That’s all well and good if you only have to transport yourself, and only have to go a few kilometres. Being a smug prick because you don’t have any place to be or anyone else to bring with you does absolutely nothing to promote your cause to others.
Not OP - their smugness didn’t help and you can use whatever means of transport you prefer. But to be fair, I do know people who have kids and use a cargo bike to do everything. This is a viable option for many city-dwellers. Sadly, we are still very car dependant in Canada for longer trips since rail between cities has been underinvested in and suburban sprawl is out of control.
Almost every trip inside cities, between cities, and even to some rural places could be done with alternatives to cars.
I know it can be hard to imagine a world where cars get minimized to filling a small niche role in a broader transportation system, especially when today most people in Canada and the US think cars are synonymous with mobility. Other countries have shown that car lite/free lifestyles are not only be possible with today’s technology, but desirable.
The alternatives are more space efficient - meaning less traffic congestion, they’re better for the environment, and people’s health and wellbeing.
Even if you’re one of the few who insists on keeping your car, wouldn’t it be nice to give safe, viable, and reliable alternatives to everyone else who doesn’t want to drive so they can get out of your way on the roads?
I take my kid to daycare every day on my ebike. It’s only 5km one way, but I used to do 14km pedal power when I lived in Montréal.
I don’t do it to be a smug prick, I do it because it’s faster than driving.
Frankly, the infrastructure choices in my city (Kingston) make driving on average slower than 30kph. If bicycles weren’t also stuck in traffic lights (same thing that slows all the cars) cycling would be faster than driving is now, and driving would be faster than it is now. Basically our problem is traffic lights.
That and I’m still not convinced the cold doesn’t ruin the batteries on these things. I keep my e-scooter indoors until the temperature is consistently above zero, which sucks in Canada.
I’ve been riding my e-scooter all winter and haven’t had any noticeable issues with battery life or health, if that means anything. Ninebot Kickscooter E2 if you’re wondering.
I’m just doing it out of precaution, I know most electronics and especially batteries don’t like the cold. I had an iphone that was never the same after it shut down on me in really cold weather so its more of a precaution.
My e-scooter loses a lot of range even in single digit positive numbers. I can’t imagine using it in sub-zero weather and I need my range to get to work and back without bringing my charger with me.
not practical for many canadian cities – especially ones further north, with temps frequently around -30 degrees. Also not practical for disabled folks.
Also not practical in areas of higher crime, as we dont have secure ‘parking’ options.
I biked year round in Yellowknife. It was easier and faster than plugging in, then preheating, then driving in the winter.
At least for in town, I’d only bike into the bush in the summer, but then again I’d use the sled in the winter, not a car.
Disabilities is fair, but what about the 25% of Canadians who’s disabilities preclude then from driving?
Secure parking is also legitimate, but that’s an infrastructure choice; we choose subsidize fucktons of car parking all over the place already.
Ok look. Just because you’re part polar bear, likely covered in a thick coat of fur to withstand the frozen death tundra of the north, doesn’t mean us regular normies can do it.
I was far from the only person winter cycling in Yellowknife, nor Ottawa, nor Montréal, and now, nor Kingston (though I had a -25° cut off this winter due to bringing my toddler around; I chose the temperature because that’s when kids stop having reccess outside).
One of Canada’s biggest cyclist YouTubers is from Calgary. Montréal has a ton of people winter cycling (and a low barrier to entry now that bixis are available in the winter). Edmonton has cyclist coffee hour year round on the bike paths. Winnipeg has a big winter cycling community as well (that’s second hand though, ive never been there). It’s been to long for my to speak intelligibly on how Ottawa winter cycling is going.
Maybe it’s my bias as an immigrant to Canada, but the number of people that think being outside in the winter is somehow impossible is mind blowing. I was fed that this country was founded on rugged individuals who brave the elements to eke out a living. This makes Canadians hardy, kind, and enduring. Instead I look at Xth generations and many have fallen into a contemptuous malaise where winter is somehow something to be endured, rather than embraced and enjoyed.
If you think that being outside is impossible, that’s fine. I don’t know you, your history, or your limitations. But if you’re interested in reconsidering your preconception, I’d recommend the book Frostbike by Tom Babin. Children play outside until at least -25° across the country, and colder the further north you go; the rest of us can too.
Affordable EVs already exist.
They’re called e-bikes and they cost less to purchase than car insurance for a year.
