YikeBike - The world's first super light electric folding bike. | Urban Freedom(yikebike.com)
yikebike.com
YikeBike - The world's first super light electric folding bike. | Urban Freedom
http://www.yikebike.com/site/gallery/video/yikebike-discovery-channel
3 comments
I remember seeing YikeBike on here about half a year ago (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=810787) to fairly mixed thoughts, particularly in terms of style (kinda uncool) and safety. Honestly I wouldn't want to drive through any part of Manhattan on it; hitting any sort of pothole or crack in the street would seem to be painful.
Interestingly the gallery includes images in which the rider is breaking UK law, eg http://yikebike.cachefly.net/yikebike/images/europe/europe-p.... Riding a bike on the pavement is not allowed here.
Plus that JW flash video player crashes my FF.
Plus that JW flash video player crashes my FF.
It'd be illegal on the road too - it needs license plates, lights and a tax disc, and the rider should have a motorcycle license and a helmet. An electrically-assisted bicycle is still a bicycle, but take the pedals off and add a throttle and it becomes a motorcycle. I believe the laws are similar in the rest of the EU, although some states have a 'light motorcycle' vehicle class which would ease (though not entirely obviate) homologation as a motor vehicle.
I expect the machine to fall into the same regulatory and marketing abyss as the Segway - too expensive, not enough speed or range and illegal in most jurisdictions.
I don't see what's wrong with pedalling, especially over the meagre 9-10km range advertised for the yikebike. If you're not fit enough to comfortably ride three miles each way to work, you really need the exercise.
I expect the machine to fall into the same regulatory and marketing abyss as the Segway - too expensive, not enough speed or range and illegal in most jurisdictions.
I don't see what's wrong with pedalling, especially over the meagre 9-10km range advertised for the yikebike. If you're not fit enough to comfortably ride three miles each way to work, you really need the exercise.