A Bristol home maintenance service now using ‘cargo bikes’

A few days ago, the BristolWorld website published what may be the most ridiculous article I’ve seen so far this year.

It is not a long article, so I reproduce it in full.

It begins with the headline ‘It’s a modern business for modern times’ and states:

A new eco-friendly gas and heating maintenance service has been launched in Bristol, using cargo bikes.

The fully electric service will see a team of engineers riding to properties in the city to maintain boilers, central heating and electrical systems and appliances.

The business, nippychecks, will operate out of a premises in Easton and will serve domestic homeowners as well as helping maintain the portfolios of city landlords and lettings agents.

The new venture comes after a £24,000 investment in two new cargo bikes by South Gloucestershire business West Country Heating and Plumbing.

The bikes are cycle lane permitted and can carry up to 150kg of cargo – easily enough for a toolbox and spare boiler parts.

Sam Blakeney, managing director of nippychecks and WCHP, said: “There’s no reason why nippychecks can’t do for plumbing and heating what Deliveroo has done for food,” he said.

“Nippychecks solves a number of problems – it does its bit to cut congestion and improve air quality in the city, it provides a service free from the constraints of traffic problems, it’s cost-effective and ethical, too.

“We’ve often thought that using a half empty van to splutter its way around the city didn’t really make sense for anyone. In nippychecks, we think we’ve found an answer.”

The nippychecks cargo bikes will be branded in Bristol Blue and bright yellow, to reflect the heritage of the city while adding a modern, innovative look to the service.

The two new vehicles have been brought from Oxfordshire-based EAV Ltd and are made from recyclable and sustainably sourced materials.

Leo Bethell, head of partnerships at EAV said: “We’re delighted to be providing two of our lightweight urban vehicles to nippychecks and of course we’re excited to see them making an impact in Bristol.

“Cargo bikes help businesses complete more services and deliveries in a shorter amount of time by accessing cycle lanes and pedestrian routes, while actively reducing congestion in urban environments.

“They’re safe, practical, zero emissions and eco-friendly, so we believe they’re going to play a big role in improving air quality and saving business – and their customers – time and money as well as making the centre of Bristol a better place to be.

“We love this city and want to be part of its sustainable and cycling identity. While we’ve got a challenge establish Nippy as part of the property scene, once we’re really up and running then I’m hoping to add more vehicles to the fleet before too long.

“While we’re a fun and innovative company, it’s really important that we’re professional, too. Through West Country we have all the necessary systems and experience in place to ensure our services are provided smoothly and efficiently.

“We’ve set up a portal through which landlords and lettings agents can safely store and access all of their certifications. Meanwhile our tracker app will let them, as well as homeowners, check Nippy’s progress and whereabouts.

“It’s a modern business for modern times, and we’re looking forward to getting out and about in Bristol. Go Nippy!”

Several points leap to mind here.

These glorified Rikshaws apparently cost £12,000 each!

Does Nippychecks think they will be able to recruit people willing to cycle 50+ miles a day in all weathers?

150kg is 330lbs, plus the weight of the vehicle. Imagine trying to haul that by pedal-power up a steep hill.

The number of calls per day will be significantly reduced.

Will customers be willing to wait much longer for a service call?

As for this idea being ‘modern’, it strikes me as being a regression to the 19th Century.

This is the latest example of virtue-signalling garbage that will be increasingly thrust upon us by the woke eco-loons.

One of my social media friends commented: “Yes, create a workplace which exploits young people whilst conning them they are saving the planet and casts them aside when they can’t pedal 150kg of cargo across Bristol.

See more here: bristolworld.com

Header image: Barbara Evripidou/FirstAvenuePhotography

About the author: Andy Rowlands is a university graduate in space science and British Principia Scientific International researcher, writer and editor who co-edited the new climate science book, ‘The Sky Dragon Slayers: Victory Lap

Please Donate Below To Support Our Ongoing Work To Defend The Scientific Method

PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. 

Trackback from your site.

Comments (70)

  • Avatar

    Geraint HUghes

    |

    There is another word for these types of vehicles, its called a Rickshaw.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    D. Boss

    |

    Ah guys – did you misread the article? These are Electric Bikes. You don’t pedal, unless the battery fails, or you want to.

    Yes, it’s stupid, virtue signalling, but it is not having to pedal 400 lbs uphill! And 12,000 pounds Sterling – is criminal! I own an ebike for leisure. It is fun and gets me exercise because I set to minimal pedal assist, so I still need to input about 60 watts of pedal power to go 16 mph. And I have snappy acceleration to get away from cars at intersections.

