E-Scooters

man_at_milletts

Starinnaddick said:

I would suggest that was a rite of passage for any kid growing up in the 50's and 60's. Still got the scars to prove it.

SuedeAdidas

 Starinnaddick said:

BMX ‘Bear Trap’ pedals in the 80’s trump those. 

clive

E-bike rage in the borough that's had enough - and how it might be solved

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly9jqd5765o

seth plum

Those green bikes seem to be dumped everywhere.

Goodness knows how the system works.

I thought each bike would have a satellite tracker, and vans go around the city collecting them to recharge the batteries and repair punctures and maintain brakes and lights. Doesn’t look like it.

I assume there is yet another convoluted system people have to use in order to ride them, involving appliances on your telephone and membership of pay pal with the attendant nightmare of passwords and so on. 

I don’t know because convenient though they seem to be, using them looks quite a faff, with yet another way you can get hacked and scammed.

The best way to get rid of the clutter is for local authorities to collect them in their own vans and then crush them, that might make the companies think harder about their property laying around everywhere and causing obstructions.

Or take loads of money off the users if they don’t leave the bicycles in an assigned location.

Jints

You need to download the app. After that, it takes about 10 seconds to unlock a bike.  Agree that they seem to be everywhere now. The City is littered with them and there must be a huge oversupply.

seth plum

Jints said:

You need to download the app. After that, it takes about 10 seconds to unlock a bike.  Agree that they seem to be everywhere now. The City is littered with them and there must be a huge oversupply.

If you download the appliance is that it?

You don’t have to pay anything?

Jints

Application, yes (it's not a washing machine). Has to be linked to a payment card or paypal. You then scan a bike through the app click a box to approve payment and the bike unlocks.

Gribbo

Think a lot of the dumped bikes are from undesirables using them on the flashing red light (not paying), until the bike locks up and they end up dumped where they are. If you're a genuine paying customer, I think you need to take a photo of the bike in a designated place in order to off hire it.

seth plum

Jints said:

Application, yes (it's not a washing machine). Has to be linked to a payment card or paypal. You then scan a bike through the app click a box to approve payment and the bike unlocks.

So when you join up you give them your credit card details?
And to use the bike you have to have your mobile telephone with you?

seth plum

How come they can be used without payment?
Flashing red light? What’s that all about? Does it mean I can simply pick one up and ride it, until something automatic suddenly applies the brakes?

How does the electric motor get charged up, is it through some kind of remote system through satellites?

O-Randy-Hunt

When you see someone ride past you and its clicking and beeping, it means it's not been paid for.

seth plum

This is becoming surreal.
If a person picks up a green bike, rides it with clicking and bleeping, they can continue as long as they want.
The clicking and bleeping acting as an audible signal to others, like the sounds made by reversing rubbish trucks.

Jints

O-Randy-Hunt said:

When you see someone ride past you and its clicking and beeping, it means it's not been paid for.

I thought they'd managed to stop that? Certainly don't hear that loud clicking that you used to a year or so ago. 

Jints

seth plum said:

Jints said:

Application, yes (it's not a washing machine). Has to be linked to a payment card or paypal. You then scan a bike through the app click a box to approve payment and the bike unlocks.

So when you join up you give them your credit card details?
And to use the bike you have to have your mobile telephone with you?

Yes and yes

seth plum

Jints said:

seth plum said:

Jints said:

Application, yes (it's not a washing machine). Has to be linked to a payment card or paypal. You then scan a bike through the app click a box to approve payment and the bike unlocks.

So when you join up you give them your credit card details?
And to use the bike you have to have your mobile telephone with you?

Yes and yes

What follows from that is can you tell which individual person has carelessly dumped a specific bike?
If the bike has a tracker or whatever, and a unique number, then presumably the technology can easily identify the last user. 

And hey presto the last user has lodged their payment details with the bike business.
So the technology of identifying the user and their bank could be made available to the police and local authorities by the bike companies.
Then an abandoned bike can be scanned, and a fine taken directly from the user to go to the authorities. Even with an accompanying photograph to prove the offence.

Solidgone

I would like to believe that most of the fallen bikes shown in the photos have been caused by strong winds and not carelessly. 

Jints

seth plum said:

Jints said:

seth plum said:

Jints said:

Application, yes (it's not a washing machine). Has to be linked to a payment card or paypal. You then scan a bike through the app click a box to approve payment and the bike unlocks.

So when you join up you give them your credit card details?
And to use the bike you have to have your mobile telephone with you?

Yes and yes

What follows from that is can you tell which individual person has carelessly dumped a specific bike?
If the bike has a tracker or whatever, and a unique number, then presumably the technology can easily identify the last user. 

And hey presto the last user has lodged their payment details with the bike business.
So the technology of identifying the user and their bank could be made available to the police and local authorities by the bike companies.
Then an abandoned bike can be scanned, and a fine taken directly from the user to go to the authorities. Even with an accompanying photograph to prove the offence.

Yes and they don't let you park in certain places so you can't end the ride and/or you get fined. How effective it is, I don't know. Doesn't seem to be.

Croydon

Jints said:

O-Randy-Hunt said:

When you see someone ride past you and its clicking and beeping, it means it's not been paid for.

I thought they'd managed to stop that? Certainly don't hear that loud clicking that you used to a year or so ago. 

I've seen a couple of kids 'bump start' the lime bikes. So I think there's a way around it, but it's not as easy as just starting to ride it.

I think the e-bikes have been a great addition to London, and I use them a few times a week. Unfortunately, as with most things, an inconsiderate few ruin it for everyone else with the damage and poor parking.

