New to Ebikes (Scooter Type), but also still Old school Bike. Questions and comments

[Greywolf67]

I sure hope I am not opening an old can of worms that will cause stress and fuss, but I am some what taken back by the noticable hate for scooter style bike riders.

I would hope in the long run everyone could get along, after all it's a community that would gain with friendship.

Now I have been lucky to live in a few places that have had great areas to bike in, all around Ontario. Durham Region being one of the best.

Now going by the law, an ebike could use a bike path/lane, However is the rider mature enough to follow rules and use manners? Things like Never force foot trafic to move out of your way, but allow foot traffic to proceed and the biker pull over.
This is something I have seen Peddle Bikes not do in many of my rides over the years, and in one case it was lucky there was a Bike Mounted Durham Police Officer on the trail to correct the Bike rider.
I would hope an Ebike Rider would also follow the rule as well, even more so now seeing as there is no clear directive on this matter.
I am of the opinion, if local Governments ban ebikes from all paths/trails then so be it. There is still a great deal of wonderful streets and roads to travel and enjoy a quiet ride.

What are the Bylaws in your local area? ( seeing many live in different areas )

What do you feel should be the best way to handle all the many forms of new traffic? (Please refrain from flames to people who express opinion, guess what.....you may not agree, but that is the great thing about living free, each person can have their own feelings and views.)

Do you think over time all the vast number of Cycle riders can learn to live together?

I know from personal experiance right now I am getting jabs from friends of mine who ride in the cc class of Motorbike. However I just take it in stride, and live by the moto to each his own:)

I think the only style of 2 wheel or more I have yet to ride is the Recumbant, which looks interesting, and with enclosed treehugger bikes (sorry, I love that handle lol), now being spotted in more places, I have the feeling this bike path issue will heat up more. Why can I see calls of "OMG I was on the bike path and a mini car type thing passed me" LOL

Anyway, I would like to hear from Y'all ebike lovers and haters, just please keep the "this type of bike should be classed"...... out of it, because until the Governments make a final rule, right now ebikes are by the law a bike.

[cerewa]

I think the flamewars are entirely unhelpful and plenty of people on message boards all around get totally irrational about stuff. Scooter-style e-bikes are one of those topics folks get irrational and nasty about for some reason.

But as for me, I don't really think that a 200-pound vehicle that relies primarily on motor power belongs on a "no motor vehicles" multi-use-path. Even if it is electric.

But if folks want to use scooter style e-bikes as on-road transportation, let them. If they want to use bike lanes, fine, as long as they drive responsibly. In environment terms, e-bikes are far better than most motor vehicles.

People shouldn't be allowed to motor around on these things on the sidewalks though.

[Greywolf67]

People shouldn't be allowed to motor around on these things on the sidewalks though.

I agree 100%, but in Guelph I know it is covered by bylaw, no bikes of any kind are to be using sidewalk, now this does go unchecked by Guelph police.

A few times I've been freaked out by a biker or 2 who zip by at a fast clip, one who has even almost knoced me over as I walked to work.

I think it comes down to just how reasonable is the person on the bike ( any style ).

I would also like to point out a few times people on peddal bikes who were on the sidewalk did in fact give me lots of warning they were getting closer, ringing a bell then going around me on the grass. It's a gesture like that, that gets respect.

All that said I would hope no scooter style riders ever attempt to ride a sidwalk, your just begging for a ticket then.

[dewdad]

It really doesn't bother me to see bicycles on the sidewalk (even if it is illegal) in certain cases and on certain paths...If that particular section is not conducive whether it be road construction or whatever. As a pedestrian, I have no problem with it...Scooter style e-bikes however an absolute no of course...MUP should be used with the same discretion. If there a lot of pedestrians I would use an alternate route...If I see more bicycles than pedestrians, then why not...I can ride slow too. I really find more interest from people about these bikes than anything...If someone is laughing at me..well then I am glad I was able to give them a chuckle in their day. Scooter style are well lit for nightime operation and very visible to other motorists and riders. They are quiet and in my opionion one of the best additions to the road since the bicycle itself.