    But my custom ebike (I built it with a kit from an old mountain bike frame) cost me $1200 dollars – with 1,000 watt motor, and a 550 Whr battery which gets me 30 miles range. But $15,000 for these 4 wheeled ebikes with a tent, is criminal, and I might add dumb as a service vehicle.

    You need the right tool for the job, and vehicles are tools in this case. As a leisure ebike, it’s fantastic, but as a service technician’s mode of transport – idiotic!

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      Even at $1200 for an ebike that you custom built? Are you kidding me? You can buy a fairly functional car and easily a motorcycle with that (at least here). Only a 1kw motor? So it’s got a large lithium, phosphate, cobalt, etc sort of battery?

      Reply

      • Avatar

        D. Boss

        |

        I don’t know what junkyard you purport to live in, but a functional car for $1200??? And why would I want to get a motorbike when my goal was to get some exercise? Yes, a 1 kw direct drive hub motor. It is meant for off road bikes. Many of the factory ebikes sell for minimum $2000 up to $7000 and have geared motors with perhaps 350w to 500w motors and get better range. (the killer is acceleration and my direct drive 1 kw motor draws 7-800 watts to accelerate with the thumb throttle – to get the requisite torque. A geared motor needs far less to accelerate as the mechanical advantage yields the needed torque)

        Yes it is a lithium ion battery, fully charged it is 54V and has 11 Amp-hours capacity, and is 1/4 of the size of a lead acid and about 1/5th the weight of a comparable deep discharge lead acid AGM.

        The controls – have a thumb throttle, magnetic brake switches to cut off the drive motor as soon as you barely pull on the cable brake levers, and a magnetic pick up on the pedal sprocket to provide pedal assist signal. The controller has a large LCD screen, with speed, distance, power consumption and battery state readouts. And you can set 5 different levels of pedal assist.

        The lowest pedal assist delivers between 120 to 130 watts via the motor. I’ve measured how much power I provide by pedaling vs how much the battery/motor deliver vs average speed. (there is a cruise control function where when you are pedaling at speed you press a button for 3 seconds and whatever speed it was at, is maintained by the motor only until you either pedal again or touch the brakes)

        I have a route that is 10 miles. I do this with an average speed of 15-17 MPH. For the motor and cruise control to maintain this speed takes 180-200 watts. So combined pedaling and 120-130 watts from pedal assist level 1, means I am delivering around 60 watts to the motion. And I feel it after the ride in my legs. (remember wind resistance is as the square of the velocity – so faster needs a lot more power)

        Now if I only had the bike without the electrics, I could only maintain about 5-7 MPH and could only go about 2-3 miles for the same workout. Going faster and farther is way more pleasant and rather exhilarating to go fast. As I said, the ebike is fantastic for leisure – and if you get tired you can just use the throttle or cruise control.

        There are 2 downsides to having an ebike:
        1) it is NOT waterproof! It is water resistant, so you cannot ride it, or at least I do not ride it in the rain. The components are encased in rubber and plastic, however reviews by others with these components report that malfunctions occur if you get some items soaking wet. (a light mist or wet roads are OK, but pouring rain is not good)

        2) if you get a flat tire – you are rather screwed – and now you have a bike that is 30-40% heavier than a normal bike, which you have to walk back home, as you cannot easily change the rear tire on the drive wheel out in the field! (the drive wheel rim is custom and part of the hub motor, so damaging that rim is a no-no – happened to me last year and fortunately I was only 1.5 miles from home, but I had to walk it home, lifting the rear of the bike off the ground so as not to damage the rim) (my bad, the tires had 3,000 miles on them and there was a bulge in the sidewall, which expanded and burst on my run – I should have bought new tires when this bulge appeared)

        Finally I do not think Alcheminister understands the cost of bicycle parts. The bike frame and the electrification kit were less than half of my final project cost! I needed new brakes, cables, and a new derailer for the rear sprocket, new handle bars – a better seat – with spring suspension in the seat post, and fenders to allow for wet or misty conditions so as not to get sprayed with water from the tires – lights, and a rear “carrier” plus saddle bags. New tires and tubes – jeepers these (good ones) can cost almost as much as car tires! And after a year of riding, I needed to replace the front suspension forks and rim – as hitting bumps at higher speeds takes it’s toll.

        I initially did the project to ride to work, as my work is only 1.6 miles from home and it made little sense to drive my 7000 pound Chevy Van with the 5.7 liter V8 to work, as it does not even get up to temperature on the short drive. Hence why the saddle bags. And I did that for about a year. But I had to be wary of the weather radar and often leave early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms. But the biggest problem is driving on the roads with all the a$$holes behind the wheel of the cars and trucks. And I have most of my tools and equipment in the truck, so I reverted to driving the truck to work.

