BY PEDALS AND THROTTLES
eThing Owner
While America nodded off to the droning from Washington, the rest of the world moved on. We may never catch up even if we wake up.
The big switch? Electric transportation.
By now, everybody knows about electric cars. The critical data point is recidivism: almost nobody who gets one goes back to fossil power. More electrified cars (hybrids and pure electric) are being sold than plain old gassers.
But by the numbers, the real revolution is in micro transport, most commonly electric bicycles. Everywhere but in the US electric bikes and similar (or not so similar) personal transport is taking over.
We’ve already looked at the resistance to throttles on bikes (and why they are actually a good thing for everybody). And how as usual, the law is running behind reality.
In order to have the same legal status on the road as a good old bicycle, an electric anything has to have functioning pedals and no throttle. It’s okay if the pedals actually do the same thing as a throttle as long as you look like you’re pedaling.
What’s left out is all the other great ways to get around town that do have push-button power and don’t have pedals. There are stand-up scooters, hoverboards, three-wheelers, Jack Rabbits … if you can imagine it, somebody’s making it.
Why does this matter? There are environmental advantages, but that’s not the biggest driver behind the change. It’s really three other aspects: eThings are cheap, fun, and convenient. Also, they’re sometimes faster even though they’re slower.
They’re cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and cheap to run (miles per penny rather than the other way around). If you manage to replace a car, the savings skyrocket.
Fun? If you don’t get that, you haven’t tried one.
Convenient? eBikes don’t take much space at home and can park anywhere. You can keep a stand-up by the door and carry it on a bus (without pedals, eThings can be much smaller and more portable). Trikes and mini scooters can have considerable carrying capacity for shopping. And a backpack works with anything while doubling as a shopping bag.
Faster? Depending on the trip and route, yes. Most eBikes are capable of hitting the residential speed limit with little effort (if any), so if you’re making a run through town with a shortcut that cars can’t use, you win. Also, on a bike you don’t actually have to rock back at stop signs, which you always do, right?
Perhaps most important in many ways, eThings seldom kill anyone.
Even though many eThings can’t go anywhere near as fast as a grunt-powered bike, they’re still not allowed to use the sidewalk or other safety privileges granted to bicycles. All simply because they have a “throttle” or don’t have pedals. Some jurisdictions are even trying to require registration and insurance, though generally such laws are quickly repealed.
Already you’ve probably noticed more and more eThings around town. Eventually they’ll be showing up in numbers closer to what’s already happening in the rest of the world. Of course that will lead to friction, both on the road and off.
There’s no denying that when they are using the road, slower moving eThings present challenges for drivers, even with bike lanes. If they’re on the sidewalk or multi-use trails in greater numbers, everyone has to pay more attention.
The answer won’t be trying to outlaw them, any more than it made sense to outlaw cars because they spook horses. It’s going to happen, and overall it’s going to be a better way to get around, some of the time. The question then becomes, how do we make it work best for the most people?
Obviously, everyone needs to respect and play nice with the other folks out walking or driving or riding. This is not a new complication, just a change of emphasis as more people get out of their truck and do other things.
However, it opens up possibilities to make life a lot easier. Even kids can use eThings, which does mean a certain amount of goofing around. But it also makes it possible to set up ride-to-school groups where kids who live near each other can head to school with each other and ease up the SUV frenzy when classes start and end.
There’s bound to be a learning curve for all concerned: eThingers, drivers, riders, parents, voters and legislators. It’s time to start thinking about how it’s going to work because the transition will happen. Probably not this year or next, especially in this political climate. But soon enough.
And if you haven’t tried an eThing yet, give it a shot. Maybe it’s not for you (though there probably is something for everyone). However, it will be fun to try something new and if nothing else give you an idea why all those other folks are starting to show up on those goofy contraptions.
Dave North is an alternate transport user and former Transportation Board chair and Bicycle Working Group Liaison. He owns and most days uses one or more of five bicycles, two ebikes and a Jack Rabbit. Questions, comments and requests for other articles can be sent to: atomicbikewriter@gmail.com – when the internet is working.