ELECTRIC BIKES ARE A FUCKING MENACE

[Miura-7]

I’m well aware of “common sense.” Common sense would invest in oil. I’ve also been flying in the air transport, a couple of times. Unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy the view because of brain swelling, but here I am. Celebrating another glorious year on this extraordinary planet. My grand plan isn’t something I came up with yesterday, it’s something I’ve held on to for decades. You don’t need big batteries, when you have small appliances. “Less is More,”but giant art structures are pretty fuckin cool!

[lucky420]

My experience this year: I converted my wifes' 3 wheeler to 48V lith front hub drive this year for our use to haul coolers for our Playa Pinguinos gifting. Had about 2K in it, ran beautifully, even on the shitty streets. Monday night, we went out to the Esplanade, right after dark to get out first real night out. Both of our trikes are very well lit. Mine is a front hub drive 1972 Columbia, great machine. Both are slow, but will pull through sand traps. My wife stopped as soon as we got on the Esplanade and stood up, straddling the frame to take a photo. A young woman, driving a brand new fat tire big electric, t-boned her at full throttle. Shit went everywhere. The young woman was on some chemical influence, had zero idea what or how this happened. All of us were unharmed. Can't figure out yet how there wasn't several broken bones. She had no idea where she was and her 5 other friends rushed up to basically accuse my wife of causing an "accident". We were quite shaken. They didn't speak much English, were from some "plug & play" that provided the bikes. (My assumptions, but after 12 years on the playa, the situation seemed obvious after our 10 minute interaction). My wifes' bike was totaled. Completely. Frame bent, forks gone, front wheel laying feet away. I had to pick up the pieces and haul the pile back to camp, which was 2 hours of pure enjoyment. I have more to say about the 25 mph machines, but please don't get me started, I am still on my first cup of coffee this morning. Losing our best bike so early in the week really made a dent in our abilities. Next up: how the fuck did Arctica run out of ice on Friday?

I’m sure sorry this happened but YOU GOT MARRIED?

Congrats

[mgb327]

!!!!!!!!

[Miura-7]

Just took delivery of my new 5000w Ebike. It’s a beast!!! Yeah, I barely turned the throttle and it wanted to wheelie. My previous Ebikes do not compare to the torque this thing puts out. So my opinion on inebriated riders on the ePlaya? “HUGE FUCKING MENACE!!!” (Sorry for beating the dead horse.) Doesn’t mean I can’t have huge fucking fun being responsible, and respectful in my “neck of the woods.”

[Skuzzy61]

They need to flat out ban the Onewheel devices.

The new GT has a top speed of 20MPH. The PintX 18MPH, and the Pint 16MPH. All of them are a nuisance.

[mournlight]

Gotta put my two cents in. I got shot ten times last year. Lucky to be alive. I couldn't have burned like I did without the e-bike. I didn't ride above the speed limit cept way out where no one else was. Stayed very aware of myself. I coudn't have seen half the esplanade if not for that bike. I'm very grateful. I did get passed by them a lot.
They could force an online class before giving a pass for the bikes. They do need to slow down. Might also teach them how to keep them secure. some expensive ones had $25 locks on them. ewe.
But I think the majority of us did fairly well and were responsible.

[Simon of the Playa]

ready, one more time.


i don't ride my motorcycle down the fucking sidewalk in our town at 20 mph, it's dangerous and i'd be arrested.

why is that ok on the goddamn esplanade or anywhere in the city, especially under white-out conditions?

again, you have a medical issue or you're just an old fart like me, that's fine. ride your e-bike at FIVE FUCKING MILES AN HOUR just like everyone else.

the temptation and stupid factor that go along with e-bikes is great and needs to be regulated.

otherwise A LOT more of you motherfuckers are going to get hit and run over by some frat boys on adderall and PBR and you will remember this as you are lying on the ground wondering "what the fuck".

[lucky420]

I only walked at night and I was usually alone. Crossing or walking close to Esplanade was a lil dicey

[Elorrum]

Just read this elsewhere, gave me a laugh: “Someone needs to weave through crowds of people at 30 mph, they arent going to smash into themselves.”

ETA: mgb, sorry it happened to you and your wife.

[ygmir]

I only walked at night and I was usually alone. Crossing or walking close to Esplanade was a lil dicey

steel toed boots and football helmet, I hope...

[Token]

Now I want to go and do performance art …

… have a half dozen folks in pairs carry a 8 x 4 piece of polycarbonate sheet, up and down the esplanade, side-by-side …

The performers would have really nice gloves to minimize … uh … fatigue! Yes, safety third!

.

[Elorrum]

Now I want to go and do performance art …

… have a half dozen folks in pairs carry a 8 x 4 piece of polycarbonate sheet, up and down the esplanade, side-by-side …

The performers would have really nice gloves to minimize … uh … fatigue! Yes, safety third!

.

Mmmm.truly.

Perhaps overnight charging stations gifted also. Well designed to look awesome and free! … with no actual electricity.

[The Rod]

maybe the pigs can start ticketing ebike riders $500 per for speeding/reckless driving instead of tearing cars apart on gate road looking for weed and mushrooms

[Simon of the Playa]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/03/paris-b ... moval.html

[Simon of the Playa]

can't have burning man without a burning kefluffle.


https://journal.burningman.org/2023/07/ ... c/e-bikes/

[ygmir]

Now I want to go and do performance art …

… have a half dozen folks in pairs carry a 8 x 4 piece of polycarbonate sheet, up and down the esplanade, side-by-side …

The performers would have really nice gloves to minimize … uh … fatigue! Yes, safety third!

.

Mmmm.truly.

Perhaps overnight charging stations gifted also. Well designed to look awesome and free! … with no actual electricity.

someone should get hold of Karl Von Hesse! that German team had the power generating underground pipe thing and had random outlets on the playa, IIRC around 09? If they could set that up again, people could park their ebikes and such at the outlets that sync up and work. Seems I remember, once they synced, they stayed synced until there was no demand for a period of time? I know it was sort of random and you had to find the static (not blinking) LED's on a power station to know it was synced and working.

[Elorrum]

get hold of Karl Von Hesse! that German team had the power generating underground pipe thing and had random outlets on the playa, IIRC around 09? If they could set that up again, people could park their ebikes and such at the outlets that sync up and work. Seems I remember, once they synced, they stayed synced until there was no demand for a period of time? I know it was sort of random and you had to find the static (not blinking) LED's on a power station to know it was synced and working.

I like couching it as a returning gift, von Kessel, you say? Was it a kvon project with his special electricity? Especially for the largest most powerful e-bikes. Maybe some blinkies to indicate when said “charge” was complete. (What? They don’t change color, ever?). Plug and stay.

[ygmir]

get hold of Karl Von Hesse! that German team had the power generating underground pipe thing and had random outlets on the playa, IIRC around 09? If they could set that up again, people could park their ebikes and such at the outlets that sync up and work. Seems I remember, once they synced, they stayed synced until there was no demand for a period of time? I know it was sort of random and you had to find the static (not blinking) LED's on a power station to know it was synced and working.

I like couching it as a returning gift, von Kessel, you say? Was it a kvon project with his special electricity? Especially for the largest most powerful e-bikes. Maybe some blinkies to indicate when said “charge” was complete. (What? They don’t change color, ever?). Plug and stay.

I think the ebikes tell you when they are fully charged, and or charging. I know there was an issue with some sort of frequency, back then, that even though the phones and such were charging, the onboard indicators in the devices would not say they were charging, or some such? I know people said they were not working, but when they unplugged they were charged. people just had to be patient and wait like an hour or so (depending on level of charging needed), and then unplug and try it.