Missive from the Dept of the Bleeding Obvious: e-scooters are not active transport

[Shut Up Legs]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in the Advocacy sub-forum or the Health one, but decided on the former.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140524002093

It supports what I've suspected for some time: e-scooters give you less exercise than walking.

 

[classic33]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in the Advocacy sub-forum or the Health one, but decided on the former.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140524002093

It supports what I've suspected for some time: e-scooters give you less exercise than walking.

Those taking part in the tests will have been paid for taking part as well.

 

[Drago]

Blimey. Im glad someone researched that as id never have figured it out for myself.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

To be fair walking will use more energy than cycling if it is on the level and you are not trying to do time trial speeds

certainly if you use an ebike - even a legal one

Thing is - using an escooter will probably use more energy than driving a car - and give you more fresh air
(mostly)

but running would use more energy than walking


so - not exactly sure what the point is supposed to be

 

[mjr]

They're micromobility, not active travel. So?

 

[katiewlx]

sadly yes Pixar got that aspect of humans right...and yes it may sound obvious escooters arent actually active travel, but there has been a push for a while, often by vested interests lobbying policy makers, to try to get escooters under the active travel umbrella term, because it would unlock more funding and grants towards them.

and certainly Active Travel England include them as part of their infrastructure planning approach, so schemes that would arguably just deliver cycle lanes previously end up supporting escooters in those trial areas, and then are considered part of the answer to sustainable transport solutions, even if they only get called I think micromobility and dont offer any of the health benefits associated with exercise as the result of active travel.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

sadly yes Pixar got that aspect of humans right...and yes it may sound obvious escooters arent actually active travel, but there has been a push for a while, often by vested interests lobbying policy makers, to try to get escooters under the active travel umbrella term, because it would unlock more funding and grants towards them.

and certainly Active Travel England include them as part of their infrastructure planning approach, so schemes that would arguably just deliver cycle lanes previously end up supporting escooters in those trial areas, and then are considered part of the answer to sustainable transport solutions, even if they only get called I think micromobility and dont offer any of the health benefits associated with exercise as the result of active travel.

That makes sense. I can see the point now!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I would like to think that there is a middle point that I can go to when I cannot/"no longer feel I should" drive a car
and a mobility scooter

I can use my bike - clearly - but a scooter would be easier to store and get out
and could possibly even be folded and stored indoors rather than having to go out and unlock the shed and all that
maybe

 

[Webbo2]

To be fair walking will use more energy than cycling if it is on the level and you are not trying to do time trial speeds

certainly if you use an ebike - even a legal one

Thing is - using an escooter will probably use more energy than driving a car - and give you more fresh air
(mostly)

but running would use more energy than walking


so - not exactly sure what the point is supposed to be

If you are using more energy walking than cycling you must be cycling very, very slowly or going downhill all day.

 

[Exlaser2]

So what ? I think most of us already knew that.
But if they do get people out of their four wheeled boxes so there are many benefits to the environment, first and foremost possibly helping to reduce the number of car journeys.

 

[Drago]

I live in a trial area and see them about daily. From what I see theyre not getting people out of their cars.

Theyre either kids too young to drive, or young men/women who would otherwise walk or get the bus. The idea that folk seem getting out of their cars to use these scooters us, to put it politely, hilarious.

 

[Exlaser2]

@Drago Where did I say DID ? I said IF and POSSIBLY.
No need to be so combative. Did the council meeting go badly? 😂😀

 

[Ming the Merciless]

If you are using more energy walking than cycling you must be cycling very, very slowly or going downhill all day.

They are on an ebike…

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

If you are using more energy walking than cycling you must be cycling very, very slowly or going downhill all day.

On the flat leisurely cycling uses is far more efficient than walking
Uphill is clearly different
as is riding into a head wind after a certain point

random link what shows this - better ones are probably around

https://annex.exploratorium.edu/cycling/humanpower1.html

 

[BoldonLad]

So what ? I think most of us already knew that.
But if they do get people out of their four wheeled boxes so there are many benefits to the environment, first and foremost possibly helping to reduce the number of car journeys.

A valid point,

I think. I think I would qualify as "elderly", (vintage 1947), but, I am reasonably fit. I would opt to walk, if the journey was (say) unto 3 miles, beyond that, (say unto 15 miles) I would choose to cycle (e-bike), beyond that, I would opt to drive.

If walking and/or cycling is made more unpleasant/unsafe than now, I would clearly opt to drive more.

If I had heavy items to carry, I may also opt to drive.

These choices are not binary, IMHO.