Comment on Britain’s illegal e-bike boom: desperation, delivery drivers – and unthinkable danger

• burgermeister@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  But the danger!! Is!! Unthinkable!!

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  • sunbeam60@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    I’ve cycled and walked in London for the last 10+ years. These silent and deadly speeders are super dangerous. I’ve seen several crashes on their account. As a cyclist, they overtake you a great speed; as a pedestrian they can be much closer much quicker than expected forcing you to misjudge if you can cross.

    Yes they are dangerous. I can’t believe you need to have this explained to you.

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    • burgermeister@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Yeah, the word choice of “unthinkable” is indeed a joke

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    • Digestive_Biscuit@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      I totally agree. I have a legal ebike and make sure I’m safe and within the law. I don’t want to risk my driving license, or injuring anybody.

      Ebikes are generally a lot heavier than a normal push bikes. The stopping distance is terrible especially down a hill. If I were to go at high speeds on it then it would be very dangerous. I should think top-end ebike have good brakes but most of the cheaper one, such as mine, do not. I am keen on upgrading the brakes though.

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    • DakRalter@thelemmy.club ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Not only that, they cycle on the pavement, they cycle on cycle lanes in the wrong freaking direction and then have the nerve to click their tongues at me as though I’m in the wrong. They’re a scourge. They’re the reason I feel safer on the road than the cycle lane. My ex saw a woman get hit by one as she was crossing at a green man. She had two little girls with her, it could have been even worse.

      I’d rather the cops spent a bit of time dealing with this than arresting pensioners for holding a placard.

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  • Blackmist@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Ridden on the road, fine.

    Ridden down canal tow paths, cycle lanes, pavements, twitchels, places with much slower moving cyclists/pedestrians, they can fuck off.

    I’ve no problem with them being classified as a cheap motorcycle. For their size, they shouldn’t have to pay road tax either. But you should only be going faster than regular pedalling speeds on a road.

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  • smeg@feddit.uk ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    The issue is, says Ford, that these illegal e-bikes are in effect motorbikes. “These people have passed no test, have no road training and don’t have the road skills. They just get on and ride around without insurance, tax, the bike not conforming to lights and everything else it should conform to, it’s not registered with the DVLA, all these things.”

    Obviously “unthinkable” is one person’s opinion, but you get their point

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  • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    well, it depends how that motorcycle is ridden. Most motorcycles have license and insurance requirements. I wonder why these should not?

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    • burgermeister@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      I was making fun of the word choice of “unthinkable”, not any sort of policy

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    • Digestive_Biscuit@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      They can throw the book at these illegal ebike riders. Unregistered moped, no insurance, no MOT, dangerous vehicle (by means of no MOT to prove otherwise).

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