Am actually really interested in the safety stats. Would guess on those things you aren't doing more than 40, so probably not too bad for rider vs e.g. motorbikes where the temptation is to crazy speeds. And with it being smaller/lighter than a car it's clearly safer for pedestrians and other vehicles.
I briefly owned one of these. Mine topped out at 32 kph (20 mph) but most models went faster.
IMO the biggest risk is if you accelerate too hard the engine cuts out even if you're st high speed. And of course you're leaning forward when it happens because that's how you accelerate.
I never found the braking distance to be a problem. To brake you basically just sit down and it kicks the motor into reverse. Because it uses the motor to rebalance the other way its much faster than if it were something like a disc brake.
I very strongly disagree. If you're taking those things on roads you are very, very much in danger. To brake you need to physically shift your entire body instead of just moving a hand or foot, and they have motor brakes instead of friction braking.
Sure, they can go that fast, but that's not the primary mode of operation. Most of the time, I see these going ~10 mph, and I'll often pass them on my bicycle (I go 15-20 unless there are peds).
Going at unsafe speeds typically only impacts the rider, because they are small enough that peds can easily get out of the way. Going at unsafe speeds in a car puts other people at risk because they're big and often around other people.
Maybe these are an issue in other parts of the world, but they don't seem to be one in mine.
You have no fucking clue what a deadly speed is. One of these hitting you kills you a significant portion of the time, and these will actively kill their riders at a way higher clip. This is a dumb hill to die on. Cars have elaborate safety standards. These do not.
Honestly, if you fear the EUC strawman (for pedestrians) and not the giant 3000lb+ metal boxes that can go 100mph+ standard (for decades) that's a weird hill to live on. The momentum isn't even comparable.
Just about anything around you is going to provide some protection from a stray EUC rider (a wooden fence, a bus shelter, a cemented mailbox), a car can barrel through a fucking brick wall. Yeah, EUC riders are probably more in-danger but they also probably are going to pass out on the pavement rather than on their accelerator. I'm guessing you'll say some cars fix that (maybe if the surveillance tech is working right), but yeah not that used car they're actually in because cars are expensive.
Also from what I see a medium-weight EUC is 60lbs and heavy is 80lbs, so I imagine a pedestrian crash with one would mostly result in leg/foot breaks. Assuming standing adult and no sweet jumps.
unless it goes at stupid car speeds, if you wear proper protection, those crashes shouldn't be too bad.
and they're going at stupid speeds, then tf did they expect.
And even then, it's still safer than a car. given than a car in an accident can kill a handful of civilians and keep the driver safe, that thing puts the driver in danger and at worst they might injure a passerby.
As a user of just about every type of PEV most electric unicycles are generally safer than scooters assuming you are geared up. You have a much bigger wheel to go over bumps and most modern models will have suspension and good regenerative breaking. Scooters have tiny little wheels and handle bars to cause major injuries.
Most people on euc\electric unicycles are well trained compared to any other PEV group I've seen, not that there's not a fair share of idiot squids.
I realize you're joking, but the vehicles considered to be the first motor car and first motorcycle were both created in the same year, FYI - neither is a response to the other.
One of my favorite Ducktales stories is that when they remade the theme for the 2017 reboot, the producer told Felicia Barton to sing it like "you can't believe you're actually singing the theme to Ducktales!"
What happens when the battery dies and you become a projectile? A guy tools around on one of these in my neighborhood and it seems orders of magnitude less safe than even motorcycling.
First you get warning beeps long before it's truly out of battery then tilt back and slow down to stop. You can enable emergency low battery mode on some and go very slow for a little longer but even in that mode it will slow to stop before it totally runs out.
There's at least one in my city, he looked like an all black Masterchief weaving between dense traffic going uphill, I was pretty amazed. The most sci fi looking method of travel I've seen.
75 replies
Blathering blatherskite!
