Bike Riders of lemmy, you okay with me riding my eScooter in the bike lane?

In my eyes having someone on an escooter in front of me is no different to having a slower cyclist in front. So it wouldn't bother me.

Thingsthat go bicycle speed belong in the bike lane. Things that go faster go in the car lane. Things that go slower belong inthe people lane,

It’s not really up to Lemmy.

Please check your local laws regarding scooters and other electric powered vehicles bike lanes. If it’s legal, go ahead and ride there all you want.

Please ride in the bike lane, not the sidewalk. Go whatever speed feels safe for you.

I figure as long as I make room it “shouldn’t” be a problem.

👍

As a cyclist, I'd say "welcome" because more people using the road means motorists are going to see more varied road users and thus be more conscious of them. So that should make the roads safer. I hope that reasoning works out.

15mph (24 km/h) is pretty quick. I could keep up with you, and I'm only using leg power. I average around 12mph.

I cycle every day to work and back and see e scooters everywhere, doesn’t bother me none as long as they follow road signage.

I don't mind bikes, E or otherwise, in the bike lane, I do mind gas powered scooters, vespa etc. I'm not sure I can put a pin in why, except they stink and often are riding too fast and weaving in and out wrecklessly and just using the bike lane as a passing lane, returning to the regular road when they can

Bike Riders of lemmy, you okay with me riding my eScooter in the bike lane?

As far as I'm concerned, you're just another bike :)

In Denmark youre essentially considered a bike.

I would personally have an easier time you rode and acted like a cyclist. Much safer for you.

It matters less where you're riding and more which set of rules you are following. If you're on a sidewalk, or opposing traffic, you need to behave as a pedestrian. If you're riding with traffic, you need to behave as a vehicle.

There is one rule underlying all traffic rules: Be Predictable. Even if you're following all the applicable laws and regulations, if people can't figure out what you're trying to do, you are wrong.

To that effect, if you hang a red light on your ass and a white light up front, everyone will expect you to operate like a vehicle.

We just had law amended to take into account eScooters. This is the exact thing they decided was okay. Up to 25km/h on bike lane or bike track or 6km/h (walking speed) on pedestrian paths. So I don't personally mind eScooters as long as they behave properly, signaling turns, paying attention and not dangerously overtaking. This also applies to cyclists and all the other users of these lanes.

I'm Swiss but I reply because that's an interesting topic 👍

Yeah please ride on the bike lane, I'm shocked to see how many people ride their e-scooters on the sidewalk

15 mph is plenty fast enough to belong in the bike lane. You're good bro.

I say it's perfectly fine to be in the bike lane. Much better than the sidewalk, when you're going at that speed.

However, I would like to emphasize the importance of staying to the right at all times unless passing someone. Cyclists, bikers (less adept cyclists), and escooter riders should all adhere to this, but in my experience escooters are far less likely to do so. Same with signaling --- tell people around you with hand signals which way you're going to go well in advance, and go (gradually, carefully) toward that side of the bike lane / bike path before turning to ensure you don't cut anyone off. Don't weave between people. Be aware of your surroundings. Please don't kill or maim anyone.

Good luck out there! Welcome to the land of the free from cars!

I'm not in a major city but I absolutely believe you have full rights to use the bike lane, no questions asked. I would say you're going far above and beyond by jumping off for a second and letting people pass.

I'm the Netherlands where everyone and their mom rides bikes and we have bike lanes everywhere, escooters / ebikes / regular scooters all go on the bike lane. It's less dangerous to go a bit slower than a fast biking person (like a grandma on a regular bike) and just staying on the right, than the dangers on the sidewalk.

I don't care where you ride it as long as you don't act like a douchebag

In my country electric scooters are classified as bicycles, so they must use bicycle lane if one is available. To clarify, E-scooters like not like electric Vespa or something. Their top speed must be limited to 25 km/h.

It annoys me that now in 2023 we have so many vehicles that we call "scooter". I can think of three different types that fit the description.

Just give me some notice you're passing me, that was always my fucking gripe with the food delivery guys in NYC. They just show up in your periphery and scare the fuck outta you. Ring a bell! Say hello! I'll say hello back! Goodbye!

in the Netherlands, scooter can ride on the bicycle lane.

It doesn't bother me unless you go super slow, which is rare.

