Fat tires or fat heads
You have seen them on the street or on the sidewalk or both in the street and the sidewalk and the lawn and across the grass. Electric powered bicycles that are operated by 10 year olds and 65 year olds all of which seem to be more interested in the thrill of riding a bike than protecting themselves from getting smashed. As a conscientious driver you have to watch out for them in addition to the other cars and trucks on the streets where you go. It is of course fun to be able to fly along both pavement and swerve as if you had no worries in the world. Though as the car driver if you squash one of them it is your fault. These electric bikes are flooding many cities around the world and the carelessness abandon of the operators are causing not only accidents, but injuries and some deaths. Lots of cities around the world are trying to control the flood of E-bikes or Fatbikes (as they are called in Europe).
The Orlando, Florida Police Department issued a warning after video (available below) was released showing a mob of e-bike riders downtown. The footage shows that the incident with large of riders passing blocking an intersection downtown. Another resident criticized the riders’ actions, saying, “That’s stupid, running around cars that’s stupid, running red lights that’s stupid.” Officers observed hundreds of riders running red lights, blocking intersections, impeding the flow of traffic, and interfering with emergency vehicles attempting to respond through the area. During the response, several juveniles were detained. Criminal citations were issued where appropriate, and multiple electric bikes were towed because they were not properly registered as required by law. The juveniles were released to their parents or guardians.
At one point during the incident, video appears to show the group preventing an ambulance from moving through traffic, raising additional concerns about public safety and emergency response. Healthcare workers said they regularly treat injuries involving e-bike crashes and warned that reckless riding can have devastating consequences. “We see a lot in the hospital — everything from head traumas to broken femurs to broken legs to pelvic bones,” one nurse said. “Cars can’t really see them when they’re on the side of the road, and they’re going just as fast.”
After basking in praise for turning their cities into cycle-friendly zones, French mayors are cracking down on a two-wheeled menace causing fear and injury in their streets: heavy “fat bikes.” Paris, Strasbourg and Nice are also taking action to halt the spread of reckless driving by delivery people and commuters aboard the imposing oversized vélos that resemble motocross bikes and zip through pedaling cyclists and pedestrians at up to 30+ mph. In Paris, police have issued about 1,600 speeding tickets to riders of fat bikes in the first three months of the year, compared with 526 for the whole of last year.
Clear statistics have not yet been issued, but hospitals and emergency services have reported a rise in serious accidents involving the illegal e-bikes, which can weigh above 75 pounds. The bikes account for 8 per cent of e-bike sales, which make up half of the French new bicycle market. “These Electric bikes with very oversized tires are becoming increasingly common and their unrestricted motors are heightening the risk of accidents,” police said. “When you are overtaken on a cycle path by a bike hitting 35 mph, it is dangerous for the person on the bike, for other cyclists and for pedestrians.”
Fat tire jokes
A naked man was arrested after stealing a fat-tired E-bike and riding away on it.
Police impounded the bicycle, but worry that the evidence is tainted.
Why couldn’t the bicycle stand up by itself?
Because it was two-tired!
So this person wakes up, as usual, to get ready to go to work. They do their normal routine: brush teeth, eat breakfast, get dressed, etc… On their way to work, they get hit by a bicycle.
The next day, the same thing happens. Get ready for work, leave, get hit by a bicycle. This goes on for weeks.
It was a vicious cycle.
Why did the E-bike go to the psychiatrist?
It had cycle logic problems.
July 29th Birthdays
1992 – Paulina Goto, 1966 – Martina McBride, 1963 – Alexandra Paul, 1983 – Ashley McBryde
1953 – Ken Burns, 1975 – Josh Radnor, 1973 – Wil Wheaton, 1981 – Troy Perkins