Recent articles in the 'New York Times' about e-bike safety have been largely absent of analysis on the things killing e-bike riders: cars.

The New York Times published a pair of articles this weekend highlighting the rising number of deaths of cyclists riding electric bikes. However, in one of the most impressive feats of victim-blaming I’ve seen from the publication in some time, the NYT lays the onus on e-bikes instead of on the things killing their law abiding riders: cars.

  • schroedingershat@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 year ago

    I see you’ve never encountered an ebike on a hill.

    Acoustic bike riders rest on the downhill.

    Ebike riders who have motors that exceed their power output by a factor of 3 rest on the uphill.

    The rolling resistance difference is single digit watts. Any influence from extra weight will increase coasting speed.

    • grue@lemmy.ml
      1·
      1 year ago

      Actually, I was thinking of personal experience riding with my wife, with me on an ebike and her on an acoustic bike. I was surprised at how I actually needed to put in a little effort to keep up with her downhill.

      • schroedingershat@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        > I was surprised at how I actually needed to put in a little effort to keep up with her downhill.

        ^ precisely my point though. A little effort exceeds the motor speed limiter. Effort that is much more readily available because you didn’t spend it going up the hill.