[piafraus]

> you can't actually pedal this thing... sort of foundational to the concept "bicycle".

Interesting. Just wondering - what does "pedal" mean to you. Explicitly spinning and explicitly with feets?

Are any of those not considered bicycles to you?

-Elliptical bicycle -Treadmill bicycle -Handcycle

[zamadatix]

Whether a "treadmill bicycle" counts seems on the level as asking "if the impossible burger is a burger" or "if a hotdog is a sandwich" in terms of failure to gain any clarity by asking.

On the literal sense every dictionary definition of "bicycle" is going to include some variation of "pedal driven". In the practical sense whatever functions enough like a bicycle is going to count, typically alluded to by being called a ${thing} bicycle, but "it moves on wheels and you go on it" isn't going to clear that bar on its own in this "electric suitcase".

[petsfed]

In all 3 cases, the forward motion is ultimately provided by human power. So, even if you (for some reason) decided to motorize an elliptical bicycle or treadmill bicycle, the straightforward requirement is that its still mostly functional without power provided to the motor. I feel like an electric-assist handcycle should already exist, but its ultimately the same question. "Does it still work nearly as well after the battery is discharged?" I'm not super fit, but I can definitely hit 30 km/h on my road bike, so pedal assist to get me to 30 km/h is not beyond the reasonable limits of the average user.

You can certainly put a motorcycle into neutral and sort of scoot it around, but to make it usable in that configuration, you'd have to mess with the overall geometry to the point that its not comfortable to ride as a motorcycle.

[Loughla]

The first two don't go anywhere and therefore aren't a problem. The third is just a variation of bicycle. What is your point here?

[zamadatix]

The first two are probably more literal than you're interpreting them at first glance. E.g. imagine taking a bike and putting a literal treadmill in it to replace the pedals/seat. It's a (niche) thing separate from a treadmill and definitely moves. In the end I think you're right but your conclusion "it's just a variation of a bike" really applies to all 3, hence "${thing} bicycle" instead of something like "electric suitcase".

[lmm]

> The first two don't go anywhere

They're probably talking about e.g. an elliptigo, which does go somewhere. Although I can't imagine it ever making sense to motorise one.