E-Bike Safety (Video)

[Ataturk]

Hello Sphere!

I've been lurking these forums for a few years and am really impressed with the collective knowledge, however I was surprised when I found little to no resources anywhere concerning e-bike safety! I aim to rectify this. I just put together a short video (5:51) filled with some footage of my commute last year in San Diego using a gopro. Please give it a look and PM me if you have any good footage - I'll edit it and add it to the video. I really think there needs to be something, especially for the newer bikers.

I'm also trying to counter some of the negative language and legislation surrounding e-bikers, but this is foremost an instructional video. I believe in the e-bike, just not always the rider (myself included)!

link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmER9cWREtk&feature=youtu.be

Cheers and happy riding,
Liam

 

[potatorage]

What helmet is that?

 

[Ataturk]

The helmet is a SixSixOne Comp II Full Face Helmet, I bought it online for 60 bucks. It is a great full face helmet although it does not have a face screen (I use sunglasses for eye protection). The helmet has very nice range of motion and field of view. When I got in an accident a year and a half ago (sort of the impetus to make this) the helmet protected my face completely... although every situation and head is different so I'd recommend looking into what works for you and if possible support a local bike shop.

By the way, I said there were few resources on the web concerning safety in my original post, forgetting I had bookmarked some a thread a while ago There are also libraries of knowledge accumulated within these virtual walls from many active community members, I didn't mean to sound I like I am the first to have this discussion - I just want to make an accessible video.

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40210

 

[potatorage]

How's the weight and ventilation on the helmet?
Do you get weird stares from police, drivers, etc?

 

[mvly]

I take the same route for some of the video here in San Diego. I also have a full face helmet and have been clocked by the cops by their radar gun going 37mph+ numerous times. Good thing is they never once have stopped me. Maybe this is due to the fact that where they clocked me, cars are allow to go 45mph.

@Atatruk, we need to meet up to compare. It looks like you work at the Cancer institute? I work in a Lab at UCSD, near center of campus. Check your PM.

 

[dogman dan]

That's a very good video. I liked the emphasis on courtesy rather than getting there like 5 seconds sooner. I like my road rights very much, but I choose to always let a car go first at a 4 way stop sign, if it means I can avoid passing in front of any car. I just don't trust drivers that are waving at me to ride an inch from thier bumper. If the intersection is more busy, then I just take my turn as if I was a car, but take the lane rather than risk a right cross from an impatient car passing me from behind.

No doubt a few more items can be added once you have some footage. You might have to go stage some things with a car get it on film safely.

You need to show how easy it is to get right crossed, left crossed, and doored.

You seem to be practicing my first rule of safe riding. No car ever passes you from behind that you did not eyeball.

 

[Ataturk]

@potatorage: The helmet is nice and light, but is sturdy and doesn't feel cheap. As for ventilation it also feels right (here are some reviews http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel...ace/sixsixone/comp-ii/prd_448800_6705crx.aspx) I do get some stares, but that is good thing, I think the helmet communicates I am capable of going faster than I may look, it just makes me a bit more visible (esp. with a gopro on top, which is also a great tool to have if you get into an accident).

@mvly: i haven't been clocked by the cops to the best of my knowledge. I really liked that route it was the best way to start and end my work day with some really nice views. Not to mention it is fun, stress-free, and decent exercise. I would definitely like to compare notes but I recently moved to Nashville, TN and am probably one of the only e-bikers in town.

@dogman: Thanks for the feedback on the video, I think communication is one of the most underutilized safety techniques of bikers whether its lights / reflectivity, hand signals, or a simple nod to another road warrior. Impatient drivers are the worst... next to impatient bikers and impatient pedestrians. I had another segment concerning getting car door'd where I chose to slowly ride on the sidewalk rather than risk a dubious area... but was hesitant to add it because technically I'm breaking the law riding on the sidewalk? Although in reality it just makes sense sometimes as long as you are riding very slow and always giving defference to pedestrians.

Another thing I want to add in addition to getting crossed is when a car pulls out right in front of me from a business or residential area... I guess the best precaution is to always be on the lookout and assume the driver never sees you. I also zero in on their face and can usually get a good idea of whether they see me or not.

 

[e-beach]

A nice courtesy video! Being a polite e-biker, in the end, can save pain and anguish. On the other hand, an e-biker can be doing everything right and still get into a dangerous situation which happens to me at least once every time I commute to down town Los Angeles and back. (about 22 miles round trip.) But, how about a car turning in front of you and stopping!?! That happen to me and I braked so hard that I flipped my bike!

