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Opposing the views of the Bicycle Association, the British Electric Bicycle Association applauds ETRA's EU e-bike lobbying.
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http://www.bikebiz.com//news/read/electric-bike-trade-org-puts-case-for-throttles
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Electric bike trade org puts case for throttles"
(9 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Sigh. Whatever it is on the handle bar that gets twisted, it won't be a throttle!
Suggestions for catchy names, please! "Twist grip torque control" just doesn't have that snap(back).
A thumb control similar to a quad bike would probably be better for cyclists anyway.
Posted 13 years ago # -
This whole saga is enormously entertaining - almost as good as Copenhagenize. You can see the cycling establishment writhing on the hook of a sudden influx of new cyclists using "fake" bikes (if recumbents were subject to legislation, I imagine exactly the same kind of furore would have been acted out - fortunately they aren't).
You can understand the CTC opposing wider use of electric bikes (after a fashion - for instance, the riders will be represented by a different body, so it represents a dilution of their position) but what on earth is Sustrans doing giving an opinion on this sort of thing?
If anything you'd have thought their mandate would be all about electric light vehicles / bikes rather than cars and vans (assuming, I think accurately, that people who currently cycle are unlikely to swap for electric models).
Posted 13 years ago # -
@alibali, how about "accelerator" ;-) @Dave, I'd have a (decently useable) electric bike in a blink to fill the gap between bicycle and motorcycle. If I had the cash and the space that is.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Similarly, the 'cargo bike in my mind' (which awaits only funding, space, materials and spare time) definitely has some kind of electric assist. And having a separate switch to control that power seems a good idea.
Thought the reasoning put forward in the open letter was a bit weak though. The ability to stop pedalling and avoid pedal strike whilst riding in the gutter is hopefully not something that would be widely used.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I think there is a little post-rationalisation going on which is why they end up with weird stuff like "you can ride along in the death gutter more easily".
For me, I can see three real advantages to having the motor assist without pedalling:
1. the motor can help you push the bike up hill. Amongst other things it means people can dismount where appropriate. Otherwise, they will have to keep riding, over hill and dale (and pavement) - I'm thinking especially of older people with the shopping here, for example.
2. you can start the bike with your feet on the ground, for security, then start pedalling once it's balanced. I can see this being quite a big reassurance to people, especially when the bikes are so much heavier than the sort we ride
3. having a separate throttle will make the bikes much more awesome. Simples.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@smudge: Yup, accelerator. Simple really. Possition just beside the retarder lever?
I'd certainly like to try one sometime.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Sounds like a good idea to me, there are some pretty scary hill starts in Edinburgh (Abbeyhill outside the Regent for one) that I wouldn't want to be trying to start a 25kg bike on, especially not if I am the type of person that needs an electric bike. Plenty of other good reasons as listed as well. If they are limited to 15mph what is the problem?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah, that's what I really don't understand. Frankly, if they were limited to 15mph I wouldn't care if people rode superbikes without a licence either. Providing they were silent like an electric bike, of course.
The opportunity is there to have proper freight bike (or trike, or quad) delivery fleets, there would be trickle down (to ordinary bikes) and up (competitive pressure with combustion vehicles), everyone wins.
Posted 13 years ago #
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