The sidewalks are really dangerous where I am, where they are super uneven, have “artistic” curves, and trees that are overhanging really low so like will hit my body.
I go max 15 MPH on my escooter and if I hear a ding ding I jump onto the sidewalk and go a bit slower until you guys pass, since I’m slower and can dismount easier it only makes sense for me to make room. I figure as long as I make room it “shouldn’t” be a problem.
But just wondering if there are any bike riders that are just like shaking their fist at escooter riders.
EDIT: USA!
In my eyes having someone on an escooter in front of me is no different to having a slower cyclist in front. So it wouldn’t bother me.
Thingsthat go bicycle speed belong in the bike lane. Things that go faster go in the car lane. Things that go slower belong inthe people lane,
Bundle the squishy things together on a segregated path.
Make the squishy things who invade the 2-ton hard things’ designated areas attract a penalty except at marked crossings. Double that penalty when they whinge in that privileged voice.
Yeah because every road has a segregated pedestrian path, no it fucking doesn’t
It’s not really up to Lemmy.
Please check your local laws regarding scooters and other electric powered vehicles bike lanes. If it’s legal, go ahead and ride there all you want.
No laws against it, but I’m just curious if I’m angering the faster and more athletic folks!
I’ll be much more irritated if you’re on the sidewalk. It’s more dangerous for pedestrians and for you. When you’re biking you expect to have to pass people whether it’s because they’re a slower cyclist or using a escooter. My old apartment had an exit at a blind corner and dealing with escooter riders on the sidewalk was hellish. I would pull out slowly so that pedestrians had plenty of time to stop, but when scooters became popular I had to start creating forward at a painfully slow pace because people going bike speeds somehow thought it was okay to be on the sidewalk.
There is a specific place I use sidewalk, but I always go slower and go onto street or walk by pedestrians.
The road is just super busy and nowhere to possibly be on road.
I think if you’re respectful most people won’t care. It’s just the small percent of jackasses that ruin it for everyone else.
Please ride in the bike lane, not the sidewalk. Go whatever speed feels safe for you.
Not only do I agree on the basis of everyone’s safety, but I WANT to see crowded bike lanes. Because eventually, I’d like bike lanes to replace cars, and outgrowing infrastructure is a basic part of expanding and changing it.
As someone who doesn’t ride bicycles. What’s the huge issue with cars? They’re a ton more effective than bikes.
I think motorised vehicle owners and cyclists just have a universal hate for each other. Well, a lot of people do. There’s a ton of people on bikes that are absolute cunts, and that comes from bad experiences with them.
Maybe if we all use the things how we’re supposed to, a lot of this hate would disappear.
Edit: Thinking about it, as someone who rides a motorbike, some car drivers are just as bad. I’ve genuinely noticed that actual licenced motorbike riders tend to be the best out of them all. My main asking point was that you can’t really do a full weeks worth of shopping with anything other than a car. U less you get it delivered.
It’s not ideological or personal. Cars are just a terribly inefficient mode of transit with a lot of negatives. They cause a lot of preventable deaths, they take up an excess of land, and they limit our ability to move around and enjoy cities.
i love crowded bike lanes (well, multi-use paths in sweden) next to slower roads, because it gives me the justification for biking on the road.
I cycle every day to work and back and see e scooters everywhere, doesn’t bother me none as long as they follow road signage.
Bike Riders of lemmy, you okay with me riding my eScooter in the bike lane?
As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another bike :)
… with tiny wheels 🛞
I don’t mind bikes, E or otherwise, in the bike lane, I do mind gas powered scooters, vespa etc. I’m not sure I can put a pin in why, except they stink and often are riding too fast and weaving in and out wrecklessly and just using the bike lane as a passing lane, returning to the regular road when they can
Why? Because the gas ones will actively ruin the bike path. They are much heavier and will cause much quicker wear and tear. Of course you also shouldn’t have to breathe the fumes from them.
Noisy and stinky should be enough. But yeah they often seem to be driven by people who don’t regard others.
My thoughts exactly. I welcome my scooter bros.
Hell i don’t even really mind electric golfcart-like vehicles on bike infrastructure, so long as they’re for commercial use, there’s enough space to very comfortably pass them, and they go really slow.