Everyone of age heard this in his voice which makes it even more awesome
Also it is everyone's only source of the word blatherskite! Which is a term for someone who cannot hold their tongue (hence the balthering part).
I miss this show
Oh, wait, I have it on my Plex server! Hooray!
I now have "hoard so much media that I lose complete track of what I have" as a life goal. Thank you.
Once you pass 25 TB, it’s all up in the air
Bikers: "Cars are too safe. I'd like to do away with lateral stability, crumple zones and a roof."
This dude: "...Hold my beer."
that thing is still safer than a car. by so much they aren't even in the same league.
unless you get hit be a car. because the car is the danger.
And, jokes aside, that dude is dressed to handle the fallout much better than anyone who ever got behind the wheel of a car.
Am actually really interested in the safety stats. Would guess on those things you aren't doing more than 40, so probably not too bad for rider vs e.g. motorbikes where the temptation is to crazy speeds. And with it being smaller/lighter than a car it's clearly safer for pedestrians and other vehicles.
I briefly owned one of these. Mine topped out at 32 kph (20 mph) but most models went faster.
IMO the biggest risk is if you accelerate too hard the engine cuts out even if you're st high speed. And of course you're leaning forward when it happens because that's how you accelerate.
Isn't the biggest risk that you can't shift your weight enough in emergency braking? The stopping distance must be horrible.
I never found the braking distance to be a problem. To brake you basically just sit down and it kicks the motor into reverse. Because it uses the motor to rebalance the other way its much faster than if it were something like a disc brake.
Some of the more expensive ones are advertised to go 100+ kph
Yeah but how many users are actually that brave/stupid? 100kph feels FAST on a motorbike, I can't imagine how it feels on one of these 😬
what joke? I there is no way to say a car is safer than that.
Dude.
Ideology is a hell of a drug lmao
I very strongly disagree. If you're taking those things on roads you are very, very much in danger. To brake you need to physically shift your entire body instead of just moving a hand or foot, and they have motor brakes instead of friction braking.
https://electrek.co/2025/10/16/new-electric-unicycle-hits-an-insane-93-mph-top-speed/
Cars don't get speed wobbles. Cars have 3 extra wheels in case one wheel hits something slippery.
Sure, they can go that fast, but that's not the primary mode of operation. Most of the time, I see these going ~10 mph, and I'll often pass them on my bicycle (I go 15-20 unless there are peds).
Going at unsafe speeds typically only impacts the rider, because they are small enough that peds can easily get out of the way. Going at unsafe speeds in a car puts other people at risk because they're big and often around other people.
Maybe these are an issue in other parts of the world, but they don't seem to be one in mine.
however you don't reach deadly speeds, while a car at its minimum speed is lethal to everyone outside of it
You have no fucking clue what a deadly speed is. One of these hitting you kills you a significant portion of the time, and these will actively kill their riders at a way higher clip. This is a dumb hill to die on. Cars have elaborate safety standards. These do not.
that thing won't reach deadly speeds, especially if you wear protection.
the risk that riding that gives is from other cars.
even with all the elaborate safety standards, cars are more dangerous than cheap bikes who's only safety are helmets.
A bit telling how you mentioned care safety standards that are only for the driver and not the people around the car. Maybe think of other people
I HAVE LITERALLY SEEN THESE REACH DEADLY SPEED
Cars have safety standards for pedestrians. Oh my fucking God.
Lol, what safety standards for pedestrians? the only safety standards for cars regarding pedestrians is legal.
Honestly, if you fear the EUC strawman (for pedestrians) and not the giant 3000lb+ metal boxes that can go 100mph+ standard (for decades) that's a weird hill to live on. The momentum isn't even comparable.
Just about anything around you is going to provide some protection from a stray EUC rider (a wooden fence, a bus shelter, a cemented mailbox), a car can barrel through a fucking brick wall. Yeah, EUC riders are probably more in-danger but they also probably are going to pass out on the pavement rather than on their accelerator. I'm guessing you'll say some cars fix that (maybe if the surveillance tech is working right), but yeah not that used car they're actually in because cars are expensive.
