this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2024

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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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The ebike commute challenge: could I do daycare drop-off and get to work faster than driving? (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/micromobility

29 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Carly Earl trials a family-friendly electric bike to see if she can reduce morning travel times – and be fitter, happier and more productive

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[–] grue 19 points 4 months ago

Man, I hate when it's raining too hard to bike and I have to drop my kid off at school by car instead, just because it takes so long waiting in line (literally longer than my entire round trip by bike). I don't understand how the other parents who drive every day stand it! I wish they knew what they were missing.

[–] coyootje 12 points 4 months ago

Speaking as a Dutch person, ebikes are a very nice solution for a lot of your shorter trips. I personally don't have one (I mostly take public transport to work and besides that my regular bike suffices) but I can see that ebikes are becoming more and more regular around here. It'd be cool to also see them more abroad in other countries.

[–] set_secret 5 points 4 months ago (2 children)

As someone from sydney this is Sheer maddness. Sydney must be the most if not one of the most unsafe place on earth to ride a bike e or not, let alone one with unprotected small children. Sydney hates bike riders, the roads are hostile there are almost zero safe bike lanes.

Additionally you are exposing your kids to god knows how much vehicle exhaust fumes, right in their faces, sydney also has FA EV cars too.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Wow, Sydney sounds like a terrible place. Glad I live in a place that's safer and can get to work faster on a bike than a car. When I had to take my kid to elementary school it was about a mile away too (we walked though).

[–] set_secret 1 points 4 months ago

It really is pretty horrific for bikes and pedestrians, no clue wtf its sooo expensive ngl.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The article seemed to imply most of the route was bike friendly, but yeah, I agree with the general sentiment.

[–] set_secret 2 points 4 months ago

I agree, it did try and spin it that way. But I lived in the inner west (with young kids) and safety to me on a bike seems simply impossible there.

[+] Nuke_the_whales -11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (4 children)

And now I'm arriving at my job, sweaty and exhausted. Now do it in the winter with 2' of snow.

It's always the most privileged looking, wealthy people telling us how easy it is to live car free.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago

Ebikes are almost too easy to ride, even uphill with 2 kids I never break a sweat. They're not cheap though, but still cheaper than a decent car.

To answer the article's question: yes, it's much faster dropping my kids and getting to work by bike than by car. And I never have to worry about parking.

[–] Katana314 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I got my ebike in winter. If I took a car I would still need winter gear once I get out. Plus, I’m supposed to schedule exercise for myself in the day anyway - doing it on a bike just means I accomplish it in transit.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I am sure as shit not wealthy and do this myself, so it's not impossible.

Also, it's not exhausting once you acclimate to it. Plus an ebike entirely negates the argument that it makes you tired or sweaty (though I usually commute on an unpowered bike).

I get that it's not for everyone but there are also a shitload of people who absolutely could do it and choose not to. Some are even openly hostile to the suggestion.

[–] Brkdncr 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Upvoted. But, if you can afford to use alternatives you should. It might be cost, weather, distance, etc that isn’t affordable for you.

I personally rode a motorcycle(later a maxi scooter) full time for 7 years with a 45 min commute. The first winter I bought tons of rain gear because we don’t get snow, just rain. The 3rd year I shelved it all and got uber/lyft.

The point though is that the more people that take a micro mobility route the more it benefits the people that can’t.

[–] Nuke_the_whales 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If transit was funded properly it would work but I don't think there's a single city in North America with a properly funded transit system. Where I live, traveling with kids means you're waiting for a bus for 30-45 minutes for it to show up packed and no room left for you. So it's a nightmare. I don't even have a car but I wish I did, cause getting around on transit can take you 2 hours to travel 20 km

[–] Brkdncr 1 points 4 months ago

Some parts of LA are well covered. I took a bus from Hollywood to Pasadena and it was on a 10 minute schedule. The bus wasn’t packed, very clean. I also take the train and while they are trying, there’s still a lot of crazies.

[–] RubberElectrons 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Seattle? I'm looking at doing this for the first time this winter now that I've moved up here.

[–] Brkdncr 1 points 4 months ago

Southern California.