        I know only ride at sunrise on the weekends in a beautiful residential area – to be cool, and to ride with very few “nuts behind the wheel” to contend with. (sunny south Florida)

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Alcheminister

          |

          Yeah, something like a functional mid02000s renault clio, around $1500.

          This particular shithole is called South Africa.

          Reply

          • Avatar

            Alcheminister

            |

            You know, the deeper south, like Angola almost (which is one of the providers of “American oil”), being that 53rd state slightly south east of Florida.

          • Avatar

            Alcheminister

            |

            Oh and cars aren’t even cheap here.

        • Avatar

          Jerry Krause

          |

          Hi D. Boss and PSI Readers.

          Especially PSI Readers, “I should have bought new tires when this bulge appeared”. D. Boss proves he is self-critical. Something which many people seem to have a problem doing.

          Have a good day, Jerry

          Reply

          • Avatar

            Jerry Krause

            |

            Hi PSI Readers,

            I must be self-critical and admit that I wrote about my experiences in China and this article is about Bristol UK. Which FACT I only just noticed. However, I have now checked what the BristolWorld website might be and find it claims to have less than 2000 readers.

            I did notice and did not comment that I doubted that Engineers of a utility were doing maintenance work. Or that maintenance workers would need such a heavy load of instruments and tools as proposed to do routine maintenance. And now I ask: Where do you consider the maintenance ‘vehicles’ pictured were manufactured?

            Geraint began by writing: “Its called a Rickshaw.”

            Have a good day, Jerry

      • Avatar

        Jerry Krause

        |

        Hi PSI Readers,

        I finally saw the obvious EAV on the front of the cargo bike which is the focus of this article. As I stated: I do sometimes get there.

        After reading their information I conclude that this startup British company might need D. Boss’s knowledge which is the product of his practical experiences.

        As I searched for the manufacturer of the featured cargo bike I found electric bike speeds much faster than 17mph. And as he stated the issue is air friction and this friction increases as the speed squared. In reading about EAV cargo bike, which is only a bike because it uses bike parts and has a handle bar. However, it does not seem to qualify as being a bicycle (ignore the four wheels) because it cannot be PEDALLED (British spelling).

        Clearly the cargo bike is a green idea (fad) and a fact is, that in New York City, light weight packages have long been delivered by people pedaling light-weight bicycles. One can never get more GREEN than this. My wife (75+) brings home a gallon of milk on her comfort bike even though she must push her bike, and it, up a steep 1+ block long hill.

        And no one would consider her to be a greeny. She, like D. Boss, rides for exercise.

        Have a good day, Jerry

        Reply

    • Avatar

      Jerry Krause

      |

      Hi D. Boss and PSI Readers,

      Enjoyed your comment (report of what you have done). Readers, do you notice that Alcheminister, who wrote “You can buy a fairly functional car and easily a motorcycle with that (at least here).”, seems not to enjoy doing actual physical work as D. Boss does???

      Have a good day, Jerry

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Alcheminister

        |

        Yeah and? Uh, did you notice those ebikes also try to avoid physical work (it’s an optimization thing, you know, seeking efficiency)?

        And let’s be honest, you have no idea of the work I do.

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Jerry Krause

          |

          Hi Alcheminister,

          I agree that I have no idea of the work you have done; nor do I have any idea of what you might define as being physical work. D. Boss did both for us readers.

          Have a good day, Jerry

          Reply

          • Avatar

            Alcheminister

            |

            Really?? I guess it’s time to say bye.

      • Avatar

        Michael Clarke

        |

        Hi Jerry I see you are still very active.

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Jerry Krause

          |

          Hi Michael,

          Good to that you are still watching PSI. I just measured the temperatures 88,64, neg 12, neg30F with my IR thermometer which only measures the temperatures of the surfaces of condensed matter (solid or liquid) or the downward IR radiation being most strongly scattered by condensation nuclei and/or cloud droplets (or crystals) from the IR radiation being emitted upward by the earth’s surfaces due to their surface temperatures.

          Using the various temperatures I just measured with the IR thermometer I hope to demonstrate to PSI Readers what a surface (skin) temperature really is. Until we accurate define what our systems actually are, we cannot intuitively understand what is going on (occurring).

          So thanks for your comment because we I started with this comment I had no idea what I might write beyond the first sentence.

          Now I will add about glaciers: the glaciers of lower latitudes do not generally slide down toward the warmer lower latitudes Yes, to form thick ice glaciers requires that it snow a lot/. But it snows a lot at the lower latitudes at which the glaciers form and then begin to slide down the slopes at the lower latitudes. Will wait for comments (corrections).

