Originally Posted by
KPREN
I take it you are not in the USA where bikes can have throttles and still be classified as a bicycle.
You did take it wrong, I am in the US, I just don't classify mopeds as bicycles. The class 2 which you are referring to is generally a grey area in a lot of places and while they call them bicycles, they are throttled and a bicycle requires pedaling to move forward. If people want to ride throttled vehicles they should keep to roads for vehicles and off of MUPs and dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths.
Originally Posted by
tds101
Throttles are legal in NY, USA. Your opinion of all ebikes with throttles being mopeds is just that, an "opinion". If you don't want a throttle don't purchase an ebike with a throttle. I guess you feel all ebikes should be licensed and registered, as well as speed limited to 25kph/15mph too. Maybe where you live.
Nope don't feel that bicycles should be licensed and registered, mopeds and throttled vehicles are fine if they so choose to. As far as speed limited, just to 28mph pedal assist or class 3. If I want to go really fast I would probably be best off on a motorcycle ideally with good brakes and designed for such.
I know people here love to get excited by throttles and I guess if you limit them to 15mph or less they are less problematic(ish) but really they just need to be off of pedestrian paths and bicycle paths and everything is generally fine.
The reason a lot of people dislike e-bikes is throttled vehicles being called bicycles and being treated as bicycles. If we are realistic about things we can change this.
Also if you want to talk legality, there are plenty of much worse things that were at one point classified as legal that aren't any more and most people are rather happy about it and the few that aren't are not people you want to hang out with.