Thoughts on using electric unicycles?

[freebeard]

Tighten that up and it would make a good sig line.

[Grant-53]

Fortunately federal standards on based on data unlike state laws here that are based on political reliability. The reasons I prefer a bike over a unicycle are pitch control, gearing, frontal area, and cargo capacity. Don't let me stop you from having fun in your drive way on a unicycle.
The national traffic fatality numbers have been dropping from a combination of laws on impaired or distracted driving and vehicle safety features such as crush zones and restraint system. More can be done on driver education. Since I am operating a vehicle while riding my bike here, I am required to obey all traffic signals and signs.

[redpoint5]

Vehicles will increasingly have pedestrian \ bicycle detection and automatic braking \ avoidance. At some point, it will be as ubiquitous as anti-lock brakes.

The unsafety argument of bicycle riding will diminish, hopefully increasing the popularity of them. We'll probably see more e-bikes and scooters though, since pedling takes physical effort, and the cost of these are plummeting. I recently saw an e-scooter capable of 15 MPH selling for $100.

[Grant-53]

Expect body shells and transponders too.

[hayden55]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xYC...g&index=2&t=0s

Not unicycle related but I really enjoyed this one. The Polaris scooter in the video is legit. Put some real dampers on it and you could ride it like a respectable gas scooter.

[freebeard]

Don't know it this is electric:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99g6GZSORk

[HaroldinCR]

How the hell does one stop a unicycle going 35 MPH in traffic conditions or an imminent perilous situation ??

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Don't know it this is electric:

Yep, electric. That's what I want.

Originally Posted by HaroldinCR

How the hell does one stop a unicycle going 35 MPH in traffic conditions or an imminent perilous situation ??

Lean back to stop, or swerve. The same avoidance options are available as anything else, albeit at lower levels of performance.

[JSH]

A guy at work rides a onewheel. The advantage I see over a bicycle is the size. Here the trains only have spots for 4 bikes per car while the onewheel can be picked up and carried on board easily.

Originally Posted by hayden55

I think maximum for sale is 28 mph with pedals. Above that, it has to registered as a vehicle and most people shy away.
With that said it cost nothing to make a homemade "motor cycle" legal.

The limits for an electric bicycle are 750 watts (1 HP) and 20 mph on flat ground with a 170 lb rider. That is federal law 15 U.S. Code § 2085. Anything more is a motor vehicle

Some states allow up to 28 mph but the federal law is clear on the matter. "This section shall supersede any State law or requirement"

I don't worry about a ticket I worry about liability in the even of an accident. Liability for bicycles is covered by homeowners or renters insurance*. However a bicycle that goes over 20 mph is not a bicycle. It is a unlicensed, unregistered, and uninsured motor vehicle. I suspect you would pay any claims out of pocket and those could be hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

*I have first hand experience from a car / bicycle accident in which I was found liable. My renters insurance paid to fix the car.

[Lemmy]

In the UK its 250W, and electric assistance (not pure electricity power only, but pedal assisted) up to 15.5MPH. Anything else is a moped, light motorcycle, or motorcycle, depending on the weight and top speed.

People do take the piss a bit over here with de restricting electric bicycles and there have been some widely publicised fatalities. I don't know why they bother because a moped test is cheap and easy if they want a 30mph electric 2 wheeler, but I guess some people are just born dumb. Anyway, if it carries on I can see them being banned unless the rider is licenced, which has already happened in Northern Ireland.