          Have a good day, Jerry

          Reply

    • Avatar

      Andy

      |

      I did see the comment about range, but the article doesn’t mention any form of onboard power, so I didn’t mention it either.

      Reply

      • Avatar

        D. Boss

        |

        Andy: Did you not read the sentence that states: “The fully electric service will see a team of engineers riding to properties in the city to maintain boilers, central heating and electrical systems and appliances.”?

        Fully electric service refers to the bikes having electric motors and batteries! When I was researching kits to make my ebike, I came across many tricycle or quad ebike models, meant for cargo or delivery, mostly popular in Asian countries where bikes and rickshaws are prevalent…. so it is not without precendent. But this application and ridiculous cost are just dumb in my view.

        Reply

    • Avatar

      Geraint HUghes

      |

      Electric rickshaw then, not progress at all.

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Alcheminister

    |

    Basically, I don’t have an issue with sort of low speed, weight reduction for urban (and even some other) use for basic transport of random shit.

    But I mean, can’t you conceivably use a low power petrol, diesel, LNG, methane, methanol, etc engine…or maybe slightly less powerful batteries (that are actually more sustainably sourced from more abundant elements than lithium, cobalt, etc)?

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Mark Tapley

    |

    You can tell from the photo that these things are a cheap piece of junk not made to do very much with and won’t hold up. You can bet somebody’s brother-in-law got a heck of a good contract on this junk.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      Mark, the concept is not bad. Low weight, low power, urban setting, that’s legit. But I don’t like the attempted reliance projections (like when Elon Musk, being the DoE/DoD front and fraud that he is having never invented anything useful ever is popularized in the made for homogenization, monopolization, govt centralization sort and a trinket peddling piece of shit that constantly lies in PR attempts…)…tries to be a conquistador in say, south/central america and uses quite established tech to perpetuate but glamourize that artificial scarcity horseshit.

      If I had a Tesla, I would let it drive itself off a cliff. Coz that’d be fun, considering what a piece of shit it is.

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Mark Tapley

        |

        Hello Alcheminister. Maintenance vehicles need to be rugged and reliable not something thats a half ass pedaled and underpowered piece of crap. Needs to be a pickup type truck you can throw parts and tools in and work out of. These look like something they would use in the gay pride parade.

        (((Elon))) is another Zionist front man like (((Zuckerberg))) and Bezos (Jeffery Preston Jorgensen) also Jew lineage. Musk’s grand father was head of Technocracy (forerunner to WEF 4th Ind. Rev. and Agenda 2030-21) in Canada. All part of the “Green Energy” climate change scam. They are pushing it and the fake war in Ukraine to divert attention away from the fake virus injections for idiots program. It all goes back to Marx (Moses Mordecai Levy) original communist manifesto which hands all power to the elites. More Programs for the goyim and more power for the Zionist elite.

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Alcheminister

          |

          “Hello Alcheminister. Maintenance vehicles need to be rugged and reliable not something thats a half ass pedaled and underpowered piece of crap. Needs to be a pickup type truck you can throw parts and tools in and work out of. These look like something they would use in the gay pride parade.”

          Suitability Mark, if you need heavy duty vehicle for hauling of tons of equipment, obviously you’re going to need more power, space. But especially in a dense urban area there are many many uses for low power, low weight and efficient transport (not that I’m saying that thing is efficient, but the principles remain valid even if apparent implementation is garbage).

          Sometimes people walk, sometimes they ride bikes, sometimes they ride motorcycles, sometimes they drive vans, trucks, etc.

          Most of the time, for most people, for most typical tasks, shit could be far more efficient than driving around in an SUV…

          Reply

          • Avatar

            Mark Tapley

            |

            Hello Alcheminister:
            I think you’re reasoning is certainly valid. However I don’t understand what business any of this is of the government to be involved in. Get the government off our backs and out of our pockets and let the free market rule. As Jefferson stated: That government that governs least, governs best.

            This is all chump change compared to the giant bureaucracies overall, fake viruses, War on Terror and Green Energy scams. But all of it is money that could be left in the pockets of the real producers in the real economy, rather than shoving the money and productivity down another government rat hole of waste and insider graft.

          • Avatar

            Alcheminister

            |

            Well Mark, I was typing a pretty elaborate response about how you can a far more efficient, robust, safer and functional vehicle than that $12k piece of shit…but the thing is, I was checking car prices the other day…aand I could get a mid 2000s, quite robust already built ~60kw hatchback for around $1500. Two of those other things requiring construction, with the latest artificial scarcity weak planned obsolescence fragile bullshit without doors or lights ain’t gonna be better, cheaper or more effective.

