• AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    21 hours ago

    That negligible difference is actually a fairly large one once the physics of inertia and impacts gets into play. The energy, and therefore the damage, is exponential based on velocity. That ≈6.6km/hr difference increases damage by a lot more than you may suspect, and pedestrians don’t generally wear helmets and pads to protect themselves from impacts.

    • ilillilillilillililli@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      5 hours ago

      That’s a fair point. But I’d assume most of downtown New York City has of speed limit of 25mph anyway. So Class 3 riders shouldn’t be going above that, regardless of what their bike is capable of. Whether you drive a Lamborghini or Toyota, you’re still obligated to follow the same laws (horrible analogy, I know).

    • Logi@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      12 hours ago

      It’s geometric, not exponential. Going from 25 to 28 freedom units is factor 1.12 and v² increases by factor 1.2544 or 25%.

      • altphoto@lemmy.today
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        12 hours ago

        But at 60mph if you crashed into a wall you’d vaporize instantly. Because exponential.

        • Logi@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 hours ago

          No exponential. Geometric. Squared. Energy is E=mv². At a speed of 60 freedom units you’re going factor 2.4 times faster than at 20. The energy will be factor 5.76 times higher. Or 476% more if you like.

          The word exponential has a specific meaning. It doesn’t just mean really big.