Psssst, Wanna See What Happens When a Subway Train Hits an E-Bike?
This is why you should always park your rental bike properly…but then, where’s the fun in that?
The Inter-web was lit up this week, literally, with a viral video that showed what happens when you park your e-bike on a rail track. The bike in question appears to be a Citi-Bike rental, which is popular in New York City, being ground into scrap on the subway tracks. The result is, well, quite a spectacular explosion, many assume to be because of the bike’s battery.
Apparently, the incident happened after some dullard left their rental bike on the track at the Steinway Station, which was then hit by an approaching train. It’s doubtful that the battery in the bike could have created such a spark. More likely the explosion was an arc created as the metal bike shorted across the electric rails. Whatever the real cause, it sure did make some interesting fireworks.
#NewYork Citi Bike explodes on subway tracks after being hit by oncoming train
Originally posted byhttps://t.co/SK0OUQ7Jl7 pic.twitter.com/0TxZyOt2aX— Disaster (@Disastervid) September 21, 2021
After the explosion, the entire area was filled with yellowish smoke which forced other commuters to flee the area. The culprit has not been identified but seeing as the NYPD stated that the person responsible caused substantial risk of injury, they will probably take some time looking for him/her. And let us not forget that you get the bike using an app, which is tied to your personal account.
Unfortunately, things like this can become fashionable. We all remember the ice-bucket challenge which swept the world a few years ago. But please, large lithium batteries and high voltage subway tracks are not a good mix.