          • Avatar

            Alcheminister

            |

            And while I don’t really want to spam so much, it’s something that happens. Sorry about my rtyping. I meant pounds when I typed the dollar signs. Monetary inflation is economic progress. What it’s used for is devaluing worth. Excellent choice.

          • Avatar

            Mark Tapley

            |

            Hello Alchminister:
            Its always nice to allocate other peoples money as the government does. Some bureaucrat that never has held a real job in their life, is just trying to put a feather in their hat by pumping “Green Energy” with this virtual signaling piece of shit that is just another example on wheels (till they fall off) of endemic government waste.,

  • Avatar

    Greg Spinolae

    |

    Being AWARE of the ClimateSCAM really does NOT REQUIRE one to be a sour miscontent upon the emergence of very sound alternative transport ideas for over-crowded cities that happen to be energy conservative as well as compact.

    Grow TF UP.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Andy

      |

      Excuse me?

      Reply

    • Avatar

      Geraint HUghes

      |

      You fail to see the scam right in front of your face. You must be known worldwide for you acuity.

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

    |

    Hi PSI Readers,

    What is a SURFACE TEMPERATURE?
    Unless you get an IR thermometer and use it as I describe (demonstrate), I doubt if you will ever convince yourself what a surface (skin) temperature actually is.

    In your home use it to measure the temperatures of your walls (high and low). That of the floors and a ceilings. And compare all these likely slightly different temperatures with the temperatures of the thermometers you use to measure interior air temperatures. This is to convince one that that these measured surface temperatures have a validity. This process might be called the calibration of the IR thermometer.

    Now, on a day when the sky color is very blue. The most blue you have ever seen and go out on ‘paved’ street. Be sure to leave your IR thermometer in the shade for 15 to 30 minutes. Stand in the middle of the street and point it straight up and take a couple of readings to ensure the temperature is consistent. Now point it downward directly at the illuminated street surface. Again take several readings to see if the readings are consistent. Now point it downward at you shadow on the street surface. Again take several readings. Now, move a few feet and again immediately begin to take repeated temperature of the just shaded surface until the temperatures become consistent.

    Now, ask yourself: Do I believe what I just measured? If you believe, you should intuitively know what a surface temperature is.

    Now, one more assignment. Point the thermometer directly at the bright sun. Then, a little more away from the sun. This is to convince you that the radiation of the sun does not stop with the red color. That the sun radiates IR radiation which your IR Thermometer should measure (detect).

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Geraint HUghes

      |

      What are you babbling about, that was just random.

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Alcheminister

        |

        Don’t you think those “cargo bikes” should have improved solar panels (that also utilize heat)? Ototh, I think growing some vegetables on the roof might be more efficient.

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Mak Tapley

          |

          Hello Alcheminister:
          These things won’t be functioning very long so maybe they can just be dragged up on the sidewalks and converted into public piss stations.

          Reply

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

    |

    Hi Andy Rowlands,
    ,
    I did not notice this was your article. I was in Shenzhen, China for three days while we visited this ‘New Modern Chinese City) which was a fishing village less than 50 years ago and was, a few years ago, several million. Many of whom were living in 15 to 20 story residential towers.

    Relative to the negative comments about the CARGO BIKES, I will limit myself to two brief stories.

    Story one: One time while we waiting for an elevator, two worker with a wheelbarrow of sand and a bag of cement (maybe not the correct term) were also waiting for an elevator. For the penthouse had not yet been completed and they were going up to begin finishing it.

    Story two: Another day we were sitting in an ‘American fast food place’ for lunch. I saw a worker across the street filling something small. Being curious, I walked across the street to better see. He was filing a KEY.

    Your critics obviously do not know how a near majority of the world’s population still live a
    productive life in China.

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Andy

      |

      No worries Jerry 🙂

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Jerry Krause

        |

        Hi Andy,

        First, I have no idea if you are Andy Rowlands or some other Andy. Second, whomever you are you seem to ignore my personal experienceS which I know are FACTS. By this evidence I must conclude this is how you deal with any factual information that comes your way that is inconsistent with what you believe.

        I do not live in a make-believe world. There are FACTS in my world.

        Have a good day, Jerry

        Reply

        • Avatar

          Andy

          |

          I am Andy Rowlands, I don’t know why my name only shows up as Andy.