Yeah go for it, but I need you to know you look goofy af

Shouldnt be called bike line. It should be called "faster than walking lane", "above 15km/h" lane or something. The point is, it is for objects going faser than walking. No, i dont mind.

For me, bike lanes should have a weight limit (<100lbs / ~50kg or so). It seems like you're talking about the handlebar scooters as opposed to vespa scooters. Those are fine in my opinion. You're going fast enough to not cause a traffic jam and you're smaller than a bike, so you're not taking up any more space. In my city, the eScooters are usually faster than most bike commuters.

You should not be on the sidewalk so, if there is a bike lane, where else would you be?

Bike lanes IMO are good for anything that needs a even level surface (as long as it's not a car).

Most sidewalks I come across always seems to ramp up and down for driveways. I would even say a mobility scooter or even a wheel chair is perfectly acceptable in a bike lane. Most sidewalks are way to narrow unfortunately.

15mph is usually at where ebikes are limited to aswell. Not many cyclists are passing me at those speeds.

Scooters are fine with me. What I can't stand are boneheaded joggers thinking the bike lane is some extension of the sidewalk.

So long as you’re going the right direction of traffic I see no problem. Although every single person I encounter on an e-scooter in the bike lane is going the wrong direction so we might have a problem.

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Fine by me, as long as you're not in a car lol

Feel free to stop by !micromobility@lemmy.world btw

NL checking in here, under the circumstances you describe you are all cool and the gang. Do not ride on the sidewalk!

In my town here in sweden like at least 25% of the bike path traffic is e-scooters, i personally use both an e-bike and e-scooter and it's lovely.

I think for the most part it’s just you being a fairly faster biker than me. e-scooter or mechanical scooter/bike, it’s all the same. IIRC calistenia just allowed e-scooters to ride in the bike lane :)

Just as long as you aren't going 30mph with a can of strongbow in one hand then sure.

I'll let you know when my town gets a bike lane.

I go max 15 MPH on my escooter

How fast is it capable of going? If it's 20mph or less (same as a Class 2 e-bike, which is typically the max allowed on multi-use paths) then I'm fine with it.

I'm in Canada but I would definitely say the scooters in the bike lane are no more trouble than a slower cyclist. Scoot a away!

As long as you follow the rules of the road, I’m cool with it. The problems I have are with scooter users who ride against traffic

And personally I wouldn’t want you to go on the sidewalk. I’d rather you stay the course and let me pass as it is a bit more predictable that way

I know you've basically spelled it out by using MPH and by simply being on the internet, but you might want to make it clear which country you're in. I mean, where I'm living, it's 100% ok for you to be in a bike line. Legally and socially speaking. But I doubt we're in the same place right now!

I wish there were more moderately paced e-scooters using bike lanes. I like to race them lol. Instead they're usually going against traffic and/or on sidewalks. Please avoid doing those things if you can.

I was behind someone on an escooter on my city's multi-use paths lately. Neither of us was supposed to be there, and no one cares, nor is the street a good option for either of us, me on my class 3 ebike and them on their electric scooter. I just make sure to stay under 20 on paths and to ring before passing anyone so i don't startle them (or their dogs). You sound very considerate, so as long as you are going the right direction, I think you should be okay.

yes, we have a bikeshare network here in Estonia

Speed in MPH? Totally fine then.

In addition to the things already said - rules of the road and not riding against me in the bike lane - I’d ask as a cyclist please be informed on local politics. A lot of us silly folks you see in the full racing get up are also the folks who have fought to get bike lanes in place. We need more pedestrians, cyclists and other modes of non-car transportation to be a united voting front. Especially in the US where one bad local election can see bike lanes and dividers get removed. It’s happening right now in a few parts of LA, which also has a large amount of rental scooters.

Not here. More annoyed about them on side walks than bike lanes.

There are bike lanes in the US?

The best place for electric scooters on most city streets is in the regular traffic lanes. This is also the best place for bicycles in most cities. Unless your particular city and route have actually safe bike lanes, you're better off just acting like any other vehicle, using the regular traffic lanes, and following all traffic laws and signs.

(Yes, you're slower than cars; but so is a horse rider, and they've been allowed on city streets since long before cars existed.)

