micromobility - Ebikes, scooters, longboards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!

"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.

micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"

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E-bike makers push speed-reduction updates after California’s stricter new laws (electrek.co)

submitted 3 weeks ago by krelvar to c/micromobility

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

"If you asked most owners of these e-bikes about which they’d give up if they had to, they’d probably tell you “take my 21-28 mph speed but leave me my throttle”."

This seems like a bad take. Do most people really only ride on the throttle?

I'll keep my higher speed and lose the throttle, thanks. How about a non-stupid firmware update that locks to 20 if a throttle is connected, and unlocks to 28 if there isn't one?

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

This seems like a bad take. Do most people really only ride on the throttle?

The main time I use the throttle is when coming to a stop, or when coming out of a stop (esp. at a road crossing). My bike doesn't have a torque sensor, so pedal assist is going to kick on too late when stopped and it persists too long for stopping too. A microscopic twist of the throttle can be used to make the bike crawl, which is great for stopping exactly where needed or careful navigation.

Also if I come to a stop and forgot to downshift, it's a lifesaver. Similarly, a couple of times I've used throttle to keep going home when my chain slipped off(+no gloves). Both of these only work due to having a hubmotor.

For context I have a 250w ebike, it doesn't even exceed class 1 speeds (it has an EU speed limit and I ride in a relaxed position) normally. I ride for the workout mostly (usually in pedal assist 1), and lots of people on the trail (ebike and not) are passing me. The only other times I've used throttle were being near a noxious smell (factory farm) or a stretch of path in the blaring sun with no shade (I cannot really sweat, so a slow struggle is a recipe for heat stroke).

So yeah, the stigma against throttles is (mostly) stupid. I can't even disable the throttle on my bike via display codes (and from what I've seen online, just unplugging the line is not the right way either*). I wouldn't mind an alternate throttle that didn't really give a huge burst of constant speed, but mine already doesn't do that.

Also another thing about speed: it is less efficient (=lower range) so that is another reason many likely would prefer a throttle over a higher max speed.

*= IIRC it may cause the bike to not start for some reason