{"id":14703,"date":"2024-04-02T15:02:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T15:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1405333"},"modified":"2024-04-02T15:02:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T15:02:40","slug":"speeding-ebikes-are-a-new-menace-amsterdam-wants-to-remote-control-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=14703","title":{"rendered":"Speeding ebikes are a new menace. Amsterdam wants to remote-control them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few weeks back, Amsterdam announced it was trialling new technology that can automatically reduce ebike speed when riders enter certain parts of the city.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Predictably, the initiative sparked debate. On <\/span>Reddit<\/span><\/a>, some expressed concerns about <\/span>data privacy and state nannying, while others felt that stricter measures were needed to protect other road users from ebikes, especially those with aftermarket mods that make them go faster. Some felt the technology \u2014 dubbed Adaptive Speed Governance (ASG) \u2014 would be impossible to roll out in practice. <\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless, we deemed the issue worthy of deeper investigation. That\u2019s why we sat down with Paul Timmer who designed the system to protect all road users. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSlowing ebikes down is only a last resort,\u201d says Timmer, who works for the Townmaking Institute, a non-profit focused on developing mobility solutions. \u201cBut of course, that\u2019s the bit that got all the press attention.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

How does ebike speed limiting work?<\/h2>\n

The Institute has built a platform that integrates various layers of spatial information. This includes fixed locations like schools or busy intersections. The platform can also be updated with temporary zones that could pose a hazard, like a street festival for instance, and real-time data on traffic and the like.  <\/span><\/p>\n

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A module installed on the handlebar of an ebike connects to this platform via 5G. Unlike GPS, this cellular network more accurately measures the location and speed of the bicycle. When the module detects that you are approaching a busy zone, alerts will pop up onscreen.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the rider still doesn\u2019t slow down, the module sends a signal to limit or cut the motor entirely. This makes it more difficult for the rider to maintain the same speed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Timmer says that the idea isn\u2019t to police cyclists, but to make them more aware of potential dangers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur research has shown that the warning on its own is a really effective deterrent to speeding,\u201d says Timmer. \u201cMost people want to avoid dangerous situations where they could injure others or themselves or both.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

A new menace<\/h2>\n

In the Netherlands, ebikes are limited to 25km\/h. However, many riders tamper with their bikes\u2019 hardware to remove this restriction. Others buy aftermarket throttle systems for an extra boost. This is, of course, illegal.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Amsterdam\u2019s traffic chief, Melanie van der Horst, claims that half of all ebikes in the city ride over the 25km\/h limit due to these mods. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNowadays, electric bicycles are much more than a bicycle that rides a little faster,\u201d she told <\/span>NRC<\/span><\/a> earlier this month. \u201cThey are sometimes heavy beasts that cause serious injuries in the event of an accident<\/span>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChildren no longer dare to cycle; the elderly get off when a souped-up fat bike comes along,\u201d she added, with perhaps a touch of hyperbole.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the name suggests, fat bikes are big, heavy ebikes with thick tyres. Popular with teenagers and young adults, many of them are driven illegally. The Dutch police have <\/span>confiscated<\/span><\/a> fat bikes that <\/span>can go upwards of 80 km\/h. <\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFat bikes are becoming a real problem in Amsterdam,\u201d says Timmer. \u201cEven though the bikes are often as big and ride as fast as a moped, riders are exempt from the same traffic rules and age restrictions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Controversy over ever-faster, bigger ebikes has reached a <\/span>boiling point<\/span><\/a> in the Dutch capital, with many calling for tighter regulations and law enforcement. Politicians are under increasing pressure to find a solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

While remotely slowing ebikes might seem like a step too far, especially in a nation that prides itself on cycling freedom, the other alternatives could be harsher.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf this doesn\u2019t work then license plates would probably be the next step,\u201d says Timmer. \u201cEbikers will have to wear helmets, be over 16 years old, and can be caught by speed cameras.\u201d <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Carrot or the stick?<\/h2>\n

Technology that restricts speeds in certain locations already exists in city ebike and e-scooter rental schemes. It\u2019s called geo-fencing and it enables a connected vehicle to adjust its movements to the ever-changing city environment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Moving into the world of privately owned vehicles, however, may prove trickier. Unless the government makes the technology mandatory, it will be up to individuals to make the effort. And I can\u2019t imagine the worst culprits \u2014 unruly fat biking teenagers \u2014 taking the initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps the best bet then would be to integrate ASG in the displays of existing ebikes, something that the Townmaking Institute is currently discussing with manufacturers. <\/span><\/p>\n

In all likelihood, curbing ebike speeding will take a bit of carrot and a lot of stick. Beefing up regulations and enforcing them will likely be the next course of action for cities like Amsterdam, which just last week announced a new bill to <\/span>ban<\/span><\/a> performance modification kits for ebikes<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In December, Amsterdam also <\/span>cut the speed limit<\/span><\/a> for cars on 80% of the city\u2019s roads from 50km\/h to 30km\/h, as it looks to curb accidents and pollution across all modes of transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Townmaking Institute will trial its tech in several other European cities this year, including Munich, Athens, and Milan. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited to see how other cities will use the system, how it will work in the unique environment of each place,\u201d says Timmer.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The Institute is also in discussions to move into e-scooters and public transport. While perhaps even more important, the use of ASG in cars is \u201cyears off.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve [car manufacturers] got armies of lawyers that will fight any limits to speed to the very end,\u201d Timmer says with a chuckle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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