What's the point of mopeds?

Channel:

EllipticGeometry

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Published on December 4, 2015 6:37:45 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuBhEvaVTDY

Duration: 11:52

168 views

5

Here I'm first overtaken by a 'fast' moped (with the yellow plate), clumsily in the corner and without a great speed difference. Later I overtake three 'slow' mopeds (with blue plates) myself. Sure, the tailwind seems to be working to my relative advantage. But it's not like mopeds are of much help, let alone at legal speeds. If you are reasonably fit and/or have a faster bike (velomobiles are seriously fast) you're easily competitive. Not worth the noise, absolutely terrible pollution and more aggressive riding on the whole.

0:16 Look how much faster.
1:29 Look where you're going!
1:49 Moped is turning left. Easy to see in person, hard to see on fisheye footage. These things are rarely used for longer trips.
2:44 Look, there's a reason you're only supposed to ride two abreast. Also, the "Begrip voor uw dank" (understanding for your thanks) sign is still up. There used to be a random "except 🚀✈️" sign at 1:02. They must've thought they were exquisitely funny. I'd appreciate more seriousness when it comes to cycle infrastructure.
3:54 These puddles are practically permanent. Fix your roads!
6:05 Relatively clean now thanks to dry-ish weather. It'd be a cesspool.
6:20 Why is this suddenly very narrow in the middle of cornering? Note how I felt the need to get off of the relatively smooth asphalt. It's good that it's an option, but you shouldn't have to use it under normal circumstances.
6:41 One of those vehicles meant for disabled people, but that anyone can use anywhere without a license. Also approaching two of the 'slow' mopeds. I'm holding back because people cross without looking all the time here.
7:33 Stupid 90° turns. A serious cesspool due to those working on the rails. Again relatively good thanks to recent cleaning and cooperative weather. It stretches all the way to 9:24 or so (where you only had a couple decimeters of 'good' space a few days ago). Also note the driver on the cycle path. Wha?? Stay on your coarser but higher-quality network!
9:18 Smoker. Such horrible air around them.
10:30 This place also attracts a lot of mud as well as leaves. I now habitually take this corner at the wrong side if I can get away with it, because it's a better line and it doesn't get as slippery as the other side.
11:00 I'd almost forget, but why do we still have these bumpy bridges?
11:06 Of course I'm overtaking you.
11:35 This detour is seriously annoying. Major cycle routes are fair game when anything is happening nearby.
11:52 Battery ran out. It now lasts 45 minutes in this mode. I'll probably get new ones at some point.

Again a list of complaints. Don't get me wrong: I like cycling. This won't quite stop me. But I wouldn't respect it if I didn't point out the problems.