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by taylodl 1221 days ago
Another option is to promote commuter electric motorcycles, e.g. something like the Ryvid Anthem which has a removable battery you can take inside and charge. With a range of 80 miles it's definitely a commuter motorcycle, but it's top speed of 75 MPH definitely allows you to hop on the freeway as part of your commute.

The best part? It costs less than a typical used ICE car, so it's very budget friendly. And it has virtually no maintenance.

I'm not against public transit but it's a significant investment and towns like mine have spent the past 40 years failing to make it happen and unlike an e-bike an electric motorcycle can fully utilize all existing roadways.

I think it's time to start re-thinking transportation.
1 comments
inawarminister 1221 days ago
Main issue with electric motorcycles is that it still doesn't solve the safety issue of motorcycles, especially at freeway speeds. At least e-bikes are locked at 25kph/mph. And can be folded into public transportation.
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taylodl 1220 days ago
The safety issue with motorcycles is two-fold:

* Currently the predominant category of motorcycle riders are young males who ride like idiots (i.e. they are their own biggest cause of their own accidents)

* People driving 2 ton vehicles with their heads completely up their posteriors while driving. Fortunately those people are generally easy to spot and deal with.

If anything, more motorcycle riding will make the roads safer because you actually have to pay attention to what you're doing while riding. You can't shave, put on your makeup, or read text messages while riding. You actually have to pay attention! Also, motorcycle-on-motorcycle crashes are extremely rare outside of the context of group rides.

My biggest concern with e-bikes is people treat them like bicycles. I see people cruising around my neighborhood going 35 MPH on an e-bike without any safety gear on outside of maybe a bicycle helmet. The motorcycle safety culture of ATGATT isn't even on the radar of the e-bikers. Not to mention they don't seem to know the strategies of lane position, how to make yourself visible to others, how to swerve and brake quickly - which are all standard fare for motorcycle riders.

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