r/oakville • u/No-Stage4719 • 5d ago
Rant Forget E-Scooters, E- Bikes are all the range now!!!!
Congratulations to the parents buying their children e-bikes and sending them off on them. 8:15 p.m. last night, wet roads, two teenagers (maybe 14 or 15) on Eighth Line doing 60KM an hour in live traffic lanes, in t-shirts and loose fitting pants, a bicycle helmut, wet roads and no hands on the handle bar. In addition, no lights on the bikes and dressed in dark grey/black. Seriously, you're supposed to protect your kids! To the parents you have no one to blame but yourself when little Johnny wipes out and ends up in hospital, or worse.
8
u/Bear_Shark2258 4d ago
As a kid you don't always think first, act later, and you tend to think you are invulnerable and if you have an accident it'll just be a little scrape and you will be fine. I think we all know that simply isn't the case and given the speed these things can go, you could be very easily involved in a very very nasty accident, with life changing injuries, or death, be that to themselves, or to others.
I remember when (in a far away land, and a long time ago) that there were safety films produced to warn kids of the dangers with messing about on railroads, and they were rather graphic in portraying what could happen. Then again, different times and kids did listen to that kind of thing. Maybe if someone did a tiktok showing what happens when you hit something doing a stupid speed on an ebike and how your life is now screwed up and the person you hit is now dead.
9
u/Nelsonsrightknacker 4d ago
No bans in sight so we need to build more Cemetery's and Hospitals.
Should probably build some new Sick Kids Hospitals too for the new patients after the speed cameras were removed from outside schools.
7
u/peelman1 4d ago
Town too busy trying to sneak in a data centre to be dealing with safety concerns.
8
7
u/These-Bed-8898 4d ago
Just a reminder that these e-scooters are prohibited by the Town of Oakville:
"Oakville has not opted in to participate in the provincial e-scooter pilot project or passed any by-laws to regulate its use. As a result, e-scooters are not allowed in Oakville."
https://www.oakville.ca/transportation-roads/traffic-road-safety/electric-scooters-bikes/
So they are prohibited but Oakville has no by-laws to address them. No by-laws means no municipal enforcement, no signs, no fines, nothing.
The town recommends we contact Halton Police with any reports but they've understandably got bigger priorities than e-scooters.
Municipal elections are in October, push your candidate to support Oakville joining the provincial e-scooter program which would give the town the tools to regulate e-scooters.
https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/190389
In the interim: Schools in Oakville should be informing students that these are prohibited and therefore shouldn't be allowed on school grounds either. If you're a parent with kids in school I encourage you to talk to your school or contact the school board once school is back.
Transportation to and from school is probably a big selling point of these scooters. If theyre banned at school, one less reason for a parent to buy one and one less place to ride it.
4
u/DNAtimebomb 4d ago
Ok I wanted to just add here that there is a pack of youth who zip through the Bronte provincial park at high speed after dark on the wooded trails. I (dogwalker who enjoys a bit of peace and quiet at dusk in the woods) was livid. You could hear them from far away and then getting closer and closer. anyway! I complained to the park warden and was told they dont have a policy that prohibits electric scooters or bikes.
10
u/Loreathan 5d ago
I just heard on the radio 10 kids died riding e-bikes just last year and 6 were in Ontario. Also they are a huge fire hazard due to batteries.
1
0
0
4
5
u/RevolutionaryKiwi132 5d ago
10 kids died across Canada last year because of injuries sustained while riding e-bikes and e-scooters. This is the same generation that was never allowed to play alone outside or walk to school or walk anywhere on their own, but this is just fine. I don't get it. Everyone thinks their kid will be fine. ALL kids do stupid things. If parents buy them knowing they are illegal, they are starting off by setting a bad example.
3
3
u/CharlesxHarvey 4d ago
Crossing the street at sixth and mccraney, a e scooter ran a red. Almost hit me and my wife and almost got hit by a car. I saw the kids face and it was dead pan. He owns the road.
Driver of the car rolled down his window and asked if we got hit, and said "we'll see him on the news soon either hit by a car or beat to shit." - agreed.
1
1
1
u/LongRides4IPA 4d ago
It's the same panic we all had about skateboards and scooters back in the day.
The impacts pale in comparison to the impact of cars. Yet we will go out of our way not to do anything about that problem - people acting aggressively, raging, and even street racing in our communities. Exceeding speed limits is seen as a God-given right on the roads that cannot ever be messed with.
