E-bike crashes into 2 elderly sisters. (Singapore)

[flash]

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/e-bike-crashes-two-elderly-sisters-injuring-them

 

[Emo Rider]

No, it was an idiot that injured those unfortunate elderly ladies. The press seems to focus on the method and not the irresponsible person. Substitute ebike with cricket bat, gun, plane, train, or automobile and there is still an idiot involed. A bad day in the press for ebikes so it seems.

Then again we only have this side of the story. Everyday, when l cycle to work, l have to be always vigilant of pedestrians that are oblivious to their surroundings. I know you have seen then too. Too busy texting, talking on their phones, lost in the music blaring on their ipod, those simply not caring to look right or left, and yes the elderly.

The ladies just as well could have stepped in front of him unexpectedly. We will never know. We just know an ebike did it.

 

[Croxden]

It had a throttle, good evidence to have them banned.

And he was only 11 years old.

 

[flecc]

I don't think his age had any relevance, after all, the same age kids ride bikes everywhere and are capable of the same speeds.

The opened throttle was probably the problem. If it had been a legal pedelec, only power when pedalling, there might not have been a problem for him since it would have acted just like any other bike.
.

 

[mike killay]

And in another story, a 80 year old lady borrowed my Woosh Gale folder at a country show.
She managed alright until she got off, inadvertently twisted the throttle and the bike shot up the side of a display tent. She was left standing there still holding the handlebars with the bike vertical against the tent.

 

[anotherkiwi]

The opened throttle was probably the problem. If it had been a legal pedelec, only power when pedalling, there might not have been a problem for him since it would have acted just like any other bike.
.

On the footpath? You know that is illegal in Singapore

 

[flecc]

On the footpath? You know that is illegal in Singapore

It is here in the UK too, but not acted on for those under 16 and particularly when much younger as in this case. If the account is to be believed, it was the loss of control that was the key, and that would have been equally dangerous on the road.

And anyway, Singapore is insanely legalistic in it's rigid control of the public.
.

 

[flash]

It is here in the UK too, but not acted on for those under 16 and particularly when much younger as in this case. If the account is to be believed, it was the loss of control that was the key, and that would have been equally dangerous on the road.

And anyway, Singapore is insanely legalistic in it's rigid control of the public.
.

Here is a sign I took a picture of in Singapore.

 

[flecc]

Here is a sign I took a picture of in Singapore.
View attachment 13117

Thanks Flash, that illustrates how far this sort of controlling society can go. With all that to read, the one sign they couldn't have was "No Loitering".
.

 

[danielrlee]

It had a throttle, good evidence to have them banned.

And he was only 11 years old.

It also had a couple of wheels. Shall we ban those too?

There are some awful implementations of PAS that carry on powering the motor for seconds after you stop pedalling. This doesn't mean that all PAS is dangerous does it?

An idiot will always be an idiot.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Yesterday evening I actually saw a bike similar to that one - 16" wheels though. Motor looked like 1000W DD. Father with 7-8 year old daughter on the rear rack her feet in the air zipped off throttle only up to about 35-40 kph. Accident waiting to happen...

 

[anotherkiwi]

Here is a sign I took a picture of in Singapore.
View attachment 13117

Much easier to just write and read "stay at home".