Reading the Houston city council discussion, it looks like they intend to curfew standup (platform) e-scooters. But the ordinance uses the term "micromobility device", which is not really a legal definition of anything, and could include lots of things (even 50cc scooters). Hopefully the ordinance could be amended to clarify.

Since the vast majority of these will be app-rented e-scooters (ERYD/Lime), and those companies already operate under franchise agreements with the city, it seems like the easier path would be to put hours-of-operation limits on the rental companies.

Not that I think limiting e-scooters is a good idea, either.

The article is horribly unclear: it seems to say that PHEVs are no good, but "the main reason for the higher-than-stated fuel usage was ...that the PHEVs use two different modes, the electric engine and the combustion engine". Well, so do non-plugin hybrids. I doubt they're saying that plug-in hybrids are worse than non-plugin, but you might guess that from the title.

The article states that Porsche PHEVs used 7 liters per 100 miles (33.6mpg), but Kia/Toyota/Ford/Renault used "85% less" (1.05L/100k or 223mpg... maybe about right if driven 75% from plug-in energy).

Porsche mentioned "different usage patterns". I can buy that a typical Prius owner is plugging-in every night, filling low-rolling-resistance tires to 54psi and driving like grandma, and a typical Porsche owner... isn't. If you want apples-to-apples, then compare a gas Corolla vs a Prius vs a Plug-in Prius, where the cars are from the same city/suburb, and similar owners (e.g.: no ubers, no regional sales reps).

This "study" is evaluating real-world use of one class of vehicles, and not other vehicle types; then using the dismal ways some people drive to imply that this particular class of vehicles is the problem.

I have separate profiles:

• main user has no Google Play services or Gapps: just F-Droid apps and a couple of play store apps I use daily (anonymously via Aurora Store app)
• Aurora profile has other playstore apps that will run without Google Play Services
• PlayStore profile is for anything that requires full Google Play Services (banking, purchased apps)
• Work profile is full-on Google everyting (Google school)

• Location is on, but only shared with Organic Maps, FindMyDevice (FMD) and Transit.app
• USB port is power-only (no data).

Some compromises I've made:

• I have fingerprint unlock enabled (but not on my password vault or PlayStore/Banking profile)
• I tap-to-pay with a Garmin watch ( you only need the Garmin app to set-up the credit card, then it can be deleted )

But... I think starting-out, don't worry about it. If you load all the same apps as on your old phone, into a single main profile, it'll still be a huge improvement.

Be sure to identify as "an avid driver... but sometimes I want to bike on Central, and it's just not safe!" ;)

Bosch sells its 2A charger (~80w) for $93, and it's still 3x6x8 inches and weighs a pound. If I could use my MacBook Pro 96w brick, I wouldn't have to haul the Bosch charger to work.

I also have a Serial1, and there were no available chargers for a few years.

There is also fire risk when bodegas try to charge many bikes. If the bikes had the BMS and DC-DC on-board, and just used USB-C to get the electrons, we may see fewer fires.

I use several banks and several credit unions, and the only thing I can't do with a laptop is deposit checks (which is getting pretty rare).

FinTech products like PayPal, Venmo, Cash.app, BlueBird and such often require a phone app, but aren't regulated banks, and are best avoided when possible.

AFAIK, all EV6's, IQ5s etc have the ICCU issue, which appears to be under-spec MOSFETs . One tally on a forum I'm on estimates 2%-10% of owners have experienced failure. However, the 10yr/100k-mile electric warranty covers it.

There is a new part number last month for the ICCU (from old 36400 1XFA0 to new 36400 1XFA0A), so there's some hope that it may be sorted. Maybe your dealer can verify that a new EV6 has the new ICCU part number (I've also heard that it can be read via CarScanner).

We are at 80k miles, so hoping either ours pops within 20k, or else there is a recall or class-action.

There's also the risk that credit card companies are claiming that fraud done using your phone app (for example, someone stole your unlocked phone(*)) is not covered, and you are on the hook for losses.

But stolen physical credit cards are always covered.

(*)EDIT: I thought I'd read a report that someone who had been mugged and forced to give their phone+PIN had an issue with their CC company; but it looks like this is mostly a problem with money transferred out of a bank account, not credit card purchases... and even then, hiring a lawyer will usually get the bank to pay-up.

