• xxce2AAb@feddit.dk
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    9
    ·
    2 days ago

    Bikers: “Cars are too safe. I’d like to do away with lateral stability, crumple zones and a roof.”

    This dude: “…Hold my beer.”

    • 🍉 Albert 🍉@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      48
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      2 days ago

      that thing is still safer than a car. by so much they aren’t even in the same league.

      unless you get hit be a car. because the car is the danger.

        • 🍉 Albert 🍉@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          1 day ago

          unless it goes at stupid car speeds, if you wear proper protection, those crashes shouldn’t be too bad.

          and they’re going at stupid speeds, then tf did they expect.

          And even then, it’s still safer than a car. given than a car in an accident can kill a handful of civilians and keep the driver safe, that thing puts the driver in danger and at worst they might injure a passerby.

      • xxce2AAb@feddit.dk
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        15
        ·
        2 days ago

        And, jokes aside, that dude is dressed to handle the fallout much better than anyone who ever got behind the wheel of a car.

        • julietOscarEcho@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 days ago

          Am actually really interested in the safety stats. Would guess on those things you aren’t doing more than 40, so probably not too bad for rider vs e.g. motorbikes where the temptation is to crazy speeds. And with it being smaller/lighter than a car it’s clearly safer for pedestrians and other vehicles.

          • dermanus@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            2 days ago

            I briefly owned one of these. Mine topped out at 32 kph (20 mph) but most models went faster.

            IMO the biggest risk is if you accelerate too hard the engine cuts out even if you’re st high speed. And of course you’re leaning forward when it happens because that’s how you accelerate.

              • dermanus@lemmy.ca
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                2 days ago

                I never found the braking distance to be a problem. To brake you basically just sit down and it kicks the motor into reverse. Because it uses the motor to rebalance the other way its much faster than if it were something like a disc brake.

            • julietOscarEcho@sh.itjust.works
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              5
              ·
              2 days ago

              Yeah but how many users are actually that brave/stupid? 100kph feels FAST on a motorbike, I can’t imagine how it feels on one of these 😬

      • whatsisface@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        I very strongly disagree. If you’re taking those things on roads you are very, very much in danger. To brake you need to physically shift your entire body instead of just moving a hand or foot, and they have motor brakes instead of friction braking.

        https://electrek.co/2025/10/16/new-electric-unicycle-hits-an-insane-93-mph-top-speed/

        Cars don’t get speed wobbles. Cars have 3 extra wheels in case one wheel hits something slippery.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          7
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          Sure, they can go that fast, but that’s not the primary mode of operation. Most of the time, I see these going ~10 mph, and I’ll often pass them on my bicycle (I go 15-20 unless there are peds).

          Going at unsafe speeds typically only impacts the rider, because they are small enough that peds can easily get out of the way. Going at unsafe speeds in a car puts other people at risk because they’re big and often around other people.

          Maybe these are an issue in other parts of the world, but they don’t seem to be one in mine.

          • CatsPajamas@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            7
            arrow-down
            3
            ·
            2 days ago

            You have no fucking clue what a deadly speed is. One of these hitting you kills you a significant portion of the time, and these will actively kill their riders at a way higher clip. This is a dumb hill to die on. Cars have elaborate safety standards. These do not.

            • insomniac_lemon@lemmy.cafe
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              1 hour ago

              Honestly, if you fear the EUC strawman (for pedestrians) and not the giant 3000lb+ metal boxes that can go 100mph+ standard (for decades) that’s a weird hill to live on. The momentum isn’t even comparable.

              Just about anything around you is going to provide some protection from a stray EUC rider (a wooden fence, a bus shelter, a cemented mailbox), a car can barrel through a fucking brick wall. Yeah, EUC riders are probably more in-danger but they also probably are going to pass out on the pavement rather than on their accelerator. I’m guessing you’ll say some cars fix that (maybe if the surveillance tech is working right), but yeah not that used car they’re actually in because cars are expensive.

              Also from what I see a medium-weight EUC is 60lbs and heavy is 80lbs, so I imagine a pedestrian crash with one would mostly result in leg/foot breaks. Assuming standing adult and no sweet jumps.

            • 🍉 Albert 🍉@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              5
              arrow-down
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              2 days ago

              that thing won’t reach deadly speeds, especially if you wear protection.

              the risk that riding that gives is from other cars.

              even with all the elaborate safety standards, cars are more dangerous than cheap bikes who’s only safety are helmets.

              A bit telling how you mentioned care safety standards that are only for the driver and not the people around the car. Maybe think of other people

    • Marn@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      2 days ago

      As a user of just about every type of PEV most electric unicycles are generally safer than scooters assuming you are geared up. You have a much bigger wheel to go over bumps and most modern models will have suspension and good regenerative breaking. Scooters have tiny little wheels and handle bars to cause major injuries.

      Most people on euc\electric unicycles are well trained compared to any other PEV group I’ve seen, not that there’s not a fair share of idiot squids.

    • explodicle@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      Bikes are actually safer than cars when you count all threats. The sedentary years behind the wheel are killing you.