Also from what I see a medium-weight EUC is 60lbs and heavy is 80lbs, so I imagine a pedestrian crash with one would mostly result in leg/foot breaks. Assuming standing adult and no sweet jumps.
Check the article I linked please.
Or even just read the url.
This thing will literally catapult you the second there’s a minor glitch.
unless it goes at stupid car speeds, if you wear proper protection, those crashes shouldn't be too bad.
and they're going at stupid speeds, then tf did they expect.
And even then, it's still safer than a car. given than a car in an accident can kill a handful of civilians and keep the driver safe, that thing puts the driver in danger and at worst they might injure a passerby.
By that logic, pedestrians are the most foolish.
Who need walk when you have car?
As a user of just about every type of PEV most electric unicycles are generally safer than scooters assuming you are geared up. You have a much bigger wheel to go over bumps and most modern models will have suspension and good regenerative breaking. Scooters have tiny little wheels and handle bars to cause major injuries.
Most people on euc\electric unicycles are well trained compared to any other PEV group I've seen, not that there's not a fair share of idiot squids.
I realize you're joking, but the vehicles considered to be the first motor car and first motorcycle were both created in the same year, FYI - neither is a response to the other.
Bikes are actually safer than cars when you count all threats. The sedentary years behind the wheel are killing you.
Doing calisthenics while driving a bike doesn't sound particularly safe.
If it worked for the Mongolians it'll work for the Mongols.
Life is like a hurricane,
Here in duckburg
Racecars, lasers, aeroplanes
It's a duck blur
Might solve a mystery
Or rewrite history!
AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!
I mean … Ducktales! OOOooo!
... oh no
One of my favorite Ducktales stories is that when they remade the theme for the 2017 reboot, the producer told Felicia Barton to sing it like "you can't believe you're actually singing the theme to Ducktales!"
Here in, duck burg.
I've been calling these dweebs gizmo duck for years lol
Gizmoduck
Gizmodork
Now I want to see a really good Gizmoduck cosplay.
Alien Rides!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QvXR7cFVs
Oh man, what was his dumbass catchphrase to summon the suit and become Gizmoduck? 🤔
Blathering blatherskite!
Claptrap?
Claptbtbtbtrap
Let me throw some numbers at you.
What happens when the battery dies and you become a projectile? A guy tools around on one of these in my neighborhood and it seems orders of magnitude less safe than even motorcycling.
i'd imagine it slows, not stops automatically.
the way they're riding, they need a furry tail/buttplug combo
🎶 Try'na catch me ridin' furry 🎶
First you get warning beeps long before it's truly out of battery then tilt back and slow down to stop. You can enable emergency low battery mode on some and go very slow for a little longer but even in that mode it will slow to stop before it totally runs out.
This is most likely from Ducktales, but it does have big Darkwing Duck energy.
Ah, after a quick search I can see that Darkwing Duck and Gizmoduck were allies at one point in their shared universe, that's cool.
Does every city have one of these guys? Although this one doesn't have the small rearview mirrors on his helmet.
There's at least one in my city, he looked like an all black Masterchief weaving between dense traffic going uphill, I was pretty amazed. The most sci fi looking method of travel I've seen.
Ofc it's in San Francisco lmao
The Oakland Bay Bridge is very distinctive!
Gizmoduck had a phone number... 555-gzmo.
Cool, now we can add the 415 or 510 area code!
Looks like one of the robots from the animated movie Robots
Krachbummente?
it would be so cool to watch them race
I just found this clip on Alien Rides yt channel. I'd say he's soooo ready to race!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5QvXR7cFVs
Did you really have to show me this? Now I have a desire to buy (borrow?) one of these for a Halloween costume.
It's been around bro . Ever seen a compact disk?