          Reply

    • Avatar

      Mark Tapley

      |

      Yeah Jerry, a productive life for the Zionist elite clique at the top of the heap, mainly the descendants of the original gang of 8 that grabbed power after Mao’s death. Despite massive technology transfers from Jewmerica from the time of Nelson Rockefeller’s puppet Nixon, most Chinese are extremely poor. Those in the cities are under constant monitoring by the Total surveillance total control system while millions of ethnic Muslims and the minorities are in “re education” camps as slave labor. Thats what happens when there are no property rights as Marx manifesto has as the first (and principle rule). And thats whats coming here with the help of “Green Energy” fake viruses and contrived wars. There are large areas in California where there are almost all Chinese who have gotten out of that rat hole. The idea of having property that could be passed down as is still the case here was amazing to them.

      Reply

    • Avatar

      Jerry Krause

      |

      Hi PSI Readers,

      (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQDU1qTNAnI)

      Needs no explanation. Had already written: “Your [you] critics obviously do not know how a near majority of the world’s population still live a productive life in China.” Now you can watch how a near majority of the world’s population still live a productive life in India.

      Have a good day, Jerry

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Howdy

    |

    @Andy, just to be clear, the comment on pedals is not a reflection on you or your publication.

    First impression, they remind me of the milk floats of times past, so not remotely new idea. Big difference, milk floats could pull a full load of milk and used lead-acid batteries. These, while more up to date are a bit toy in comparison. The company using them claims to be fun, so I guess that’s Ok.

    Real info seems impossible to find. I gleaned what I can.
    Top speed I can find is 15.5 MPH assisted (even though the article quote mentions no pedals). No wonder, since the motor(s) is/are a measly 250 Watts, enough for a child size E-bike, but wouldn’t be able to pull anyone larger out of bed, never mind hill climbs.
    Claimed range is 40 miles. Seriously, that mileage claim is purely down to the stamina of the operator. I guess the plumbers are keep fit oriented.

    I see what may be rear view mirrors at the pillar apexes, but where are the driver-space side curtains, you know, like a motorcycle helmet visor to prevent dust, grit, rain? What about a wiper? I guess it’s because the vehicle is registered as a bike, that isn’t a bike. More importantly, where are the lights? Visibility is everything, and a tubular chassis and some plastic will be no match for even a good shunt with a motorbike. If I recall correctly, even disabled-user electric ‘scooters’ must use lights.
    Found this:
    “The Government state that in order to drive your Class 3 scooter on the road, you must have a maximum unladen weight of 150kg and a maximum width of 0.85 metres. You must also have an efficient braking system, front and rear lights and reflectors, indicators, an audible horn and a rear view mirror. If you’ll be taking your scooter on a dual carriageway you also need an amber flashing light. If it doesn’t have these features, you could be stopped by the police.”
    https://www.fishinsurance.co.uk/what-are-the-uk-rules-and-regulations-for-mobility-scooters/
    Class 3 is the sit on type.

    So do these ‘funny vans’ get excepted or what? They are self propelled, and in the UK, that demands a provisional licence too last time I looked.

    The usual gripes: “They’re safe, practical, zero emissions and eco-friendly, so we believe they’re going to play a big role in improving air quality”
    Usual ‘must-accept bluster. No they are not/wont. Safe? Even Motability scooter riders die, just like pedal bikers.

    Perhaps I’m taking things to seriously for a ‘fun’ vehicle?

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      It seems to have two small headlights (unless I’m mistaken). They are safe in the sense that if there is no bad weather they might not roll over, or if you drive two of them into each other nothing happens.

      I mean, an actually fast, athletic sprinter probably has the same sort of momentum and could probably ram that thing off the road. Let’s get some rugby players to test it out.

      Also, I highly recommend something resembling doors.

      Reply

        • Avatar

          Alcheminister

          |

          Well it seemingly does have two really inadequate looking turn lights (oh and the “illuminati”, “left-eye” parallel/imagery there is so appropriate, considering that’s an overvalued piece of shit).

          Reply

        • Avatar

          Alcheminister

          |

          Seriously, that thing looks so inferior that even downhill you’d be unable to cause a Ford Pinto to explode by driving into it. An actual bicycle would be far more effective and fun.

          Reply

      • Avatar

        Andy

        |

        There do seem to be lights yes at the front, but as others have pointed out, no doors, so the rider would be frozen and soaking wet in the winter.

        Reply

    • Avatar

      Geraint HUghes

      |

      They are classified as bicycles. I.e. RICKSHAWS!

      Reply

    • Avatar

      Andy

      |

      Thanks Howdy, and no worries 🙂

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Howdy

    |

    I see the tiny front set, but can’t see properly if the rears are the little red things, or the two rectangles near the top. The bottom ones could be reflectors. IMO, the rear is where you want your position announced loudly. Chevron vinyls on the rear would be a usefull safety addition, it’s not particularly highly visible except the dayglo front.