That’s all well and good if you only have to transport yourself, and only have to go a few kilometres. Being a smug prick because you don’t have any place to be or anyone else to bring with you does absolutely nothing to promote your cause to others.
Not OP - their smugness didn’t help and you can use whatever means of transport you prefer. But to be fair, I do know people who have kids and use a cargo bike to do everything. This is a viable option for many city-dwellers. Sadly, we are still very car dependant in Canada for longer trips since rail between cities has been underinvested in and suburban sprawl is out of control.
Almost every trip inside cities, between cities, and even to some rural places could be done with alternatives to cars.
I know it can be hard to imagine a world where cars get minimized to filling a small niche role in a broader transportation system, especially when today most people in Canada and the US think cars are synonymous with mobility. Other countries have shown that car lite/free lifestyles are not only be possible with today’s technology, but desirable.
The alternatives are more space efficient - meaning less traffic congestion, they’re better for the environment, and people’s health and wellbeing.
Even if you’re one of the few who insists on keeping your car, wouldn’t it be nice to give safe, viable, and reliable alternatives to everyone else who doesn’t want to drive so they can get out of your way on the roads?
I take my kid to daycare every day on my ebike. It’s only 5km one way, but I used to do 14km pedal power when I lived in Montréal.
I don’t do it to be a smug prick, I do it because it’s faster than driving.
Frankly, the infrastructure choices in my city (Kingston) make driving on average slower than 30kph. If bicycles weren’t also stuck in traffic lights (same thing that slows all the cars) cycling would be faster than driving is now, and driving would be faster than it is now. Basically our problem is traffic lights.
That and I’m still not convinced the cold doesn’t ruin the batteries on these things. I keep my e-scooter indoors until the temperature is consistently above zero, which sucks in Canada.
I’ve been riding my e-scooter all winter and haven’t had any noticeable issues with battery life or health, if that means anything. Ninebot Kickscooter E2 if you’re wondering.
I’m just doing it out of precaution, I know most electronics and especially batteries don’t like the cold. I had an iphone that was never the same after it shut down on me in really cold weather so its more of a precaution.
Yeah, that’s fair.
My e-scooter loses a lot of range even in single digit positive numbers. I can’t imagine using it in sub-zero weather and I need my range to get to work and back without bringing my charger with me.
I bring my bike battery indoors during the day below -10°, but it overnights about 0° all winter.
They also existed before that. They were called trams and nearly every city had them.
Facts, interesting histories in how those came to and passed in North America.
not practical for many canadian cities – especially ones further north, with temps frequently around -30 degrees. Also not practical for disabled folks.
Also not practical in areas of higher crime, as we dont have secure ‘parking’ options.
I biked year round in Yellowknife. It was easier and faster than plugging in, then preheating, then driving in the winter. At least for in town, I’d only bike into the bush in the summer, but then again I’d use the sled in the winter, not a car.
Disabilities is fair, but what about the 25% of Canadians who’s disabilities preclude then from driving?
Secure parking is also legitimate, but that’s an infrastructure choice; we choose subsidize fucktons of car parking all over the place already.
Ok look. Just because you’re part polar bear, likely covered in a thick coat of fur to withstand the frozen death tundra of the north, doesn’t mean us regular normies can do it.
I was far from the only person winter cycling in Yellowknife, nor Ottawa, nor Montréal, and now, nor Kingston (though I had a -25° cut off this winter due to bringing my toddler around; I chose the temperature because that’s when kids stop having reccess outside).
One of Canada’s biggest cyclist YouTubers is from Calgary. Montréal has a ton of people winter cycling (and a low barrier to entry now that bixis are available in the winter). Edmonton has cyclist coffee hour year round on the bike paths. Winnipeg has a big winter cycling community as well (that’s second hand though, ive never been there). It’s been to long for my to speak intelligibly on how Ottawa winter cycling is going.
Maybe it’s my bias as an immigrant to Canada, but the number of people that think being outside in the winter is somehow impossible is mind blowing. I was fed that this country was founded on rugged individuals who brave the elements to eke out a living. This makes Canadians hardy, kind, and enduring. Instead I look at Xth generations and many have fallen into a contemptuous malaise where winter is somehow something to be endured, rather than embraced and enjoyed.
If you think that being outside is impossible, that’s fine. I don’t know you, your history, or your limitations. But if you’re interested in reconsidering your preconception, I’d recommend the book Frostbike by Tom Babin. Children play outside until at least -25° across the country, and colder the further north you go; the rest of us can too.