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I mean, they do have a motor, so I don't see why they should be less regulated than other motorized vehicles. They're just as dangerous to the user as a moped.
by bagacrap 5y ago
I mean, they do have a motor, so I don't see why they should be less regulated than other motorized vehicles. They're just as dangerous to the user as a moped.
- tonyedgecombe 5y ago>They're just as dangerous to the user as a moped. In the UK (and the EU) they are restricted to 15 mph so no different to a traditional bike. If you want a speed pedelec (28 mph) then it needs to be registered like a moped and mostly can't go on bike paths.
- bagacrap 5y agoThe speed limit is higher in the US, but I don't think the top speed per se is the main factor that contributes to danger. E bikes are dangerous because they empower novice users (teenager with a ferrari type of deal), and because they slot in somewhere between cars and normal bikes/peds in terms of speed, meaning their users wind up on roads, where they're vulnerable to cars, or on paths, which are often poorly engineered with tight/blind curves and where pedestrians aren't expecting someone to fly by at 22mph. I find the average motorist expects to be able to save themselves from any dangerous situation by simply slamming on the brakes. With traditional bikes piloted by neophytes, this works alright since the top speed is probably ~15mph. But this doesn't work as well for two wheeled vehicles traveling at high speeds, where slamming on the brakes can cause a loss of traction and ultimately balance. Mopeds and motorcycles require special certification in the US (beyond a normal driver's license) because they are not just tiny cars, and the same should apply to ebikes.