Many sorts of "bike lane" make the streets less safe for cyclists and scooter users. Lanes that are also used as streetside parking are not safe, as attempting to use them requires swerving in and out between parked cars. Narrow lanes that are adjacent to streetside parking are not safe, because of the "door zone" problem. "Lanes" that are really part of the gutter are not safe, because they accumulate debris (tire chunks, mufflers, road sand) -- all of which are much more dangerous for cyclists and scooter users than for drivers.

There do exist high-quality bike lanes in some cities. They are clearly marked and separated from the regular traffic lanes (sometimes with barriers); they don't share space with streetside parking; they often have their own traffic signals.

If there are safe bike lanes, then yes, they're an appropriate choice for electric scooters. The reason for this is that the speed, maneuverability, and vulnerability of electric scooters are much closer to those of bicycles than to either cars or pedestrians.

But if there aren't safe bike lanes on the specific route you need to take, just use the "slowest" (in most of the world, rightmost) regular traffic lane. Most of the time, be in the center of this lane, not hugging the right edge; this makes you more visible, keeps you out of the "door zone", etc. You may move right to allow faster traffic (i.e. cars, trucks, motorcycles) to pass, if it is safe to do so.

(Note: In some places, such as California, cyclists are required to stay to the right insofar as it is safe. This does not mean biking in the gutter or "door zone", because those are never safe.)

Like bicycles, electric scooters should never be ridden on city sidewalks adjacent to buildings. This is because of the risk of colliding with pedestrians coming out of building doors. Blind pedestrians, very elderly pedestrians, pedestrians pushing delivery carts, nearsighted pedestrians who have lost their glasses, and other pedestrians with limited eyesight are all legitimate users of sidewalks. Do not expect that pedestrians can see or dodge. When using pedestrian features such as sidewalks or crosswalks, both cyclists and scooter users should dismount and walk their vehicle.

In Seattle they are illegal to ride on sidewalks or streets signed >25MPH.

As long as you're matching speed of (bike) traffic and not salmoning you're fine.

Please don't go on the sidewalk, it's unsafe for both you and pedestrians.

I wouldn't mind you using the lane, especially with how considerate you are!

seems kinda concerning u would be drive on the sidewalk if it werent shit. the side walk is for pedastrians to who u pose a serious threat. over here ppl with e shooter always take the bike lane or road (like a bike). after all they are a lot closer to a bike than a pedestrian

Reading the comments I think I’m in the minority but you did ask so I’ll be candid and honest. I’ll also try my best to be respectful.

E-bikes and e-scooters drive me nuts. They can definitely be an annoyance, and sometimes a safety concern in bike lanes due to the fact that most riders of these electric machines are new to riding on the road, but that’s not even what makes me upset.

I just don’t get why people don’t invest in a good, correctly fitted bicycle. They are cheaper (often by an order of magnitude or two), easy to maintain, keep you healthy, use standardized, readily available parts, will never go obsolete, don’t need a charger, don’t contribute to e-waste, and are completely ubiquitous. I just don’t get why people don’t ride bikes. They are so amazing! Ever since I was a kid I have been completely obsessed, and now well into my thirties I am still a total nerd about bikes. I don’t think there is anything better than a good bike ride.

The part that confuses me the most about e-bikes is the serviceability. Who is fixing these things? All of the bike mechanic/nerd friends of mine won’t touch them with a 10 foot pole. Do bike mechanics now have to familiarize themselves with high voltage lithium ion batteries? Is there a standard for these batteries? If a manufacturer decides to go proprietary, and then decide to stop making e-bikes, or goes bankrupt, is your e-bike now e-waste? The whole thing makes me confused as to why we tried to fix a problem that was not a problem. Bikes just work.

I think a lot of people have bad experiences riding bikes because their last experience was with an uncomfortable, poorly sized, heavy bike. But the feeling of riding a light, correctly sized, comfortable bike is truly divine. In my opinion it’s on par with good sex.

BTW - of course there is a good reason for some seniors or people with disabilities to use something like this, but that is not the target that I am referring to.

So when I see an e-bike or an e-scooter I get upset on principle. And then when they do something dangerous like speed past me or ride the wrong direction in a bike lane I become infuriated. But maybe the world is changing and I should to. But I tell you what I am not ready for bikes to be replaced with e-bikes.

You can't be worse than the bicyclists, go for it.