As much as the new influx of electric bikes bugs me, there’s no real reason for my discomfort; it’s like my inherent aversion to those fluorescent moulded gardening shoes people insist on wearing around town.
I can certainly deal with either of these trends, if they’re any indication of fewer cars on the road.
Today however, on three separate occasions, I saw full-sized motor scooters (with exhaust pipes!) cutting into the bike lanes to blow ahead of the rest of their mindlessly idling friends and make their right hand turn.
What's this?!? One of them pops out from a delivery truck right in front of me and jerks on her brakes to avoid smashing me over! I taste my heart, swallow it and nearly wipe out from the blindness of my life flashing before my eyes!
I must have really been shaken because my words come out all jumbled and sound more like “Are you F-ing Kidding Me? Get the %&#$ out of my lane!” than my intended “I've got something to Vespa in your ear, friend. If you want to share the bike lane, you need to play safe and ride with the rest of us, through the power of yourself!”
It seems the MTO has something a little hard-hitting to say to scooter drivers as well.
Did you know that moped collisions have risen?
Ontario’s most recent statistics show that moped collisions from 1999 to 2003 more than doubled (from 48 to 102) while the number of registered mopeds fell by almost one third (from 3,006 to 2,019) in the same period.
…Moped drivers are in a high-risk zone for collisions and we would encourage moped drivers to review the rules of the road often which are available on the ministry's website and the official Motorcycle and Driver's Handbooks.
From the MTO’s 2005 Licensing Changes for Operators of Motor Scooters and Mopeds.
I hope this trend of reckless (ignorant) scooter driving does not continue; we’re all so vulnerable on the road and especially in the bike lanes. We must all be mindful that the rules of the road are there to protect us collectively, as well as individually.
Comments
Dave D (not verified)
unbelievable
Fri, 07/18/2008 - 21:00There is no shame in being old, but there is in being close minded....It may not be an option for you....but it is an option for someone else...not everybody lives in an apartment,,,,some people have a garage....if they get people out of their cars why are you not happy with that?
Obviously you are from Ontario....what are they putting in your water out there? Guys...why are you so judgemental to a product that is desperately needed as a transportation option.....It seems you are more negative to e-bikes than to cars themselves....unbelievable....
Derek Koops (not verified)
Cyclists are Foolish Spurn Electric Scooters
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 13:07Electric Scooters:
a) are the same size as bikes and travel the same speed as bikes (more or less) and thereby make roads safer for bicycles compared to their users driving cars
b) do not spew exaust in the face of cyclist sharing the road with them
c) are able to attract people to use them that would not consider biking to work because they need to arrive a work in business attire and cannot be sweaty and greasy
Why ever would we not want more of these on the roads with us in the place of automobiles? The only objection to them seems to be by purists because they are not human powered but we need to get past this. The reality is that they are using a fraction of the energy that cars use (~2%) and more of them on the roads is a good thing for bicyclists.
jamesmallon (not verified)
electric scooters and bowties are idiotic
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 13:55I scorn electric scooters, but you're welcome to use them. I think bowties are idiotic, but I wouldn't ban them either.
Svend
Electric scooters are quiet
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 15:57Electric scooters are quiet and are fun, you get the feeling of freedom - I don't care if they don't give you a workout.
Playing scrabble doesn't either, you can get exercise in other ways.
Electric scooters are much better than gas powered ones which are preferable to small cars which should be encouraged over large vehicles.
Derek Koops (not verified)
Why treat potential allies with scorn?
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 17:36The percentage of people who drive to work is on the order of 40 times greater than the percentage of people who use their bicycles to get to work and yet Motorists are able to justify the public expense of highways like the Don Valley and Gardiner out of public funds wheras cyclists are left to celebrate the completion of 80km of white line painted on the ashphalt (i.e. bicycle lanes).
We should team up with whoever we can find common interests with or put up and stand aside as motorists have their interests looked after. If there is one thing that you have to admire even if you detest the outcome as I do is the success that the automotive industry has had at changing the landscape of our cities to suit their users needs (at our expense).
anthony
The e-scooters may be OK, but the riders...
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 03:00The scooters themselves may be OK, but too many of the riders have behaved like drunken idiots whilst on the park paths that causes my own scorn. I have to wonder if these riders are the cast offs from the court system after a drunk-driving offence (and licence suspension). Seeing as how these things need no paperwork to be "legal" it's not too far fetched.
But the riders who have joined and pedaled along during a CM ride have been delightful, so I can't think that all of them are awful, or that the baby should be thrown out with the bath water.
I haven't yet seen too many of these things on the roads when I've been out. Perhaps these people behave better on the roads than they do in the parks.
I support active transportation, but these things are powered (with "tacked-on" pedals); they won't get my direct support. However, if the drivers on the paths learn some etiquette then they may, at least, earn my tolerance.
Luke Siragusa
Re: The e-scooters may be OK
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 09:22Anthony:
How about rejects from a remake of Easy Rider? The other day I saw two of these battery powered Queasy Riders on the MGT west of Sunnyside decked out in blitzkrieger brain buckets, leather jackets and shades. Was this a Hells Angels apprenticeship program?
Dave D (not verified)
Negativity
Fri, 07/18/2008 - 20:46Scooter Style E-bikes have been integrated into an incredible amount of countries over the last few years and overall the reaction has been extremely positive. If you look at the forums most of the negativity comes from Ontario, which is probably why it is a pilot program only there.
All other provinces just legislated them into existance. Ontario always has been conservative to say the least. It is a province that only talks green. To have an negative opinion on such a positive product is to say the least typical of the provinces overall attitude. No Pollution, and No Gas, should be a welcome addition on the roads. I have had a scooter style e-bike now for about 4 years and it is simply an effective mode of transportation. When I mention to people on the threads that we have had scooter style e-bikes for many years in BC and they are a normal travel option...the typical clever response is "this isn't BC" referring to Ontario.
When I hear arguments like that I just laugh and say no it isn't. They are world wide and are effectively getting people out of their cars even for a few months out of the year...Anyone who does not see this to be a good thing is missing something. Keep up the negativity and you will be the only province in the world where they are not legal....
Pages