Originally Posted by
madpogue
I don't know how fast a bike share e-bike can go, but given the weight, and what I assume is the capacity for higher speed than a strictly human-powered version, a bell is probably inadequate. The bells on our non-electric share bikes are wimpy at best. For an e-share-bike, an electric blaster horn might be more apropos. Not just for the audible range, but for what it "means" to someone hearing it. That ped probably heard the bell, had a fleeting thought about an ice cream vendor, and continued to cross without breaking stride.
Noglider has ridden one, and he said they seem governed at 15mph. That doesn't seem too fast, but in some denser urban situations it can be more than some riders are used to. I agree about the bell, especially in a place like Manhattan with a lot of ambient noise. If someone is on the phone (very common), it will do absolutely nothing to get their attention.