O-Randy-Hunt

Jints said:

O-Randy-Hunt said:

When you see someone ride past you and its clicking and beeping, it means it's not been paid for.

I thought they'd managed to stop that? Certainly don't hear that loud clicking that you used to a year or so ago. 

I still hear it on a regular basis.

seth plum

The e-bikes are a great idea but dumping them anywhere is not.
Anybody figured out how they get charged if left randomly about and how a rider can tell if there is enough electricity inside the bicycle?
And punctures?

guinnessaddick

seth plum said:

This is becoming surreal.
If a person picks up a green bike, rides it with clicking and bleeping, they can continue as long as they want.
The clicking and bleeping acting as an audible signal to others, like the sounds made by reversing rubbish trucks.

Might get nicked for peddling stolen goods.

clive

A house fire, which led to the rescue of two people, may have been caused by lithium batteries in a converted e-bike.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) added firefighters used a ladder to help the adults escape the property in Sandy Hill Road, Woolwich, on Saturday morning.

Several other adults and a child were taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

LFB has now issued another warning about the risks of converted e-bikes, adding it had attended more than 130 fires this year that had involved an e-bike or e-scooter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62mx3r8vvzo

clive

'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

https://news.sky.com/story/it-seems-to-be-getting-a-bit-out-of-control-e-bike-and-e-scooter-crimes-soar-730-in-five-years-13271401

eaststandmike

clive said:

'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

https://news.sky.com/story/it-seems-to-be-getting-a-bit-out-of-control-e-bike-and-e-scooter-crimes-soar-730-in-five-years-13271401

Just ban them and make it illegal to sell them. I don’t know any normal person that owns or rides one. The only people that seem drawn to them are kids, criminals, drug dealers and wankers.

Hal1x

eaststandmike said:

clive said:

'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

https://news.sky.com/story/it-seems-to-be-getting-a-bit-out-of-control-e-bike-and-e-scooter-crimes-soar-730-in-five-years-13271401

Just ban them and make it illegal to sell them. I don’t know any normal person that owns or rides one. The only people that seem drawn to them are kids, criminals, drug dealers and wankers.

3 out of 4 applies to me.

eaststandmike

Hal1x said:

eaststandmike said:

clive said:

'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

https://news.sky.com/story/it-seems-to-be-getting-a-bit-out-of-control-e-bike-and-e-scooter-crimes-soar-730-in-five-years-13271401

Just ban them and make it illegal to sell them. I don’t know any normal person that owns or rides one. The only people that seem drawn to them are kids, criminals, drug dealers and wankers.

3 out of 4 applies to me.

Yeah I know you are not a kid 😉

hoof_it_up_to_benty

seth plum said:

The e-bikes are a great idea but dumping them anywhere is not.
Anybody figured out how they get charged if left randomly about and how a rider can tell if there is enough electricity inside the bicycle?
And punctures?

They're dumped everywhere- massive issue on pavements for those with mobility or sight issues. The hire companies don't give a toss and are not held accountable.

Simply ignoring the problems with ebikes and scooters is not the answer. The only answer I hear is 'they're less bad than cars' implying that we should simply ignore any issues.

Lazy government and no joined up transport policy.

eaststandmike

Showmetheway2gohome said:

eaststandmike said:

clive said:

'It seems to be getting a bit out of control': E-bike and e-scooter crimes soar 730% in five years

https://news.sky.com/story/it-seems-to-be-getting-a-bit-out-of-control-e-bike-and-e-scooter-crimes-soar-730-in-five-years-13271401

Just ban them and make it illegal to sell them. I don’t know any normal person that owns or rides one. The only people that seem drawn to them are kids, criminals, drug dealers and wankers.

Nonsense being peddled out it’s the people’s actions riding the bikes not the bikes. 

This in my opinion is one of the biggest opportunities being missed to help climate control. 

More than the bullshit trying to stop cows farting. 

The amount of people commuting with 4 empty seats in there car. 

If they got on a bike it would un clog the roads they would also benefit financially save time on their commute and become healthier. 

Why is it you don’t seem to see kids riding to school anymore. 

If we could get kids to ride to school how much would the roads unclog morning and afternoon on the school run. 

I can understand why the government don’t won’t to promote bikes because of all the money they would lose on Taxes. 

But I can’t understand the general hate for bikes when they can do so much more for the environment than electric cars. 

Even the car manufacturers don’t want to make the electric cars As seen with Vauxhall in Luton. 

I have no hatred for bikes that you pedal under your own power, I have been a cyclist all my life and still am at 67, and in the ideal world I would love to see people taking short journeys on electric bikes.

However due to their speed, compact size and not having a number plate displayed they are very attractive to bag snatchers, drug dealers and twats that want to race around on the pavement.

As I say I am 67, have a large circle of family, friends and business associates and not one person in that circle owns an electric bike 

eaststandmike

Showmetheway2gohome said:

Looks to me that it’s London that seems to attract these sorts of people nowadays don’t matter what type of vehicle they go about on. 

I see 3 people got shot again over the weekend.
Not a safe place nowadays I’m afraid to say. 

I avoid London and other big cities like the plague.

hoof_it_up_to_benty

Showmetheway2gohome said:

Looks to me that it’s London that seems to attract these sorts of people nowadays don’t matter what type of vehicle they go about on. 

I see 3 people got shot again over the weekend.
Not a safe place nowadays I’m afraid to say. 

London's population is ten million(approx) - important to have a bit of perspective.