highway Code including the use and state of the pavements (footways). Then pedestrians and mobility scooter riders will also feel and be a lot safer.

Philippa Bond ● 1095d

"There is an overwhelming case for consigning them all - hired or otherwise - to the tip."Hopefully for r-E-cycling."e-scooters are different from e-bikes"But maybe both are motor-scooters and motor-bikes really?

David Ainsworth ● 1096d

As ever, the Forum is at risk of veering off the key issue on points of nomenclature. Yes, Richard, e-scooters are different from e-bikes, but the other day I had an encounter with one of the latter, and it made no difference to the effect. E-scooters are virtually unregulated, are unstable as well as silent in traffic, are mainly ridden by characters who appear not to know or care about traffic rules - and in some cases are prone to erupting in flames when parked. There is an overwhelming case for consigning them all - hired or otherwise - to the tip.

Alexander MacLeod ● 1096d

The French are banning the hired e-scooters. It will not affect people who own one, though.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1096d

The french are sensible enough to know the difference between a bicycle and a scooter.

Michael Winstanley ● 1096d

E-scooter rentals.https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230402-parisians-vote-to-ban-for-hire-e-scooter-rentals-from-french-capital

David Ainsworth ● 1096d

Not e-bikes, Alexander, but e-scooters (trotinettes). But it is good news, I agree.

Richard Carter ● 1096d