Amsterdam is one of six European cities that will soon test a system that can remotely limit the speed of electric bicycles. Amsterdam’s traffic alderman, Melanie van der Horst, tested the system herself last week, NRC reports.

Alrighty,

So your system knows the exact situation and still is slowing down my bike, just at the moment I need to accelerate to avoid being overrun by that large truck heading into me.

How stupid are these folks? We’ve got rules, when people don’t follow those rules, you fine them. Case closed.

No system to prevent a bike speeding, teach people to obey the law.

  • MangoPenguinEnglish
    14·
    8 months ago

    The usual “too many people are getting hit by cars while on bicycles, obviously it’s the bicycles that are the problem”

    If ebikes that go over 25kmh are already illegal, why would those ebikes have this speed limiter module installed?

    Why are ebikes are not allowed to go fast enough to just ride on the road with cars, making it much safer for pedestrians and for the ebikes?

    According to Paul Timmer of the Townmaking Institute, getting the device working on all e-bikes should be pretty straightforward. “There are five manufacturers and suppliers of motors for electric bicycles. They all work with similar systems,”

    Also completely false, are they going to make it illegal to buy ebikes that don’t come with those 5 drive systems from large corporations, and shut out the small businesses that make ebike motors?

    • cosmicrookie@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      8 months ago

      The article also describes this working on lower speed limits like close to schools or when approaching worksites. I can’t see why this is not a good idea

      • utopiah@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        8 months ago

        I can’t see why this is not a good idea

        I believe the argument here is that it’s security theater, i.e it looks positive but in practice has literally no effect. To clarify if people buy a “normal” e-bike today, they are already speed limited. Consequently people who have bike going faster that said limit are doing something already beyond the ordinary. The likelihood that such people would suddenly change their behavior to buy typical bikes when they have even more restrictions is probably not high, but the announcement still makes it look like something is done for the greater good.

        • cosmicrookie@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          8 months ago

          The way i see it, its an area that is in the process of becoming regulated. The article mentions

          More than half of all electric cyclists ride faster than the permitted 25 kilometers

          This can’t be the case if they are speed limited

          • utopiah@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            My bad I didn’t see that proportion thanks for clarifying. As more than half are already going over the speed limit then there is indeed a more systemic problem. I thought it was about say 10% fringe that go with heavily modified bikes. I’m not sure more tech would help though, rather than fines with explanation of the risk until people do start respecting the limit. If people are unable to respect that and it causes more accidents, then yes ISA on e-bikes, cars, everything causing accident on the road.