The bikesharing thread

[M II A II R II K]

Philly adds electric bikes to Indego fleet

http://planphilly.com/articles/2018/...ke-share-fleet

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- Indego is piloting the motorized bicycles over the next two months before a larger deployment. While they are being called electric bicycles, the vehicles are technically pedal-assist bikes with a small electric motor that kicks in to augment the rider’s regular pedalling. If cyclists stop pumping their legs, the motor stops boosting their wheels.

- The pedal assist allows riders to reach top speeds in a matter of a few dozen feet, rather than a few dozen yards. While they are quick, they aren’t fast; the motor shuts off once riders hit 17 mph, a speed that fit commuters on a 10-speed can hit without breaking much of a sweat. Determined riders can still go faster than that, but Indego’s gear ratios are designed for easy riding, not speed, meaning those riders need to pedal furiously to do so.

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