If nothing else, it's easily worth the experience of getting the kids to and from school. It takes less time and it's enjoyable instead of aggravating. Win-win.
I'm finding that, in my city, we tend to move faster than traffic if there's any traffic at all. Cars might go faster when they're not stopped, but they're spending most their time queued up at traffic lights and stop signs. Bikes get to go to ride right past those lines.
To clarify, ebike batteries across manufacturers should be standardized.
If only he’d thought of electrifying available people-powered systems and miniaturizing as well adding capacity rather than re-inventing things. Of course hindsight... but what if he’d seen things differently.
it was awe-inspiring and admirable from an engineering standpoint, but painfully misapplied and dorky from a societal one.
kamen could have used this technological advance on any number of (existing) personal transport machines, but he chose to invent his own, as inventors are wont to do.
The being able to easily keep up with traffic is what I miss when I switch to my regular bike, which I had been comuting with for years.
Also I ride it more than my traditional bike because it is easier. (I rode to work today) Parking is easier too though I’m still a little nervous leaving it on the street (I have bike cages at home/work)
I’ll second your recommendation of giving it a try.
I usually wear regular clothing (like jeans and hoodie) and add to it when necessary (long johns in the winter, maybe a power-stretch jacket).
Its only about 35-40 minutes for me so I can be a little lighter on the clothing. A balaclava for my face (Its a a ski mask with an big circular opening for my nose and eyes). Thats usually enough, but I have a thin hat that fits under the helmet. my work shirts are golf shirts and wick sweat away, but wool or polypro long underwear is helpful when its really really cold. You don't want to get wet from sweat, because it will suck the heat out of you. I usually just use normal pants. I have a flease jacket and a windproof shell on top.
I use wool glove liners and good windproof gloves. My hands can still get cold. Especially when its windy along the river. I'm experimenting with usb li-on glove warmers, which seem to help on the two times I've used them. They're kind bulky in my gloves and I don't love that.
(I've seen people with fixed hand warmers on there bikes but I haven't gone that far). Ski googles too (I wear glasses so that helps the wind in my eye problem).
Good socks too. I lower my seat in the winter to make it easier to touch ground if I hit ice.
Its just a much nicer platform, all-electric. I see it getting much, much wider adoption ..
Which is a given in the winter :(
I knew some researchers who were specifically looking at the question of bicyclist exposure to air pollution by pedaling around town with nephalometers (IIRC). I don’t remember what their conclusions were, if any. I should look that up.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971...
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/fuming-air-pollution-and-c...