[mattw]

I’m in at least 2 minds about these.

In principle the idea is great, but I’m not sure about the 4 wheel 2m high minivan design, nor the relationship to existing cycle infrastructure (much of the vid is a 2 way ~1.2m wide cycletrack) afaics, nor the non-signals and (I think) the straight through the amber-red lights done twice in 30 seconds on the vid.

It’s the Salford CYCLOPS, so I’m very much open to correction.

@AmazonUK's new cargo cycles using the CYCLOPs in Salford! pic.twitter.com/YYIrsAE3g4

— Harry Gray (@HarryHamishGray) November 28, 2022

 

Topic

[Bmblbzzz]

The Amazon vehicles look

The Amazon vehicles look identical to those used by Zedify. https://www.zedify.co.uk Urb-It https://www.urb-it.com use trikes which are also pretty big – probably the same width – but do appear to be genuinely pedal powered (with e-assist, obvs) and not so tall or enclosed. Trikes rather than pedal-vans.

[a1white]

In London we have PedalmeApp

In London we have PedalmeApp which, though more standard looking cargo bikes, are often towing huge trailers. They don’t generally use the cycle lane though, as they appreciate there isn;t really room for them. Their cyclists also go through rigourous training before they are allowed out on the road (not all pass). I do wonder if these drivers, sorry cyclists, have the same training (though I imagine they are likely lower paid).

[mattw]

Just realise what these

Just realise what these remind me of.

Postman Pat.

 

[Accessibility for all]

There isn’t space for

There isn’t space for overtaking in the lanes on Trafford Road.  Unfortunately when they rebuilt the road (it’s not quite finished) they added cycle capacity by removing the large central reservation.  The traffic lanes are the same.  It feeds a motorway junction so I think they probably made the right call.

[chrisonabike]

(Will delivery companies

(Will delivery companies prioritise considerate parking)

By nominative determinism (almost) I had a soft spot for the DHL recumbent four-wheelers (lower but longer IIRC).  Most folks seem to be more comfortable with upright though.  Maybe that offers form factor benefits too?

It being the UK when the time came Royal Mail went full petrol of course, combined with those wheely-trucks (when they weren’t screwing their staff with the IT then in the courts…)  Here’s what we could have won:

https://www.pushbikes.org.uk/file/deutsche-post-delivery-e-bike

[Simon E]

mattw wrote:

Technically they are E-bikes I think

They have 4 wheels and are shaped like a van. Just a small one that can be driven where a normal-sized van shouldn’t be allowed.

Is the driver, er I mean ‘cyclist’ going to pull off the cyclepath when stopping to deliver or are they going to block the lane like every other shitty delivery driver (and the police)?

Looking at the above video, I’d not want to meet one while pootling along the infrastructure built specifically for cyclists.

It looks like we’ll be seeing more of these lane-hogging behemoths too:

Today, Amazon announces the expansion of its UK e-cargo bike fleet, with the launch of three further micromobility delivery hubs in Manchester and London

https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/sustainability/amazon-expands-electric-cargo-bike-deliveries-in-manchester-and-london

[Owd Big 'Ead]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

i believe they are Vok “bikes”. If they are not, they are the same design principles.

No, they are made by EAV Solutions https://eav.solutions/

They are driven by a chain and/or a gates barbon belt iirc.

[bikeman01]

Then they shouldn’t be using

Then they shouldn’t be using cycle lanes.

[chrisonabike]

Yes, they should have stopped

Yes, they should have stopped with better reactions – and especially the filming cyclist behind should have!

They should bring that in for drivers too – they could usefully trial “amber means stop” near me in Edinburgh for example although it would be a bit of a shock.

[brooksby]

chrisonatrike wrote:

(I think the defining feature of technology is “how can I avoid time spend in maintenance” – which largely ties in with the sales model of fast-growing businesses too.  Yes, I’ve finally got to “grumpy old man complaining that we never needed that in my day”…)

Lots of people want to have low-or-no maintenance, I suppose.  But the lower the requirement for regular and frequent maintenance, the more likely it is that when it does need maintenance, you’ll have to sell a kidney or be without it for six weeks while it goes to the one specialist who can fix it for you.

(Eben Weiss (Bikesnob NYC) had an article a couple of weeks ago, grumbling about how apparently some people now think that saying that “you need to know how to fix a flat tyre” is totally elitist and ought to be banned.)

[mattw]

On this particular roundabout

On this particular roundabout lights seem to follow the normal cycle ie R RA G A R, so an amber on its own is before the red, and is “stop unless it will cause an accident”.

The one in my OP was through on amber when time to stop.

 

[mattw]

Technically they are E-bikes

Technically they are E-bikes I think.

With low motor power but a big battery.

I can’t see Amazon going over the technical 250W / 25kph, as it would be setting themselves up for a crackdown.

[Rendel Harris]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Vok is propelled through electronic pedalling, which means that every pedal stroke is transferred to electrical current, then amped up by the onboard electronics and precisely tuned algorithms control the in-hub motors that propel the bike. There are far fewer moving parts compared to regular drivetrains, leading to low maintenance needs and a very long lifetime, especially compared to chain-driven cargo bikes that require drivetrain maintenance every 1000 km.

 

Didn’t know that – so they are effectively cocking a snook at the pedelec law which requires the rider to be putting something in, the pedals are effectively a  large throttle control. Mind you I’d be relaxed about throttle-control ebikes being allowed (provided they’re kept to the legal 25kph), particularly since throttle-controlled escooters have become accepted by default it seems a bit pointless to insist on ebikes not having them.

[chrisonabike]

Love it how folks trying to

Love it how folks trying to sell things all do the same stuff.  Your drive train is inefficient AND requires all kinds of exotic stuff?  But it uses “precisely tuned algorithms” and has “low maintenance needs”.  Until some tiny connection breaks or a chip fails, then it’s just some hard-or-impossible-to-recycle mixed waste.

(I think the defining feature of technology is “how can I avoid time spend in maintenance” – which largely ties in with the sales model of fast-growing businesses too.  Yes, I’ve finally got to “grumpy old man complaining that we never needed that in my day”…)

[andystow]

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

First light in the video seemed to be full red for both the EV and the cyclist. 

But was it an established red light?

[Author]

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