The New York Times published a pair of articles this weekend highlighting the rising number of deaths of cyclists riding electric bikes. However, in one of the most impressive feats of victim-blaming I’ve seen from the publication in some time, the NYT lays the onus on e-bikes instead of on the things killing their law abiding riders: cars.

  • schroedingershat@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I see you’ve never encountered an ebike on a hill.

    Acoustic bike riders rest on the downhill.

    Ebike riders who have motors that exceed their power output by a factor of 3 rest on the uphill.

    The rolling resistance difference is single digit watts. Any influence from extra weight will increase coasting speed.

    • grue@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Actually, I was thinking of personal experience riding with my wife, with me on an ebike and her on an acoustic bike. I was surprised at how I actually needed to put in a little effort to keep up with her downhill.

      • schroedingershat@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I was surprised at how I actually needed to put in a little effort to keep up with her downhill.

        ^ precisely my point though. A little effort exceeds the motor speed limiter. Effort that is much more readily available because you didn’t spend it going up the hill.