Thanks!
I have been searching the image, and I think I found it: 2010-ish Scott Speedster 50 with flat handlebars

https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=2010&Brand=Scott&Model=Speedster+S50+flat+bar

That does indeed claim the fork is "carbon/alloy", which explains the previous owner's confusion.

But a review in Cycling Weekly says "The first disappointment to mention is the alloy fork, which gives a harsh ride and passes every bit of road buzz on to the rider." (https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...)

I smell "marketing dept. carbon-fiber" :) If anybody knows where a "carbon/alloy" fork may have used carbon (I can't find a spot that doesn't -ding-), then I'd have some idea how it might fail carrying panniers.

We have a Tern GSD (both wheels are 20"). I think having the back wheel smaller is important if people are going to sit on top of the rear rack. The smaller front wheel does allow more stuff on the pizza rack. But I also have an old 26" MTB with pizza rack, and it can carry plenty of camping gear up front, even with the 26" wheel.

The down-side of the smaller 20" wheels for me is in snow (not a problem for everyone!). I crashed once, even with studded tires, while I'd ridden that MTB with studded tires all winter for years without falling. Also, there is only one studded 20" tire available, and it is not knobby enough for me.

Having both wheels small definitely make it easier to store. I had an Xtracycle Free Radical attached to the MTB, and that bike was long and hard to park.

I seem to remember that when it opened, they had radio ads recorded by Fancy Ray... for a long time, I thought he must be the owner :haha:

Facebook's app is in Play Store. Google knew FB was violating ToS for months.
Blocking sideloaded apps would have done nothing against that.

Unless the take is: Google wants to know who, exactly, they are permitting to do crimes on your phone. They don't like the not-knowing part.

Minneapolis MN USA allows them on light rail, but the racks on the front of the bus are limited to 55lbs (so a 46 lb Soltera is OK if you can lift it into place)

Day-to-day, it's very nice. Charging at CCS chargers is very fast (though charging at Tesla is slower than some, 98kw). If you're not in a warm climate, be sure you get one with battery preconditioning (in '22, that meant getting an AWD model).

The GT (and I think GT-Line?) has a low ceiling due to the sunroof... we got the Wind+options due to tall family members.

The interior and exterior 120v outlets are really nice: I powered a freezer, fridge, window A/C unit and internet from it during an all-day power outage.

This is brilliant: tire wear (loss of X grams of rubber) scales with distance traveled, vehicle weight, speed and aggressive driving.

but the supply chain is very hard to lock-down, without tire serial numbers.

I am using a Garmin watch when I need TTP. The companion app can be run in a separate profile (or even an old phone, or chromebook, or maybe Android Studio with bluetooth). I'm not sure how often the watch needs to sync to keep TTP working. I'm hoping that Garmin is a smaller fish in the data-broker economy (than Goog/Appl/Samsung).

I'm not logging any activities, though I haven't read any analyses of whether Garmin is secretly logging GPS, then uploading that when it syncs.

The way I read it is:

• if you never plug-in overnight, and the vehicle is big, and you drive aggressively, you get 34mpg (believable)
• but if you plug-in a small car every night, and you get 75% of your miles electric, and you drive like a grandma, then you get 223mpg (believable)

Sadly, it sounds like Porsche drivers may fall into the first category and Toyota drivers in the second. And there are enough Porches to skew the MPG of the whole PHEV class.

(it's also possible that Porsche/VW/Audi just make PHEVs that score well on gov't tests but poorly in the real world, though I'd lean towards the drivers. But the article title really implies that all PHEVs get shockingly bad mileage)

I tend to buy <$200usd phones and use for 4 years (so: ~$50/year). I'm on a Pixel6A now, and plan to upgrade to an 8A at EOL in summer 2027. An unlocked 8A in "good condition" is $255 now on Swappa, and would get updates until summer 2031, so that meets the $50/year metric.

I'll be interested in GrapheneOS's new partner, but I suspect only their brand new phone will work, so... I'll consider it in 2031 :)

We just finished a 8-charge trip. I was able to use credit card 4x, but needed an app at 4. Chargepoint's app worked at those, even though 3 were other networks.

So I think credit card + chargepoint app may now do pretty well.

sorry, I think I was confusing bank transfers with credit card transactions.