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>The way most people use E-Bikes is as an unlicensed motorbike Not just food delivery, but even allegedly recreational users abuse them. In the urban area whe

>The way most people use E-Bikes is as an unlicensed motorbike Not just food delivery, but even allegedly recreational users abuse them. In the urban area where I live there is a network of paved trails that are well-used by walkers, runners, and cyclists (dozens of paved miles with some bridges or underpasses to ease crossing major streets). Even though motorized vehicles are prohibited, I'm told by the former director of the regional park district that e-bike users are able to flaunt the law because of ADA (disabled) access rules, apparently they can pretend their e-bike is just like a motorized wheelchair or scooter for a disabled person. They often zip by pedestrians from behind, squeezing through two-way traffic, never ringing a bell when passing, at relatively high speeds. I strongly believe they should have to display a license plate and be insured, and wear a helmet too. I've also considered how I might be able to carry some kind of stick or rod projecting out to my left as I walk on the right, so that they have to give me a few feet of clearance to avoid hitting it.

Schroedingersat 4y ago
> never ringing a bell when passing, at relatively high speeds. Bells are a problem because they make passing less safe at closing speeds over 2mph as people tend to react very unpredictably. When used at 0 closing speed people often interpret them as aggressive. I find the safest passing strategy on mixed paths is usually to slow to walking speed with 3m clearance until there is a grassy area or wide driveway/road/similar to pass with a wide berth, and to use the freewheel to make a bit of noise so it's not a surprise. I think the solution (in addition to reducing the number of overpowered and fast vehicles) is probably a PR campaign of some kind to encourage some kind of predictable behavior (one ring means 'please do not move I am passing owly with 2ft of clearance' or similar) > I strongly believe they should have to display a license plate and be insured, and wear a helmet too That's just conceding that shared paths and bike paths should be more like roads, and then punishing the few people doing the right thing. Actually enforce the laws that already exist, and if that's not enough make ebikes more like bikes (smaller, lighter, slower). I'm here for more LEVs (whether number plated or not), but they're not bikes, they do not belong on pedestrian paths, and adding pedals to one doesn't make it a bike. 200W or 250W power limits (as the real upper limit, not the horribly flawed test process euro standard bikes use that makes it more of a lower limit) and 15mph motor-speed limitations based on real physical design instead of software. If that's not enough, reduce the power further or make it scale down with speeds above 5mph.

Schroedingersat 4y ago

> never ringing a bell when passing, at relatively high speeds. Bells are a problem because they make passing less safe at closing speeds over 2mph as people tend to react very unpredictably. When used at 0 closing speed people often interpret them as aggressive. I find the safest passing strategy on mixed paths is usually to slow to walking speed with 3m clearance until there is a grassy area or wide driveway/road/similar to pass with a wide berth, and to use the freewheel to make a bit of noise so it's not a surprise. I think the solution (in addition to reducing the number of overpowered and fast vehicles) is probably a PR campaign of some kind to encourage some kind of predictable behavior (one ring means 'please do not move I am passing owly with 2ft of clearance' or similar) > I strongly believe they should have to display a license plate and be insured, and wear a helmet too That's just conceding that shared paths and bike paths should be more like roads, and then punishing the few people doing the right thing. Actually enforce the laws that already exist, and if that's not enough make ebikes more like bikes (smaller, lighter, slower). I'm here for more LEVs (whether number plated or not), but they're not bikes, they do not belong on pedestrian paths, and adding pedals to one doesn't make it a bike. 200W or 250W power limits (as the real upper limit, not the horribly flawed test process euro standard bikes use that makes it more of a lower limit) and 15mph motor-speed limitations based on real physical design instead of software. If that's not enough, reduce the power further or make it scale down with speeds above 5mph.