The sidewalks are really dangerous where I am, where they are super uneven, have “artistic” curves, and trees that are overhanging really low so like will hit my body.
I go max 15 MPH on my escooter and if I hear a ding ding I jump onto the sidewalk and go a bit slower until you guys pass, since I’m slower and can dismount easier it only makes sense for me to make room. I figure as long as I make room it “shouldn’t” be a problem.
But just wondering if there are any bike riders that are just like shaking their fist at escooter riders.
EDIT: USA!
I was behind someone on an escooter on my city’s multi-use paths lately. Neither of us was supposed to be there, and no one cares, nor is the street a good option for either of us, me on my class 3 ebike and them on their electric scooter. I just make sure to stay under 20 on paths and to ring before passing anyone so i don’t startle them (or their dogs). You sound very considerate, so as long as you are going the right direction, I think you should be okay.
So long as you’re going the right direction of traffic I see no problem. Although every single person I encounter on an e-scooter in the bike lane is going the wrong direction so we might have a problem.
Ew that just would feel so wrong. Maybe it’s mostly people that never drove? I actually got rid of my car in favor of e scooter cause where I go is super close and it’s nice not owning a liability.
I came here to write the same thing. Why do they do that?
Scooters are fine with me. What I can’t stand are boneheaded joggers thinking the bike lane is some extension of the sidewalk.
Love it when they run in the opposite direction too
Shouldnt be called bike line. It should be called “faster than walking lane”, “above 15km/h” lane or something. The point is, it is for objects going faser than walking. No, i dont mind.
That’s an interesting thought but I’m not sure I agree. Should runners use bike lanes? I’d say it’s more to do with the danger each transport poses.
A runner is very capable of avoiding people walking, and even if they were to collide the impact is minimal.
A cyclist is much less capable of dodging a pedestrian, hence why they don’t belong on a pavement. Same would apply to scooters.
Cars and large goods vehicles are a threat to cyclists due to the speed disparity.
I mean theoretically, if a runner goes as fast as a bike they wouldnt interfere with each other but I get your point. A bike hitting a runner is gonna be a bad time. Maybe maneuverability is more important than speed.
Someone on a different thread explained to me that runners do this for visibility. Its still annoying though to be riding down a bike lane at 20-30 mph and all of a sudden someone is jogging the other direction. I have to remind myself that pedestrians are vulnerable road users and its actually the cars I should be ticked at, not the joggers who are just trying to avoid getting smooshed.
Cars and large goods vehicles are a threat to cyclists due to the speed disparity.
If you’re worried about getting hit, you’re not bright and flashing enough. I’ve never feared being hit by a car while wearing red and white strobes and a reflective vest.
yes, we have a bikeshare network here in Estonia
For me, bike lanes should have a weight limit (<100lbs / ~50kg or so). It seems like you’re talking about the handlebar scooters as opposed to vespa scooters. Those are fine in my opinion. You’re going fast enough to not cause a traffic jam and you’re smaller than a bike, so you’re not taking up any more space. In my city, the eScooters are usually faster than most bike commuters.
The best place for electric scooters on most city streets is in the regular traffic lanes. This is also the best place for bicycles in most cities. Unless your particular city and route have actually safe bike lanes, you’re better off just acting like any other vehicle, using the regular traffic lanes, and following all traffic laws and signs.
(Yes, you’re slower than cars; but so is a horse rider, and they’ve been allowed on city streets since long before cars existed.)
Many sorts of “bike lane” make the streets less safe for cyclists and scooter users. Lanes that are also used as streetside parking are not safe, as attempting to use them requires swerving in and out between parked cars. Narrow lanes that are adjacent to streetside parking are not safe, because of the “door zone” problem. “Lanes” that are really part of the gutter are not safe, because they accumulate debris (tire chunks, mufflers, road sand) – all of which are much more dangerous for cyclists and scooter users than for drivers.
