Originally Posted by
Classtime
This is exercise. The electric moped buyer is usually someone who wants to go faster but doesn't want to work harder. I get that. If old, feeble, or disabled persons can't pedal a bike around their neighborhood, because it is not downhill all the way, and their doctor gives them one of those blue passes to park in front of the Starbucks, then they should have access to a peddle assist bike. But bikes for disabled persons should be limited to 12 mph. And all other motor bikes should be out on the road with the cars and licenses and insurance. Why? Because there is currently no infrastructure for motor bikes whirring along at 28mph pretending to be bicycles.
It's not clear why you get worked up over e-bikes but I suspect you're a weaker rider and just don't like people passing you. Groups have no problem sustaining 28mph. Do you want them to be licensed and have insurance as well?
I commute 40 miles round trip about 225 days a years. Sometimes when I'm tired or the weather is not co-operating I use 'assist'. Sometimes the assist is in the form of a car, sometimes it's a Copenhagen (electric) wheel. When I take the Copenhagen wheel my power output is the same as when I'm riding my non-assisted bike I just pedal for a shorter time. I see more and more commuters using e-bikes and I think it's a good option compared to driving.