Safety advantages or disadvantages of e-bikes over conventional bikes?

[Jack.Eagle]

Please comment on any safety advantages or disadvantages you feel that e-bikes have over conventional bikes and also any concerns you have about cycling.

Many thanks for your help

Jack

[flecc]

On safety, e-bikes are safer than standard bikes for various reasons:

1) A to B magazine have often remarked that the greater climb speed of e-bikes brings safety. A normal bike and rider struggling up a hill at say 5 mph might be passed by many faster moving vehicles, but the e-bike doing 9 or 10 mph up there will be passed far less often, so less opportunity for collisions.

2) That lower speed differential between e-bikes and other traffic brings other safety benefits, the bike causing less hold up frustration to motor vehicle drivers, and less likelyhood of them taking risks to pass under dangerous circumstances.

3) Where the unassisted cyclist is often head down and under stress battling up a hill or against a headwind, the e-biker with the assistance is more likely to be relaxed and able to pay greater attention to road conditions, signs and other road users.

4) On longer journeys, the e-biker suffers less from the tiredness that can bring inattention.
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[flecc]

On concerns about cycling safety, mainly it's the appalling state of road maintenance.

Although I'm in a London borough, traffic doesn't worry me much since I can assert and dominate the road space I need as easily as a 4 x 4, it's just confidence. The absolute essential to that being effective though is a good rear view mirror so that I have all round vision. Blind people wouldn't be safe cycling, and neither is a person without a mirror so 50% blind.
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[poppy]

Originally Posted by flecc

On concerns about cycling safety, mainly it's the appalling state of road maintenance.

Although I'm in a London borough, traffic doesn't worry me much since I can assert and dominate the road space I need as easily as a 4 x 4, it's just confidence. The absolute essential to that being effective though is a good rear view mirror so that I have all round vision. Blind people wouldn't be safe cycling, and neither is a person without a mirror so 50% blind.
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But..What about people with poor eyesight, that can´t really see what´s on the mirror and get distracted trying to make out if there´s anything looming in it? Is it really useful for these people?

[carpetbagger]

for me
the ability to accelerate away at junctions and traffic lights to get out of the way of other traffic...
and the up hill assistance which stops you weaving up the road in agony !!

[moon]

Yes I have a rear view mirror like this one



To be honest I think all cars should be banned from the road as there are so many careless drivers out there, its quite shocking.

I try to stay as visible as possible with a reflective waistcoat, red and white helmet and lights etc, and I cant wait for winter so that I can use my tyre glow lights

[flecc]

Originally Posted by poppy

But..What about people with poor eyesight, that can´t really see what´s on the mirror and get distracted trying to make out if there´s anything looming in it? Is it really useful for these people?

If their eyesight is too bad to see in a mirror, it's too bad for them to be on the road at all, it's as simple as that Poppy.

Bicycles are overtaken more times than almost any other vehicle, so they more than any other vehicles need a mirror to cope with that danger from the rear. Not using one is unfair to other road users who have no idea if you are aware of their approach, which the slight turn of the head confirms if you have a mirror.
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[poppy]

Originally Posted by flecc

If their eyesight is too bad to see in a mirror, it's too bad for them to be on the road at all, it's as simple as that Poppy.

Bicycles are overtaken more times than almost any other vehicle, so they more than any other vehicles need a mirror to cope with that danger from the rear. Not using one is unfair to other road users who have no idea if you are aware of their approach, which the slight turn of the head confirms if you have a mirror.
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I am not in total agreement with you Tony. Well, maybe i wasn´t precise with what i meant by poor eyesight. In my case I´ve got Nistagmus. My problem is focusing on small things quickly. But I´ll follow your advice and look for a suitable mirror. Hope I won´t need one suitable for lorries...!

[flecc]

Understood Poppy. Nonetheless, even if you can't see what it is, you'll know something is rapidly approaching from the rear, much better than not knowing.
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[Footie]

Safety Advantage:

I think the biggest safety advantage is the road speed of an ebike. A faster hill climbing speed means traffic build up (at tight points) is less. I have also found drivers seem less aggrieved with higher speed bikes - happy to stay behind untill it's clear to pass. Ebikes generally have a higher speed than a conventional bike. This is most evident in hilly terrain. I often find myself overtaking ordinary bicycles (I'm not super fit) and leaving them far far behind.

Safety Disadvantage:

Weight - ebikes can be very awkward when pushing and moving about (especially ebikes fitted with SLA batteries).
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