SA_SA_SA wrote:Wouldn't an electric bike and trailer mean lots of people who wouldn't otherwise consider it, would be happy to try towingtheir weekly shop home etc rather than use the sledge hammer of an electricity guzzling electric car? And thus perhaps not consider they 'need' a car.
Why would they do that in the future if they don't do it now?
Thanks
Jonathan
Last edited by Jdsk on 7 Feb 2021, 8:18pm, edited 1 time in total.
That switch (!) to using an eBike and trailer feels to me to rely on at least one of: • People no longer owning a car. • A change in incentives so that the bike is chosen for the particular journey.
The availability of eBikes might not unlock this... on its own...
cj wrote:... We were deliberately careful not to let EAPCs be particularly attractive to young and able-bodied people. ....
Wouldn't an electric bike and trailer mean lots of people who wouldn't otherwise consider it, would be happy to try towingtheir weekly shop home etc rather than use the sledge hammer of an electricity guzzling electric car? And thus perhaps not consider they 'need' a car.
I'm sure that's another unanticipated good application of EAPCs. And I'm sure some people are already doing that. A lot of cargo bikes have electrical assistance as standard or a popular option. As for "lots of people who wouldn't otherwise consider it": I'm afraid the main reason lots of people won't consider using a bike for shopping is they won't consider using a bike for anything - not until these islands become a much more cycling-friendly place to be!
Chris Juden One lady owner, never raced or jumped.
Just before the pandemic I was looking at using a trailer with my Ebike for main shopping. But along came Covid and my own sensitivity to disease so my wife took over shopping with me as chauffeur until we were able to secure deliveries last July.
Oldjohnw wrote:Just before the pandemic I was looking at using a trailer with my Ebike for main shopping. But along came Covid and my own sensitivity to disease so my wife took over shopping with me as chauffeur until we were able to secure deliveries last July.
Why not a chair on the bike trailer for your wife (rickshaw style), and space for the shopping... Bike trailer and chauffeur all in one
On the serious side, thanks Chris J for the post outlining how the regulations were constructed.
Oldjohnw wrote:Just before the pandemic I was looking at using a trailer with my Ebike for main shopping. But along came Covid and my own sensitivity to disease so my wife took over shopping with me as chauffeur until we were able to secure deliveries last July.
Why not a chair on the bike trailer for your wife (rickshaw style), and space for the shopping... Bike trailer and chauffeur all in one
On the serious side, thanks Chris J for the post outlining how the regulations were constructed.
[XAP]Bob wrote:As someone who commuted with electric assist for a few years...
I'd leave the speed limit where it is (no assistance beyond 15mph) but not limit the power significantly. The reason behind the thinking is to maintain a relatively high minimum speed (e.g. up that short sharp hill everyone seems to have at least one of on their common routes) rather than to have an electric motorcycle.
Could even specify a maximum acceleration (.5g?) along with the maximum speed, and have the controller sort that out rather than using a wimpy motor.
5g acceleration would be good, the Tesla of bikes...