Way i see it that just means businesses are going to be pushing for more and better bike infrastructure rather than expanding the roads.
It’s illegal here. Motorized vehicles must ride in the road and obey traffic laws. Bicycles must ride in bike lane or road and obey traffic laws. Sidewalk for walking people or wheelchairs or similar.
But electric is ok? Is it just combustion engines?
The ones you stand on that go slowly? Our rules say you have to be 16 years or older and I was wrong, bike lanes are allowed, rules same as bicycle even though it’s motorized. Bike lane or road, stop at lights like a car, don’t ride on the line between cars.
In practice, I don’t think people are actually getting ticketed for riding them on the sidewalk, and I don’t really care either as long as they don’t run me over. If you cause a car accident because you were on the sidewalk moving faster than a jogger then you would be at fault. Like a bike, sidewalk can be a dangerous place if you aren’t moving slowly.
If it’s a 2 stroke vespa, yeah, they have that smell. It’s also an easier way to differentiate between old classics and new ones. I don’t have any experience with new vespas, but I think they would’ve gone to 4 strokes now.
I’ll also point out. At least in the UK, 50cc riders tend to be absolutely brain-dead morons.
You can usually tell which ones are the culprits because they’ve fucked their exhaust. And ride around like, “yeahhh look at me, I’m so cool with my shit sounding underpowered bike.” No mate, you get maybe 35mph if you’ve de-restricted it, and you’re borderline red lining it. Calm down. You just look stupid. Same goes for 125’s sure they get a bit of extra speed and can get to 70, but it’ll take like 2 minutes to get up to speed and abusing your engine.
Fuck most delivery drivers as well.
They’re faster than a bike, but not by much. That guarantees you have their stink in your nose for a long while, usually until paths separate.
I figure as long as I make room it “shouldn’t” be a problem.
👍
As a cyclist, I’d say “welcome” because more people using the road means motorists are going to see more varied road users and thus be more conscious of them. So that should make the roads safer. I hope that reasoning works out.
15mph (24 km/h) is pretty quick. I could keep up with you, and I’m only using leg power. I average around 12mph.
In Denmark youre essentially considered a bike.
I would personally have an easier time you rode and acted like a cyclist. Much safer for you.
I’m Swiss but I reply because that’s an interesting topic 👍
Yeah please ride on the bike lane, I’m shocked to see how many people ride their e-scooters on the sidewalk
15 mph is plenty fast enough to belong in the bike lane. You’re good bro.
It matters less where you’re riding and more which set of rules you are following. If you’re on a sidewalk, or opposing traffic, you need to behave as a pedestrian. If you’re riding with traffic, you need to behave as a vehicle.
There is one rule underlying all traffic rules: Be Predictable. Even if you’re following all the applicable laws and regulations, if people can’t figure out what you’re trying to do, you are wrong.
To that effect, if you hang a red light on your ass and a white light up front, everyone will expect you to operate like a vehicle.
I’m not in a major city but I absolutely believe you have full rights to use the bike lane, no questions asked. I would say you’re going far above and beyond by jumping off for a second and letting people pass.
As long as you limit weaving side to side. I generally wouldn’t mind pedestrians except they’re so damn unpredictable
I’m the Netherlands where everyone and their mom rides bikes and we have bike lanes everywhere, escooters / ebikes / regular scooters all go on the bike lane. It’s less dangerous to go a bit slower than a fast biking person (like a grandma on a regular bike) and just staying on the right, than the dangers on the sidewalk.
I say it’s perfectly fine to be in the bike lane. Much better than the sidewalk, when you’re going at that speed.
However, I would like to emphasize the importance of staying to the right at all times unless passing someone. Cyclists, bikers (less adept cyclists), and escooter riders should all adhere to this, but in my experience escooters are far less likely to do so. Same with signaling — tell people around you with hand signals which way you’re going to go well in advance, and go (gradually, carefully) toward that side of the bike lane / bike path before turning to ensure you don’t cut anyone off. Don’t weave between people. Be aware of your surroundings. Please don’t kill or maim anyone.
Good luck out there! Welcome to the land of the free from cars!