    I guess I’m just nit-picking, but I have safety concerns.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Geraint HUghes

    |

    If these rickshaws are allowed to use the bus lane, does that mean the city council of bristol will allow everyone whom lives close enough to / in bristol to swap their car for a rickshaw and clog up all the bus lanes? Their website does say cyclists can use bus lanes. Would be interesting to see happen. We could be like old china. Also, if everyone started using these rickshaws as a “car alternative” presently special insurance is not required, neither is registration or road tax. Sounds like a real win-win situation all round.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      Dude , relatively, what you linked to there is fucking amazing.

      I mean check this shit…

      “Transportation: Ocean,Land” It’s a fucking boat okay?

      “You can probably fit two kids or adults in the large and wide rear seat, and together with the front 2 passengers, there are 4 persons in total, which happens to be a family.””

      Fucking amazing. Just think about it, you can probably fit more than two people in that vehicle…but it’s got like 3 comparments. That’s good math hey.

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Alcheminister

    |

    That’s a huge upgrade. Wow dude, 2.5kw, doors AND lights? I would have to front wheels though

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Alcheminister

    |

    *two front wheels. Excuse me, I drink more than that vehicle does.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Howdy

      |

      “including a proper windscreen wiper.”
      You see? It’s a must have.

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Mark Tapley

        |

        Hello Howdy:
        You have already noted quite an array on deficiencies on these pieces of junk. Its one of those situations where you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ass. But after all, its the government.

        Reply

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

    |

    Hi Andy Rowlands, coeditor of PSI,

    You began: “A few days ago, the BristolWorld website published what may be the most ridiculous article I’ve seen so far this year.”

    It has been written that I am slow of mind and I know this is TRUE. But I like to also state: Sometimes I get there!

    I now finally see that there was no serious purpose of your article except to be critical of others. Now a fact is the some manufacturer invested money to build a manufacturing plant to construct that which is the focus of your article. I learned at an early age to question the validity (truth) of what I read (or hear). But I forget and now that I am old I know I forget much of what I had known (learned) at an earlier age. And now I am learning that AI knows what the word was that I intended and had misspelled. Isn’t this most ridiculous???

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Andy

      |

      Hi Jerry, the idea was indeed to be critical of such a stupid idea 🙂

      Reply

    • Avatar

      Mark Tapley

      |

      Right Jerry, “some manufacturer invested money to build a manufacturing plant.” Money that would never have been invested in the real economy because no one would have ever put money into a piece of junk like this except for the government as a kickback to political donors and insiders. Just like our insider “defense” industry that makes mostly non working weapons (like the patriot missile and phony nukes) at exorbitant prices in the never ending quest to fleece the sheep and plunder the pruductive element of society.

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Alcheminister

        |

        ” Just like our insider “defense” industry that makes mostly non working weapons (like the patriot missile and phony nukes) at exorbitant prices in the never ending quest to fleece the sheep and plunder the pruductive element of society.”

        Making weapons, based on what, for what? Wtf. I have no need to bomb anyone. I simply think that assholes and pieces of shit are related and need to be completely disabled. I often don’t even punch people.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxDjJ5h6KaI

        Reply

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

    |

    Hi Andy Rowlands,

    You just wrote: “I don’t know why my name only shows up as Andy.”

    When I make a comment here at PSI, I have to type my name and my email address. Yes, sometimes I type Hi So and so without thinking and I know my mistake and I see sometimes others misspell the names they usually use.

    I ask: Am I wrong that you are a coeditor of PSI???

    I have read that PSI was founded because its founders could did not have another way to get their scientific ideals and arguments before a larger audience than the book some of the founders had written.

    So PSI founders gave themselves and people as myself opportunity to call attention to observations and measurements not commonly being considered.

    Based upon what now read it seems the a purpose of PSI has become a pulpit for people to criticize what other people have done and/or stated. I conclude that only D. Boss has discussed the engineering and science of his electric bike which he pedals for exercise. And certainly exercise is a health and a scientific issue.

    I have written, relative to the article you posted: “whomever you are you seem to ignore my personal experiences which I know are FACTS”

    And I wrote a critical comment: “Your [you, another typing. mistake] critics obviously do not know how a near majority of the world’s population still live a
    productive life in China.”

    It is popular in the USA to be critical of China. The government of China, whatever its government might be, has a population problem. And I observe that no government caused this problem, the people of China did.

