Add-on for my charging routine!

[IanMcL]

Although I have a home charger, I have not used it other than a quick hour to add a few miles, for an unanticipated trip.

I pay £7.85 per month, for Polar Plus, as where I attend meetings have these charging points and that also ensures me a parking space!. They are also in the local park and ride, which is a 14 min walk, to home and again, to collect. I use this,to ensure I get my £7.85 a month fee back,vin free electricity!

Today, I have taken delivery of an electric scooter! It will fit in the boot and cut my journey times a lot! It's fun too!

 

[WannabeOwner]

I have taken delivery of an electric scooter! It will fit in the boot

Blast! I thought you were going to tell me you charge it at Polar Plus

 

[IanMcL]

Blast! I thought you were going to tell me you charge it at Polar Plus

Now there's a thought!

Must get an adaptor!

 

[WannabeOwner]

I've been trying to persuade my daughter that having one to get around Uni / Town would be handy ...

She thinks it is too expensive (I fear we may have overdone the "appreciate the value of things" parenting bit ...)

 

[goRt]

Very good, one awkward question - where do you plan on using it as I understand things they're:
A) illegal on footpaths and
B) illegal on the roads

 

[WannabeOwner]

She didn't mention Becoming a Criminal as a reason for not having one!

Yes, the law out of date with the product (as I understand it)

 

[pjuk]

https://www.micro-scooters.co.uk/community/2019/04/electric-scooters-law-uk/

Still illegal to use of public footways and roads although I expect the law to change in the near future. I’d still use one though and just be careful of other road users and pedestrians. I see plenty of people around London using them, but it only takes one serious or fatal accident for the government to come down hard on them.

 

[Roy W.]

Here in the UK all electric scooters, hover boards and Segways are illegal to use unless you are on private land. Even then it’s tricky - some years ago I hired a Segway for the day, and was chastised by the park ranger in our local park, as the riding of electrically-assisted vehicles of any sort was against the council bylaws!

Many electric bikes are also illegal, as they’re too powerful to meet our current legislation. The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 was originally introduced by Maggie Thatcher’s government to legalise the forthcoming Sinclair C5. This was harmonised with EU law in 2015.

The main restrictions on EAPCs are that the motor is restricted to 250W, the maximum powered speed cannot exceed 15.5 mph, and the vehicle must have pedals, which should be in motion while the bike is electrically assisted. So the many current electric bikes with big motors and high speeds are classed as motor vehicles, and should be registered with DVLA, taxed and insured.

In truth nobody seems to bother though, but as said above, that might change in the case of a fatal accident...

 

[LukeT]

I've been trying to persuade my daughter that having one to get around Uni / Town would be handy ...

She thinks it is too expensive (I fear we may have overdone the "appreciate the value of things" parenting bit ...)

Push bike?

Porridge in, (s)miles out!

(also illegal on footpaths, of course)

 

[WannabeOwner]

Push bike?

Yeah, but I think its too bulky; have to lock it up when you gt there and so on. If her digs was a mile or so away from Uni then definitely, but her digs are right next door, and all she needs is to get around campus and around town (which is currently a bus ride away). Something she could just fold-up and take into a lecture would be ideal (or so her Dad thinks ...). Needs to be carry-able so it is not nicked, so a motorised skateboard / fold-up-scooter or similar.

I'll ask her what the annual bus pass costs, and how many days the weather would be too awful for skateboarding into town ... I might find that the bus fare would pay for it

I think the mono-wheels look pretty cool, and carry-able ... but I have no idea how difficult to balance / practical they are to use

 

[LukeT]

Yeah, but I think its too bulky; have to lock it up when you gt there and so on. If her digs was a mile or so away from Uni then definitely, but her digs are right next door, and all she needs is to get around campus and around town (which is currently a bus ride away). Something she could just fold-up and take into a lecture would be ideal (or so her Dad thinks ...). Needs to be carry-able so it is not nicked, so a motorised skateboard / fold-up-scooter or similar.

I'll ask her what the annual bus pass costs, and how many days the weather would be too awful for skateboarding into town ... I might find that the bus fare would pay for it

I think the mono-wheels look pretty cool, and carry-able ... but I have no idea how difficult to balance / practical they are to use

Surely the words of a man who just WANTS TO BUY TOYS!

Confession: I have about half a dozen bicycles.

 

[WannabeOwner]

Surely the words of a man who just WANTS TO BUY TOYS!

Does look a rather like that ... but actually I don't buy without a purpose, and in this case I genuinely think it would help her get about ... but Veto'd so I've stopped offering.

 

[IanMcL]

I only really twigged the 'illegality' aspect when I started to read up, after my impulse buy! (Aldi £179.95)

I have seen them about and I don't go that fast, as I wont be getting a helmet. I could push like I did as a kid, if mr policeman came into view!

However, as I left my house, for my test 'scout's, I heard a couple. Woman...oh look, he's got an electric scooter". Followed by, man response, "They're illegal".

I was on the move by then!

 

[LukeT]

Does look a rather like that ... but actually I don't buy without a purpose, and in this case I genuinely think it would help her get about ... but Veto'd so I've stopped offering.

If you've got an exciting solution in mind, then the required problem can usually be found...

 

[pjuk]

I’ve got a Brompton that fits nicely in back when folded up. Maybe that’s an option?

 

[WannabeOwner]

the required problem can usually be found

I have resorted to "Couldn't afford not to have it" on occasions!

 

[WannabeOwner]

Brompton ... Maybe that’s an option?

What? One that you have to pedal? I'd need one with a 17" screen and fart mode, at least ...

 

[pjuk]

fart mode

After a bowl of porridge in the morning I don’t need a fart mode

 

[WannabeOwner]

Optional module then ... seems for both you and the Roadster II according to yesterday's news:

"Tesla’s new Roadster 0-60 mph acceleration gets downgraded to 2.1 secs ‘without rocket thrusters’"

 

[pjuk]

Well 0-60 on my Brompton, regardless of rocket thrusters, is like ∞s.