extremegreenmachine said:
#1 The "dork factor" is super high with directional lights...super high.
Why? Every other legal piece of road traffic has them or should, by law in many places.
#2 They really make your bike ugly...with all those extra wires alone....yuck yucky.
So hide the wires. Run them inside the frame if you like. As low power as is used for them the wires can be even thinner than your brake and shifter cables. Run them alongside those, they'll be essentially invisible. There are some very nice looking LED signals out there designed for scooters, motorcycles, etc., so unless you just hate the entire idea of having anything on the bike but a frame, seat, wheels, pedals, and bars, not much aesthetics reason that I see to not do it if you can.
Everyone's got their own style, and their own likes/dislikes, so no one has to do it if they don't like it.
#3 Throw stealth out the window...electric bikes are cool cuz they should look like regular bikes. Why not just buy an electric scooter or motorcycle??
Stealth has nothing to do with it, since I use them even on my regular bikes, and so do many people, because you *want* to be seen on a bike (even if you don't want them to know it's electric assisted). Just because it has inter-traffic communication devices on it doesn't mean someone is going to know it's assisted.
#4 Once you put a bunch of street safety equipment on your bike someone somewhere is going to demand you get a license plate.
Why would they? Here in AZ, it's illegal by state law for anyplace to do that. And I've had law enforcement and firefighters that see me riding *thank me* for having proper lighting and signalling on there.
#5 You really shouldnt be riding like cars with cars without a license plate anyway. The real beauty of riding an ebike in traffic is that you can ride like a bike.
If you are on the road you *should* be riding like cars, in that you should be obeying the traffic laws, signalling, etc. So if you mean by "riding like a bike" to ride without doing that, well, I can see why you wouldn't want signals--they'd get in the way and probably attract more attention from law enforcement, who would then remind you of how you *should* be riding.
If in your area you can ride on sidewalks and do, I guess it doesn't matter. But anyone on the road needs to be riding or driving the same way, so all traffic can be predictable to all other traffic. Most "accidents" happen because of people that weren't driving or riding predictably, except for the ones that were simply not paying attention. However, in the latter case, seeing lights on a vehicle, including a bicycle, would probably increase the chances they'd notice it and not run it over or run it off the road unintentionally even if they would not normally have noticed it due to inattentiveness.
Imagine lance armstrong riding with directional lights...he is going at ebike speed...why hasnt someone outfitted his training bike with directional lights and a horn???...for one oakley would probably throw his sponsorship out saying this guy has gotten OLD.
I have no idea why they've not put them on their bikes, but I suspect they're not riding in city traffic as much, but rather on long out-of-town roads (like they do in southern AZ). But having signals on a vehicle that is on a road doesn't make you old, it makes you visible, and makes you the same as the rest of the traffic, with the same communications method, the same language so everyone can understand (even if they choose not to try).
I live in SF where being a bicycle messenger is all the rage...they are king of cool on bikes...those guys would be laughed out of there scene if they installed directional lights. Chopper riders dont install directional lights on there real motorcycles..and either do many of the custom rice rockets.
That's their choice, as it is also yours. But I would not advise recommending that others *not* put them on just because there are people that also do not put them on. It's a bit like the helmet arguments. Just because some choose not to wear them should not be a reason to advocate that no one wear them, or to recommend to others that they not wear them. It is up to each individual to choose, after they understand the reasons for wearing a helmet (or having directional signals, marker lights, etc). I advise people of the reasons to have them, and leave their choice to them. Even if I did not like the idea of them I would not ever recommend that they not use them, which is essentially what your original statement does, by stating it will kill the whole ebike movement if they did.
FWIW, most of the drivers in vehicles like cars and trucks here in Phoenix do not even *use* the signals they already have, but they know what they mean when they see them--they don't know what hand signals mean, so the choice is pretty simple to me: I put signals on there so even those people will know what I intend to do in traffic.
Once your on the slippery slope for directional lights on your ebike...you might as well outfit that thing with a horn, a cruise control, and some rear view mirrors on both sides of your handlebars. Then go the DMV and see if they will license it. Then you will have a super dorky rear license plate to mount to add to your "ugly factor".
I do have a horn (a car horn, so I can be sure they'll hear me with their radios blaring and windows closed, in those few times I ever need it). I also have a rear view mirror, though it is only on the left side, as that is the only place I really need one. Cruise controls are commonly available for ebikes, though I don't have one (missed out on the recent sale or I *would* have one). I may yet build one.
The DMV *can't* license it here in AZ, due to state law preventing that. Dunno why anyone would *want* them to, either.
Until ebikes are perceived as cool they will never make it to the mainstream...guys do the ebike movement a favor and rip those lights off your bike today
Then you need to go out there and tell all the people that have them on their regular bikes to rip them off too.
And go to all the stores that sell them for regular bikes to take them off the shelves and send them back.
Seriously--don't advocate for people to take safety equipment off (or not use it in the first place) just becuase *you* don't think it looks cool with it. That's just
stupid.
You can leave it off your own bike if you like, but advising others to do that is not right.
By the way...directional lights are ok if #1 your over 60....or #2 your riding a death trap trike in traffic. There is a big difference in getting hit and getting run over...and a trike you get run over, on a bike you get hit. You also need a big ugly flag if you ride a trike in traffic. By the way a big orange flag will keep you safer than directional lights even on a regular bike...also how about a full face helmet and some leather riding gear if your going to obsess over safety...shoot just leave the ebike at home and take your mini van.
Wow.
I think you need to take a look at your attitude, because you are being ridiculous. I guess we'll take all the directional lights off all the cars and trucks, too, unless the drivers are over 60, or have three wheels. That'll help EVERYTHING, I'm sure. Since most people don't use them anyway, why bother to have them?
I ride in a big city (SF) and all you really need on your bike is a good headlamp and a small blinking red light for your rear...and those are for riding at night.
Sure. When you are a pavement smear, don't come back and cry at us. :lol:
Honestly, there's nothing wrong with you choosing to not have safety lighting like this, in that it will only really affect you. But please don't go around telling people not to do it because *you* don't think it looks cool. It has nothing to do with whether ebikes will be accepted or not, it only has to do with your aesthetics.