    My grandfather Krause was born in what is now northern Poland, immigrated, about 1862, as a youth with his family to the US and to Wisconsin where his father homesteaded. Then my grandfather got married in 1882 and immediately moved from Wisconsin to eastern South Dakota to homestead. And my grandparents had 10 children. Seven girls and three boys.

    Why so many children? The generally accepted answer: to help with the farm work in an effort to survive and to provide seeds for future Krauses’.

    But the largest Krause families after that have been four children. Why with larger farms with the steam engine and larger equipments more human help is needed to survive. But China is a much older culture with a large population and when farming became mechanized there were no large fields to mechanize. So farming continued to be done primarily by ‘hand’ labor. And even though the ‘farm’ were quite small; there was a continued need for more hands. There are other possible, probable reasons for large families which do not concern what the governments were.

    And I consider that anyone who does not consider that China and India now have a population problem cannot see. Which SCIENCE is all about; SEEING THE OBVIOUS.

    You just wrote: “Hi Jerry, the idea was indeed to be critical of such a stupid idea.” I called attention to my personal observations I made in China. Which it seemed you and most others ignored. Beside, D. Boss, who also considered the cargo bike stupid, did not dwell on the stupidity but communicated his positive practical experiences and that clearly were technical and scientific.

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Mark Tapley

    |

    Hello jerry:
    Both China and India’s population are going to fall drastically over the next few decades. At present birth rates that is a given. The western countries had early exposure to Greek culture and Christianity that served to create a government of laws and a moral society. The orient was just a feudal despotism until finally exposed to western culture, although on the downside was British colonialism mostly manifested in the opium trade controlled by the Jews. FDR’s grandfather, Warren Delano was the biggest opium dealer in Hong Kong. After the U.S. drove Japan out of Manchuria and installed Mao, over 60 million people starved to death as admitted by China, in “The Great Leap Forward.” Today China is the model for the NWO as it leads the world in livestock management with its urban social credit score total surveillance total control system. A modal envied by all Zionist puppet actor politicians.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      I really doubt that India’s population will drastically reduce. The other day they even outlawed vaccine mandates.

      Reply

    • Avatar

      Alcheminister

      |

      And wow, you seem to have some really warped ideas. Personally I think abrahamism is horseshit and think a lot of “western values” are garbage.

      I mean, if you try to give me a KJV, you’re going to get hurt.

      Reply

  • Avatar

    Jerry Krause

    |

    Hi PSI Readers,

    I have no idea if anyone reads what I write; however I know that is your problem, not mine. It would only be my problem if I didn’t write.

    I just discovered a book I had totally forgotten about. Its title is WHY IT’S NOT CARBON DIOXIDIE AFTER ALL by Douglas J Cotton. About whom, on its back cover I read: “The author graduated with a major in physics from Sydney University in the 1060’s. He won a scholarship to attend Prof Harry Messel’s Summer School of Science and developed a love physics which carried over into many years of private study and tutoring in the field. More recently he studied climate science in considerable detail and came to an understanding of the processes that are widely misunderstood in the field of climatology. He has had published a paper “Radiated Energy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics” referred to in the book, and has also written several articles relating to climate change.”

    I am frugal but the price of this 33 page book, in 1914, was US $24.95 and I suspect I did pay this price for it. But I cannot blame Douglas for my not reading his book with good comprehension and then forgetting about it since 2014 when it was published.

    I now know I did not fully and carefully read this book because on page 2 I now read “Many scientists and academics have started to realize that there are serious errors in the greenhouse conjecture, and organizations such as Principal Scientific International (PSI) and The Heartland Institute have attracted hundreds of members.” For I did not discover PSI until 1916.

    The principal purpose of this comment is to draw attention to Prof Harry Messel and his Summer School of Science. Which, if you are reading this, I leave it to you to Google the Prof and read about him and his Summer School of Science.

    Have a good day, Jerry

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Howdy

    |

    “I have no idea if anyone reads what I write; however I know that is your problem, not mine”
    Since your post is off topic and irrelevant, the fault is yours.

    Reply

    • Avatar

      Jerry Krause

      |

      Hi Howdy,

      I now know that at least one person read my “off topic” post and seems to have ignored it. Hence, you have just proven the problem is yours and not mine.

      Have a good day, Jerry

      Reply

      • Avatar

        Howdy

        |

        “I have no idea if anyone reads what I write”
        But it’s my problem because you don’t know if? Nice try, but failed logic. how did I ignore it if I responded? No, don’t answer. just ask others for feedback if you feeling left out.

        I read the first line only, then commented. The rest is just superfluous. You keep writing these weird long posts about anything at all without provocation. That is entirely down to you.

        Reply

Leave a comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Share via