[maddyfish]

Well, the laws need to be changed so that all powered vehicles are registered and licensed. All vehicles should follow the law. Stop signs, stop lights, speed limits and so forth.
I agree with Dewdad that these are a fine addition to the road, so long as they are properly regulated.
Hate them? No. Bu they are too heavy to mix with pedestrian traffic. If a bike falls over on a walker, no big deal, everybody gets up. If one of these scooters falls over on a person, serious injuries are likely. With a mix of walkers, runners, bikes, dogs, kids, and these scooters, it is just too much danger to have a 350 pounds of rider/scooter on them.

[dewdad]

Thanks for accepting them at least on the roads Maddyfish...I think we are getting somewhere..
I can actually live without them on the MUP, if that is a fair compromise...and I will leave it at that...
except they ARE Bikes...LOL

[maddyfish]

Oh I have no problems with them at all, or any other motor vehicle. I love cars, trucks, semi trucks, so forth, but they all have their place, as do scooters and motorcycles. Their place is on the road, licensed and being used to reduce oil useage.
To be perfectly honest, I have little use for MUPs for adults on regular bikes. FOr children, walkers, runners they are fine, but adults on bikes are often too fast to mix with MUP users.

[Golectric]

I guess it depend's what the MUP is designed for. All bikes should be off main roadways or in seperated bike lanes and paths. Riders breaking the law should be ticketed.

[maddyfish]

I see we feel exactly the opposite. I feel all bicycles should be on the main roads, there should be no bike lanes, or bike paths.

Luckily for me, the gas crunch is pushing people more towards my style of riding (on the road to actually get somewhere) than yours.

[Golectric]

Luckily for me, the gas crunch is pushing people more towards my style of riding (on the road to actually get somewhere) than yours.

Around the world in major urban centers bike lanes are being developed and promoted. Some roads are just to busy and to fast for bikes to travel safely. The bike's slow the cars down and cause some drivers to really resent all bikes. So who's gonna win the fight for space, a 2500 lbs car or 50lbs, 220lbs with rider bike???

[maddyfish]

Around the world in major urban centers bike lanes are being developed and promoted. Some roads are just to busy and to fast for bikes to travel safely. The bike's slow the cars down and cause some drivers to really resent all bikes. So who's gonna win the fight for space, a 2500 lbs car or 50lbs, 220lbs with rider bike???

I have never seen a road that was to fast for me to travel safety by bike. Maybe you find some roads to fast and too busy, because you have limited skills/experience?

Who going to win the fight for space? That's easy, the bike, because it requires less space. I can fit many, many places that the car can not.

[Golectric]

I have never seen a road that was to fast for me to travel safety by bike. Maybe you find some roads to fast and too busy, because you have limited skills/experience?

Wow, what can I say to that?

Who going to win the fight for space? That's easy, the bike, because it requires less space. I can fit many, many places that the car can not.
Like, under??

[ejserv]

any highway here in Alberta is relatively unsafe to drive on with a low-speed vehicle regardless of your skills/experiance. Most vehicles travel well above the speed limit here and even little-old-ladies drive huge 4x4's and foolish suv's

Ed

[Greywolf67]

I have to agree with Go on this. Basic streets and roads Scooter bikes are ok by Ontario law, no 400 series of hiway, or any road that becomes a hiway at towns edge.

Scooters being limited to 32kmh max on the flat is just too slow in an above 60 Kmh zone. Now apart from a mod ( speed hack so to speak ), that then takes you in to the Insurance and plate, there are enough ways to get around without using MUP and Hiway.

I do think yes scooters should avoid MUP rides. With walkers and dogs and kids and bikes they can be a busy place to try and get through at times.

I would love to see more bike lanes in major cities tho