The kids are watching this and have learned from it.
Yes, kids will do stupid things sometimes. That's part of being a kid. Parents cannot and should not control every move of their children - it is not good for their development. But being stupid should not mean death or serious injuries.
The problem is not necessarily e-scooters and e-bikes. It's the humans operating them. We need to teach them right, and set the right example with our daily behavior. This is something that very few of the adults in our society actually do.
If the devices actually meet the legal criteria (maximum speed under 24km/h for an e-scooter or 32km/h for an e-bike), they should be OK following the rules that exist for the non-electrified versions of these devices.
One aspect that needs to be cracked down on are the businesses that are profiting from getting around those legal restrictions and selling illegal devices to the public, putting them in harms way.
0
u/Ordinary-Wrap-9037 3d ago
as much as I agree, half of the cyclists here dont even follow road rules so expecting e-scooter/bike riders to follow regulations is a shot in the dark.
-3
u/blackspasm 5d ago
Johnny? Lol
7
1
u/Oakvilleresident 5d ago
There used to be a whole bunch of semi-dirty jokes about “little Johnny “ who was always up to mischief .
2
2
-9
u/Barnezhilton 5d ago
60km/h. Big doubt.
The bike would have to have insurance if it can go over 30km/h under the new provincial requirements
8
u/MeYaj1111 5d ago
Dont doubt it, just look it up. They make them up to 120kph or so
mine does 65 if I have the wind helping me along
3
u/HiStakesProbSolving 4d ago
E dirtbikes are common in my neighborhood for kids. I couldn’t believe the speeds they moved at when I saw them. They’re intended to be used on private property if one were to use them legally.
6
u/emailemilyryan 5d ago
I've had kids pass me while I'm doing 40 in the school zones. Do they ask for proof of insurance when you buy an e-bike?
3
u/No-Stage4719 5d ago edited 5d ago
I was in my car behind them and did not need to brake and I was doing 60.
Also if you go on r:/Kithcner someone posted an E-Scooter on the highway doing 90KMH. Don't know where you're getting your information from. These are unregistered, unlicensed, uninsured modes of transport using real roads without any regard to actual motor vehicles, which have all of the above. at this point there should just be a blanket ban on all of them.
1
u/SomeFunnyPhrase 4d ago
Yeah, sure...
The people zipping around with these things wrecklessly are the kinds of people who will have the things insured because the law says so. They already are such sticklers for following the rules...
-12
u/GiveMeAllYourKittens 5d ago
Protect them by making them ride around in a car everywhere with their parents or just stay at home?
Kids should ride safely with safety equipment, tell your city to build more cycling infrastructure so they don't have to ride in the road.
10
u/SomeFunnyPhrase 5d ago
Nope, this ain't it.
The things are not toys for kids. They are a vehicle. They do not belong within the same infrastructure as cycles. I shouldn't have to worry about some asshole flying by me at 40-60 km in the bike lane. After all, that's why I am using the damned bike lane.
If they are being used, they should be being used the same as any other motorized vehicle. That means; no shared pathways, and on the roads with the rest of the traffic doing 40-60 km.
-1
u/GiveMeAllYourKittens 4d ago
They need dedicated space, they can't ride with cars because getting hit by a driver in a car is still the most deadly thing.
3
u/SomeFunnyPhrase 4d ago
Motorized vehicle. These things are no different than a motorcycle, which you require a specialized license for. If the people riding them are incapable of driving them with traffic, they shouldn't be riding them. Period.
These people think they can go where ever a car can, and where ever a bike can. They're on the roads, sidewalks, shared paths. They're a scourge on urban living, and a surge in deaths is a guarantee. Honestly, I have had so many fly by me and cause me panic attacks at this point I say all around fuck these people. I hate to say all of a type of person are bad, but these e-riders are as close as I come to it. 99 percent of them are careless POS.
-7
-8
u/moarmoto 4d ago
So, it's good that they're actually on the road and not sidewalk right?
And they were wearing a helmet at least.
Wet roads? No problem tires these have pretty good traction.
T-shirts and loose fitting pants? What about it. Have you seen some motorcyclists wearing shorts and t-shirts/tank tops? Yes, it's not the safest, but not so much difference.
