Honestly, seeing them zipping around everywhere they look pretty good on the face of it. The advantages seem obvious:
- Save time versus walking
- Quiet
- No effect on local air quality
The main issue is them colliding with pedestrians, but (similar to bike lanes) that’s a thing town planners should deal with by creating the right environment.
I’m willing to change my view if people tell me good reasons they are bad.
Yes, there is more environmental impact than a bicycle, but not than an e-bike, and they seem to be good for people reluctant to cycle.
They’re dangerous as fuck. Tiny wheels and very minimal or no suspension means that any bump or small stone in the road is going to send you flying at 25-45 kph.
Electric bicycles are all the conveniences of an e scooter in a much more solid and stable frame, except portability.
Electric unicycles have the wheel size and suspension of an ebike but with better portability than an escooter, the only real downside is the steep learning curve.
What happens if you hit a bump or stone though? Seems like it would be even more dangerous?
Not really, the suspension and your knees absorb it and you keep riding.
For example, this is what it looks like riding an older, non suspension electric unicycle up and down curbs and stairs.
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: