[sustran] Re: More on UNEP, electric bicycles?

[Jain Alok]

I think it is more than poor public transport. The popularity of
light-weight two-wheelers (this is how I prefer to call them to avoid the
ambiguity between "electric sccoter" and "electric bicycle") is mainly due
to basic human desire to have a mobility where one can go where he/she wants
to go on his terms (all these attributes such as cost, travel time,
directness of travel etc.).

One of the problems with these light-weight two-wheelers is that they do not
belong to the road because they tend to be much slower than the rest of the
vehicular traffic, which put the riders of these 2-wheelers at risk. They do
not belong to the footpath or walkway either because they are a bit fast for
that and put other users at risk of injury. So, if we want them to be like
bicycles, they must be generally slower than human powered ones because that
will take the incentive of speed out but will still be useful for elderly
and infirm.

Regards
Alok Jain
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Eric Bruun [mailto:ebruun at rci.rutgers.edu]
> Sent: 25 April, 2001 2:23 AM
> To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
> Subject: [sustran] More on UNEP, electric bicycles?
> 
> 
> 
> It is a tricky issue, that is for sure. It can not be 
> separated from the
> issue of poor public transport. Is it any wonder than people 
> buy mopeds
> and scooters when the public transport is slow, crowded, and 
> unreliable?
> The massive use of them is inevitable if incomes grow but 
> public transport
> deteriorates due to ever worsening congestion.
> 
> Eric Bruun 
> 
> 
> On Tue, 24 Apr 2001, Sujit Patwardhan wrote:
> 
> > 24 April 2001
> > 
> > 
> > Alok Jain's has a valid point.
> > 
> > There isn't much difference between an electric cycle and 
> an electric
> > scooter...UNLESS the battery is so small that it cannot 
> propel the cycle
> > any faster than pedalling can and the only purpose it 
> serves is to assist
> > steep climbs WITH the feet still pushing the pedals.
> > 
> > There are two issues involved here. The fuel shouldn't be 
> polluting and
> > belong to the non-renewable category. The second concerns 
> our views on
> > promotion of private (personal) vehicles on the roads. Non polluting
> > vehicles in excessive numbers can also cause congestion and 
> if the bike
> > doesn't need human effort for propulsion it CAN be brought 
> on the roads for
> > superfluous trips..I feel when human effort (of pedalling) 
> is involved one
> > is less likely to make needless trips on the vehicle. But 
> this is a tricky
> > issue and needs to be seen from all sides I feel.
> > --
> > Sujit
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > At 09:29 AM 4/24/01 +0800, you wrote:
> > >What is the difference between an electric bicycle and 
> electric scooter?
> > >
> > >Can somebody enlighten?
> > >
> > >Alok Jain
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: Eric Bruun [mailto:ebruun at rci.rutgers.edu]
> > >> Sent: 24 April, 2001 4:27 AM
> > >> To: sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
> > >> Subject: [sustran] Re: UNEP, electric bicycles?
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> I agree with Walter. Eric Bruun
> > >> 
> > >> On Mon, 23 Apr 2001 mobility at igc.org wrote:
> > >> 
> > >> > i don't have any problem with electric bikes or electric 
> > >> assist pedicabs.  battery weight remains a problem, however, 
> > >> or cost. probably tighter emission controls on motorcycles 
> > >> would help the economic viability of this sector, no? 
> > >> > 
> > >> > walter 
> > >> > 
> > >> > 
> > >> > sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org wrote:
> > >> > > It seems UNEP's pro-car statement (see Car Busters #25 - 
> > >> sent by Paul Barter, 19 April) shows the extent of the car 
> > >> industry's vision of 
> > >> > sustainable cities -- paved and congested, but with much less 
> > >> > pollution.  (Incidentally, the hydrogen BMW's were also a 
> > >> key feature of 
> > >> > Bangkok's International Motor Show earlier this month.)
> > >> > 
> > >> > Curiously, hidden among Ford's "environmental" cars and now 
> > >> featured in a 
> > >> > new Lee Iacocca company (see New York Times article 
> > >> reference below) are 
> > >> > electric assisted bicycles.
> > >> > 
> > >> > I believe I am as skeptical of EV/alt-fuel solutions as 
> > >> anyone, but the 
> > >> > bicycles are intriguing.  As far as I know, they are still 
> > >> bicycles, but 
> > >> > with a small electric motor and battery added.  Thus they 
> > >> are not fast, not 
> > >> > congesting, and perhaps can allow use by segments of the 
> > >> elderly and the 
> > >> > physically challenged who could not previously use a bicycle.
> > >> > 
> > >> > Is this a really sustainable EV?
> > >> > 
> > >> > John
> > >> > 
> > >> > 
> > >> >  From the New York Times, 19April:
> > >> > 
> > >> > "Electric bicycles are a natural for people who are starting
> > >> > to gray in America," said Lee Iacocca, the former Chrysler
> > >> > chairman who is now president of EV Global Motors Company,
> > >> > which makes a line of electric bicycles called E-Bikes.
> > >> > Indeed, electric bikes let batteries (and chips) do much of
> > >> > the work when muscles aren't enough. But companies are still
> > >> > waiting for the sales to kick in.
> > >> > http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/19/technology/19BIKE.html?0419ci
> > >> > 
> > >> > Video of the Think Electric Bike in action:
> > >> > http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/reference/041901bike.ram
> > >> > 
> > >> > 
> > >> > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> > >> > John Ernst   -  Asia Regional Director
> > >> > 
> > >> > ITDP - The Institute for Transport and Development Policy   
> > > www.itdp.org
> > >> 
> > >> 8 Sukhumvit Soi 49/9    Bangkok 10110    Thailand
> > >> Tel +66 (1) 813-1819    Fax +1 (801) 365-5914
> > >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > >> 
> > > 
> > PARISAR, 
> > Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007
> > Tel: 5537955
> > *****************************************************************
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> > there are Consequences.
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>