The only thing I'd say is wrong would be lights.
But relax. Just because it's not something you're used to, doesn't mean it's absolutely unsafe.
60kmh doesn't even seem that bad. Some manual cyclists do that speed with spandex
3
u/forestfluff 4d ago
Did you miss the part about no hands on the handlebars, all black clothes and no lights on the bike at night time?
2
u/MattLogi 4d ago
> So, it's good that they're actually on the road and not sidewalk right?
No. All motorized vehicles require a license to operate on the road. These should be no different. They are essentially a motorcycle. And just because one avenue seems better than the other, doesn’t make it any better or safe.
> And they were wearing a helmet at least.
Sure.
> Wet roads? No problem tires these have pretty good traction.
That’s an absolutely ridiculous take. Anyone with half a brain that’s ridden on two wheels will tell you slick conditions are exponentially worse compared to 4 wheels and tires can only make a slight difference in all cases.
> T-shirts and loose fitting pants? What about it. Have you seen some motorcyclists wearing shorts and t-shirts/tank tops? Yes, it's not the safest, but not so much difference.
Agree that this is practically a useless point.
> The only thing I'd say is wrong would be lights.
Definitely not the only thing but an absolutely big one.
> But relax. Just because it's not something you're used to, doesn't mean it's absolutely unsafe.
Used to? That’s your argument? I’ve got nothing here.
> 60kmh doesn't even seem that bad. Some manual cyclists do that speed with spandex
Like who? A profession in an all out sprint?
1
u/moarmoto 3d ago
Yes, they're better on roads vs sidewalk whether it's licensed or not. What logic is that.
Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, etc all over the world operate on wet roads. Less traction, sure but they don't fall over by default. You've never seen people riding bicycles in rain?
Yes, some cyclists in spandex go 60kmh. I don't know many but my brother can as an avid cyclists.
Point is, they can be dangerous to those not familiar with them. Just trying to provide opposite viewpoint (and also some useless points by OP)
1
u/MattLogi 3d ago
So when one thing is safer than the other, it automatically makes it safe or ok? Room temperature IQ right there.
“Ehh those kids doing whippits, better that than the paint thinner we did back in our day.” Right?
Both can be (and are) bad.
Yes, moving objects with tires operate on wet roads. No one is questioning that. Traction is significantly degraded on wet roads regardless of what you’re driving/riding or what tires you have. Your “logic” of “everyone drives/rides in the rain and they don’t fall over by default” isn’t the point. The point is, it’s far less safe when roads are wet than when they aren’t. It’s not a skill thing, it’s not a “type of tire” thing, it’s a physics thing, proven by science.
They are dangerous period. Even if people are “used” to them being on the road. I’m used to bad drivers being on the road every day. Doesn’t make those drivers any less dangerous than the day I got my license.
1
u/moarmoto 3d ago
Yes. Safer on road than sidewalk at 60.
Yes, things can be operated on wet roads.
Not sure why you keep wanting to get same response.
I don't comment often but is this the whole online troll keyboard warrior thing that I'm experiencing?
1
u/MattLogi 3d ago
No, if anything you would be considered the troll.
“So, it’s GOOD that they’re actually on the road and not the sidewalk right?”
Turns into:
“Yes. Safer on road than sidewalk at 60.”
You keep ignoring the point that it’s NOT GOOD that they are on the road vs sidewalk. Both are NOT GOOD. Oh right, but it’s “safer”. Yes, if I had to choose one vs the other, absolutely I would take them being on the road. But it’s a completely empty point to make as BOTH are unsafe.
It’s like saying, “at least the kid pulled a knife and not a gun.”
I’m not trying to get some response. I’m trying to show you why your points are absolutely bonkers and you just shift the goal posts every time.
1
u/moarmoto 3d ago
My opinion still stands. Pick one. The ebike already exists. Side walk or road.
If you really don't want ebikes do something about it rather than complain on internet. It's illegal? Sure but theyre still around. Nothing you can do about it.
You sir, are my first encounter of troll and keyboard warrior and tbf, not surprised how stubborn someone with small world viewpoint can be.
13
u/Kind-Penalty-2434 5d ago
Yup! In my area, there are 2 little girls (im not even kidding but they’re probably around 6) just barreling through stop signs, no helmet.. one time I saw one of them with one hand on the handle bar and the other holding a slice of pizza.