cross-posted from: https://beevibes.net/post/28433
The New York Times published a pair of articles this weekend highlighting the rising number of deaths of cyclists riding electric bikes. However, in one of the most impressive feats of victim-blaming I’ve seen from the publication in some time, the NYT lays the onus on e-bikes instead of on the things killing their law abiding riders: cars.
Exactly! While I can’t condone riding e-bikes recklessly, it makes no sense to panic about a few incidents when we shrug at the mass carnage caused by the automobile every single day.
Once the danger from cars is properly managed, let’s have a conversation about e-bikes. But I worry that discussions like this will prevent people from using e-bikes as a car alternative. If they keep driving instead, this directly makes everyone less safe.