Electric bikes gone wild

[vark]

E-Bike hate?
Comparing E-Bike to gasoline motorcycle
E-Motorcycles are a better comparison it would seem. Those Zero E-Motorcycles look pretty good as well.
Might be able to put baseball cards on the spokes of a E-Bike to remove the “stealth” factor
OM

If you’re referring to me, I didn’t compare e-bikes to gasoline motorcycles. I compared them to mopeds. Mopeds are propelled by a combination of pedal and internal combustion power. E-bikes use an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine.

And yes, “e-bike hate.” Might be difficult to comprehend for someone who lives in a sparsely populated area where e-bikes are rarely encountered. But I live in a congested urban environment, and have a dozen or more close encounters with them DAILY. Annually, I log more miles on my bicycles than all my other motorized vehicles COMBINED. So contending with e-bikes is a major daily aggravation and hazard. Hence the disgust with them.

Again, fine on roads intended for motorized vehicle, provided they are ridden responsibly. But they do not belong on paths designated for non-motorized use. Because - - they are motorized vehicles!

[ExGMan]

[QUOTE=vark;1184011]I hate e-bikes.

It would be good to know where you live Vark that things are so unregulated. There are standards for e-bikes in many states in the US and internationally. See:

"In 2015, PeopleForBikes and BPSA mobilized manufacturers and suppliers to establish e-bike classifications based on existing U.S. federal laws that control e-bike manufacturing standards, and international regulations that control products in markets across the globe. E-bikes were organized into three classes: Class 1 is a pedal-assist e-bike with a top motor-assisted speed of 20 mph, Class 2 is a throttle-assist e-bike with a top motor-assisted speed of 20 mph and Class 3 is a pedal-assist e-bike with a top motor-assisted speed of 28mph. The class system separated low-speed e-bikes from higher-powered vehicles and simplified the process of establishing regulations around the use of each class."

Most state laws keep Class 2 (throttle-assist) bikes on the roads, out of bike lanes and out of the woods, so to speak. I think it's hard to find Class 2 bikes for sale, BTW.

As for anecdotal experience, my daughter commuted to work by non-e bicycle 12-mi RT in Boston (on the flat) every day (Winter included) for years. She moved to Portland, OR, and began commuting from from the westside of Portland down to the Willamette River for work. At the end of the day, it was back on the muscle-only bike to home. Not easy. After a couple of weeks she bought an e-bike for commuting. All other riding she does with friends and husband is via muscle bike.

Maybe things will improve where you are Vark.

[vark]

Yes, I’m familiar with the varying “classes” of ebikes. Those distinctions largely make no difference in the real world of urban riding. No one is checking ebikes to see what class they belong to, and they all ride with impunity on the trails.

Again, my point is they don’t belong on trails designated for non-motorized usage. They are motorized. They should be limited to motorways like other motorized vehicles.

And why aren’t they subject to the same licensing, registration, and helmetting requirements as mopeds, since that’s what they are. I own a couple mopeds, that have a top speed of 25 mph on the flat (slower uphill) They have to be registered, plated, and operated by someone wearing a DOT (ie motorcycle) helmet.

Right now e-bikes are flying under the radar due to some clever lobbying by manufacturers. The manufacturers are building mopeds that look like bicycles, and getting away with passing them off as something else by labelling them “e”-bikes.

Imagine the uproar if highways were opened up to non-motorized vehicles like bicycles. That would clearly not be good. The same is true of opening up paths to motorized vehicles.

If e-bikes are allowed on trails designated for non-motorized usage, why not electric scooters? Why not electric skateboards? How about e-trikes? Tandem e-trikes? E-quads? Teslas? Why just electric motorized vehicles? Why designate any trails for non-motorized usage?

See where this is going?

It’s not hypothetical. I ride in a world that is now much more dangerous due to e-bikes on paths. Paths where we should be able to ride, run, walk free from interaction with motorized vehicles.

[ExGMan]

Wow. Must be scary every day for you. Again, what it this dramatically awful place in which you live?

[Lee]

After a couple of weeks she bought an e-bike for commuting. )

I can see using one as a commuter would be a good thing but I'm not a fan of seeing them on bike trails.
I looked at the Trek site and the mid priced ones have a top speed of 28 mph.

We like taking the bicycles to Mackinac Island because in the past only bicycles and horses were allowed.
Now ebikes and 4 wheel electric mobility scooters are allowed. You don't have to be handicapped to rent the 4 wheel scooters.
Now the fastest thing on the island are the e bikes.

[Lee]

Imagine the uproar if highways were opened up to non-motorized vehicles like bicycles. .

Did you mean interstates?
Bicycles are allowed on highways.

[vark]

Did you mean interstates?
Bicycles are allowed on highways.

In these parts highway is used to mean a limited access roadway. Not all highways are interstates, so the term highway is broader and captures all limited access roads. Bicycles aren’t allowed on highways anywhere I’ve ever lived.

[akbeemer]

Did you mean interstates?
Bicycles are allowed on highways.

I've seen bicycles on interstates here in Montana. I recall in times gone past that there was a sign on every entrance to the interstates that said non-motorized vehicles were forbidden; have not seen one in quite awhile. Bikes are on all highways around here as well. I think they are nuts to ride on a 70 MPH highway with no breakdown lane. I figure at least one in 20-25 drivers, no matter the time of day, is driving under the influence of something or actively texting. They have every right to ride on these roads, but that is what may be engraved on their headstones.

[vark]

Wow. Must be scary every day for you. Again, what it this dramatically awful place in which you live?

No it’s not scary at all. It’s highly annoying and sometimes dangerous with close calls and near misses with e-bikes. They are motorized vehicles and don’t belong on trails intended for non-motorized usage.

[ExGMan]

Some more grist for the e-bike mill: https://www.cyclevolta.com/story/no-...m_medium=email

I just looked at the specs. 2.5kwh battery capacity...175pounds, 63mph. I don't think so...

[PGlaves]

Some roadway terminology is weird. I live on a two lane road in Texas designated Texas Highway 118. In Texas it is designated and called a highway. To our north about 100 or so miles is US Interstate Highway 10, generally designated and called Interstate 10 or I-10. In California I-10 would be called "the 10." In many other locales I-10 would be called a highway, but Texas Highway 118 would be called something or other but not called a highway. The Texas nomenclature is the same as I found in Iowa and Kansas when we lived there and I believe is the same as AKBeemer finds in Montana and Alaska.

[PGlaves]

No it’s not scary at all. It’s highly annoying and sometimes dangerous with close calls and near misses with e-bikes. They are motorized vehicles and don’t belong on trails intended for non-motorized usage.

So what does the law in your state say, and how about the ordinances in your city and/or county?

[vark]

So what does the law in your state say, and how about the ordinances in your city and/or county?

Until about eighteen months or so ago they weren’t legally allowed on paths (but riders used them there anyway.) But the aforementioned industry lobbying group succeeded in quietly getting the law changed to allow use of these motorized vehicles anywhere a non-motorized bicycle is permitted.

[PGlaves]

Until about eighteen months or so ago they weren’t legally allowed on paths (but riders used them there anyway.) But the aforementioned industry lobbying group succeeded in quietly getting the law changed to allow use of these motorized vehicles anywhere a non-motorized bicycle is permitted.

What state ?

[akbeemer]

vark, you appear reticent to provide any personal information. If you provide a first name, general location and make/model/year of bike(s) owned it will make interacting on the forum easier and more rewarding for all.