I am thinking a video section on the kind of maneuvers that dogman has suggested on various posts. A "learn to maneuver and / or brake and skid out of the way" kind of a section. In other words, emergency maneuvers to save your skin. A stronger back break then front break to do controlled skidding kind of thing.

Also, I like the way you get on the side walk at stop lights, but you should not put your self in the position where a car coming from your left side can hit you if you are waiting on the side walk. Once on the sidewalk, back up a few yards / meters parallel to the direction you are going in case some cager tries to make the yellow light while an apposing car tries to turn on the yellow and the whole mess piles up on your corner.

Other then that nice video!

 

[knighty]

The helmet is a SixSixOne Comp II Full Face Helmet

that is a nice looking helmet...

bit off topic... but kind of on topic so...

anyone have a nice full face helmet, with a visor ?

or... does a full face helmet block out most of the wind once you get going ?

by the time I'm going 40mph (no helmet) the wind noise is deafening and the wind in my eye's mean I'm crying like a little girl....

need to get a helmet before I kill myself tbh

 

[potatorage]

The helmet is a SixSixOne Comp II Full Face Helmet

that is a nice looking helmet...

bit off topic... but kind of on topic so...

anyone have a nice full face helmet, with a visor ?

or... does a full face helmet block out most of the wind once you get going ?

by the time I'm going 40mph (no helmet) the wind noise is deafening and the wind in my eye's mean I'm crying like a little girl....

need to get a helmet before I kill myself tbh

You can take a look at helmets made for street use, there are tons of them with visors and they are designed to block out wind noise. Goggles or glasses can help with the crying.

 

[knighty]

just bought one of these

http://www.motostorm.it/en/details.asp?articolo=1097

was easy once I knew what I was searching for

 

[e-beach]

.....they are designed to block out wind noise....

Just as long as they don't block out vehicle noise because you want to hear them coming. Especially coming up from behind you!

 

[auraslip]

Thanks for posting this to the ebikes subreddit. Sorry it didn't get much attention there. Sadly, the sub is growing pretty small. Mostly a few posts a week by people that haven't found the endlesssphere asking questions about how to get started.

 

[mvly]

just bought one of these

http://www.motostorm.it/en/details.asp?articolo=1097

was easy once I knew what I was searching for

This is one heavy helmet. 1.4KG

I would get this helmet if I had the cash

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RIU2Y6/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=automotive

This is the lightest in the industry for full-face motorcycle helmet

 

[knighty]

damn.... i thought 3lb was pretty light....

that's what I get for being a noob !


I'll see what it's like and can always send it back

I want something with the lower bit which goes around the chin, and the visor, for protection... but want it to look more bike than motorbike... in case the cops take notice of me...

 

[sk8norcal]

i don't like what u did at 1:17
its not vehicular cycling, (jumping from cyclist to pedestrian and back to cyclists)
this is the most common mistake i see.

when you arrive at that particular intersection first,
you need to move over to the middle of the lane (allowing space for right turning cars on your RIGHT side)
you can trip the sensor (ground) with your bike,
i know, some roads are hard to trip the sensors, but if u tilt the bike over some, it will trip.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicular_cycling

[youtube]CmER9cWREtk[/youtube]

 

[mvly]

damn.... i thought 3lb was pretty light....

that's what I get for being a noob !


I'll see what it's like and can always send it back

I want something with the lower bit which goes around the chin, and the visor, for protection... but want it to look more bike than motorbike... in case the cops take notice of me...

Yeah my full face helmet is a downhill and it's probably the limit I want to put on my head. And it claims to be 1Kg. I had a 1.4Kg helmet and return it promptly after my neck was sore from a short 30 minutes ride.

 

[Ataturk]

@sk8norcal: you're right about vehicular cycling, and I should add that to the video. The reason I did not move over to the middle lane in this situation is because:

-The light turned yellow at 1:16, a bad time for me concerning where I was at approaching the intersection. I could have moved to the center, but that would require me to check my blindspot and mirror, jam on the brakes, and safely turn all in the span of a few meters / seconds.

-I chose to turn right because I knew it was the safest option, I wouldn't have to worry about turning into someone or riding in the intersection if my brakes didn't stop me in time.

I feel there are often compromises or grey areas when e-biking between safety, the law, and courtesy to other drivers and in this case I felt my actions were justified, even though not textbook correct.