this post was submitted on 06 May 2024
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micromobility - Ebikes, scooters, longboards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!

"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.

micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

Somehow, the idea of amateur pilots doesnt fit well with giant carbon fibre propellers directly inline with the human. This thing seems like an absolute deathtrap.

... I still want one tho.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Yeah, I feel like any tap on a obstacle would potentially send high-speed carbon shrapnel at drivers direction

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I wonder if something like AI pilot lanes would work if network connection fails it uses LIDAR to auto land like drones. Wouldn't work over cities though.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Is this still micromobility? lol

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I mean it is the smallest aerial vehicle I've ever seen.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Maybe a jet pack would be a bit smaller but not by much.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Even then I see a lot of problems, and at least 3 of them are cost. I could maybe see a step down (more of a slowfall type thing negating body weight and using jumping) but even then I don't see that working well where all the land is owned (also: wires, momentum), and electric paragliding might be the more realistic today option (that probably isn't all that practical either).

Sticking to the ground just makes more sense, heck for the brief moment when I had my legs not-fully-out-of-shape from riding my geared 250w ebike regularly (and after recovering from a 22 mile trip) I was wondering if a motor is even (fully) needed (assuming I could get a tri-fold knockoff or used minivelo for cheap for less weight... and possibly slightly smaller though my ebike is already 20" wheels thus a similar size category). And note I do have health issues (I still might want an ebike on a hot and sunny day, assuming a lighter bike is not a massive difference)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Imagine adding an extra layer of urban traffic above ground, made entirely of flying commuters with no pilot training. The horror.

I hope these things never get popular/cheap enough for people to buy them as a practical means of transport.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

The noise alone should make them hard to use near homes. High rpm spinning carbon blades aside.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

On the other hand thinking about all the vehicle traffic being electric flying vehicles and being able to walk/bike/breathe outside without worried about being squished. Being able to use all those roads for real vehicles.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

We can make ground transportation waaaaaay better instead of having airborne apes held aloft by spinning blades

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Our mission is to make the skies available for everyone with our safe personal electric aerial vehicle.

NO. PLEASE DON'T.

I don't trust people in vehicles that are grounded to the road and don't have propellers 360 around them. There's no way in hell I want to see these anywhere near public spaces.

But they are cool. No doubt about that. Keep these in Dakar or the Mojave Desert.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

They would have to be automated, that or people would have to become pilots with all the rules and regulations that brings.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

For real. If a 1lb drone needs extensive licencing, God knows what kind of insurance and training would be required for these.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Well, maybe not bad timing...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I have a camera drone, and they've become so easy to fly. They're super stable. I can imagine that flying in a human-sized one must be really fun. I've been in helicopters a ton of times, and they seem so complicated to fly. This would be a world of difference.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How much stock do the owners of this company have in major insurance companies?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Not enough for what you're suggesting, thankfully.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

It looks like the thing they inject people into the fray in the movie Running Man.