Futureworld

[flecc]

Imagine this, a world where there is a huge range of e-bikes and they are so common throughout the world that they use an industry standard battery and don't come with chargers.

Frequent "filling" stations where the lightweight high capacity battery is swapped for a freshly charged one at the same time as taking refreshments and a rest. Some with running repair facilities for tyres, brake pads etc, "KwikFit" style, plus a puncture and breakdown pickup service.

"Slot" machines operated by credit card to obtain exchange batteries elsewhere and in more remote spots, card and spent battery in, charged swap battery out.

Both facilities having automatic sensing of battery fitness and exclusion of those at end of life.

Roads devoted to cycles and e-bikes, with just a single lane at the edge for the occasional automatically speed restricted motor vehicle.

It's good to dream.

Have you any ideas to add for an ideal world for us?
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[nigel]

Nigel

Very good flecc i would support all those plans but will it ever happen i dont see joe public giving up there plush cars for electric bikes also with a lack of cycle lanes it wont help get people out there i

 

[flecc]

Not plans but dreams Nigel, and you shouldn't be too quick to write off the possibility.

Things might not be good in Southampton, but in London we have an ever increasing cyclepath network with millions spent annually on them. There's a range of London maps of the cyclepaths and facilities for all areas, completely free either by post or from all public librarys and many other outlets. A few car parks have multi-voltage charging stations for electric vehicles, just plug in and leave all day completely free.

Some of the streets I shop in have more parking stands for bikes than there are bays for cars, and at some all the bike stands are fully roofed. I've just come back from my local Sainsburys where I was parked by the front door in an architect designed bike stand, flying wing style roof, tiled ground surface and stainless steel locking rails. The car drivers have to park right round the back in the open and walk through the rain!

As for control of cars, they pay a congestion charge in the centre which helps finance the extra cycle facilities, and 4 x 4s are likely to have to pay a triple charge in future. We have a constant spread of 20 mph zones, and one borough, Islington, has over half all it's residential streets now 20 limit.

On the 23rd September, 14 kilometres of London's roads will be completely closed to motor traffic to allow cyclists to go out and enjoy riding to and from a number of important locations without any fear of traffic. This is being done to encourage people to get out their unused bikes and enjoy them in freedom for a change. There will also be a festival of cycling in St James Park to go to, with plenty of free cycling entertainment, stunt riding etc.

Following the success of the Tour de France starting in London this year, on the 9th September the Tour of Britain starts here as well. With an 87% increase in cycling in just six years, London is moving towards being a contender for the title of cycling capital of the world.

So many bits of that future are here now, and the trend is all in the one direction, to more control and expense for car drivers, and better facilities and less expense for cyclists. Where London goes, the others will one day follow.
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[flecc]

And the latest London cycling development.

Transport for London representatives are in Paris looking at the cycle hire system there, since it's long been intended that we have one.

Based on credit card style machines that release a bike, they can be picked up, ridden to a destination and left at a bike station the other end. There are other cities round the world with similar and it could spread London's growth of cycling even more.

Maybe there'll even be an e-bike equivalent one day.
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