There do exist high-quality bike lanes in some cities. They are clearly marked and separated from the regular traffic lanes (sometimes with barriers); they don’t share space with streetside parking; they often have their own traffic signals.
If there are safe bike lanes, then yes, they’re an appropriate choice for electric scooters. The reason for this is that the speed, maneuverability, and vulnerability of electric scooters are much closer to those of bicycles than to either cars or pedestrians.
But if there aren’t safe bike lanes on the specific route you need to take, just use the “slowest” (in most of the world, rightmost) regular traffic lane. Most of the time, be in the center of this lane, not hugging the right edge; this makes you more visible, keeps you out of the “door zone”, etc. You may move right to allow faster traffic (i.e. cars, trucks, motorcycles) to pass, if it is safe to do so.
(Note: In some places, such as California, cyclists are required to stay to the right insofar as it is safe. This does not mean biking in the gutter or “door zone”, because those are never safe.)
Like bicycles, electric scooters should never be ridden on city sidewalks adjacent to buildings. This is because of the risk of colliding with pedestrians coming out of building doors. Blind pedestrians, very elderly pedestrians, pedestrians pushing delivery carts, nearsighted pedestrians who have lost their glasses, and other pedestrians with limited eyesight are all legitimate users of sidewalks. Do not expect that pedestrians can see or dodge. When using pedestrian features such as sidewalks or crosswalks, both cyclists and scooter users should dismount and walk their vehicle.
Yes, you’re slower than cars; but so is a horse rider, and they’ve been allowed on city streets since long before cars existed
“Allowed” isn’t really the most important metric for me when I’m trying to work out where to ride. I’m mostly interested in being less likely to be hit by a car. It sucks for me and the pedestrian if I hit a pedestrian. It sucks if I come off my bike from hitting a piece of rubbish in the kerb and channel alongside the road. But I die if I get hit by a car who isn’t paying attention when I’m in a car lane, even if I’m doing everything right.
Like bicycles, electric scooters should never be ridden on city sidewalks adjacent to buildings.
In my city, it’s illegal to ride a scooter on the road (aside from dedicated bike lanes). If there is no dedicated bike lane, then the sidewalk is where you are legally required to use the scooter.
I think for the most part it’s just you being a fairly faster biker than me. e-scooter or mechanical scooter/bike, it’s all the same. IIRC calistenia just allowed e-scooters to ride in the bike lane :)
Just give me some notice you’re passing me, that was always my fucking gripe with the food delivery guys in NYC. They just show up in your periphery and scare the fuck outta you. Ring a bell! Say hello! I’ll say hello back! Goodbye!
Not here. More annoyed about them on side walks than bike lanes.
Bike Riders of lemmy, you okay with me riding my eScooter in the bike lane?
As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another bike :)
… with tiny wheels 🛞
I’m the Netherlands where everyone and their mom rides bikes and we have bike lanes everywhere, escooters / ebikes / regular scooters all go on the bike lane. It’s less dangerous to go a bit slower than a fast biking person (like a grandma on a regular bike) and just staying on the right, than the dangers on the sidewalk.
You can’t be worse than the bicyclists, go for it.
Please stay off the sidewalks.
I say it’s perfectly fine to be in the bike lane. Much better than the sidewalk, when you’re going at that speed.
However, I would like to emphasize the importance of staying to the right at all times unless passing someone. Cyclists, bikers (less adept cyclists), and escooter riders should all adhere to this, but in my experience escooters are far less likely to do so. Same with signaling — tell people around you with hand signals which way you’re going to go well in advance, and go (gradually, carefully) toward that side of the bike lane / bike path before turning to ensure you don’t cut anyone off. Don’t weave between people. Be aware of your surroundings. Please don’t kill or maim anyone.
Good luck out there! Welcome to the land of the free from cars!
In my country electric scooters are classified as bicycles, so they must use bicycle lane if one is available. To clarify, E-scooters like
not like electric Vespa or something. Their top speed must be limited to 25 km/h.
