Originally Posted by
unterhausen
If it's an electric motorcycle, this isn't a motorcycle forum. People also use motorcycles for transportation every day. I'm not going to go back through this thread and see which ones are appropriate or not. I'm not too concerned about overpowered ebikes, as long as we don't get into speed contests on the bike path. But bikes without pedals are off topic.
I'm a little surprised that you haven't heard of endless sphere. They host lots of alternate transportation content. But it's pretty common over there to have people post videos of themselves going way too fast on bike paths and getting arrested for having unlicensed electric motorcycles. People with class 1,2,3 ebikes and care about preserving the good deal we have gotten under the law are rightfully worried about people riding electric motorcycles that bear a passing resemblance to ebikes. I don't know if you were around for the moped boom in the '70s, but they were big for a couple of years and then lawmakers killed them off. Lots of bike shops with unsellable inventory. I don't think this will happen to ebikes, but it could. There are big money interests that wouldn't mind killing them, and the bike industry can't compete with that. All it would take is a few more high-profile deaths of teenage riders and there could be a problem.
Education is more important than legislation.
People need to be educated of the rules of the road or wherever they ride their bikes.
In many countries around the world, cycling and traffic laws are part of ANNUAL curriculum required in schools from grade schools through high school.
Cycling should be like a life long/saving skill that everyone should know, like swimming.. or maybe even math.
People need to be educated the danger to themselves and others when they operate their bike, ebikes, e-scooter, e-mopeds on public roads.
We have to acknowledge the reality & facts: regardless of laws & rules, people will always want to ride fast will always find a way to modify or upgrade their bikes to go faster than manufactured.
But at least when they are educated of the danger they present to themselves & others, maybe they would re-evaluate before taking too much risk while riding.
Meanwhile, I still think parents should also be held accountable when their child is caught breaking traffic laws, causing accidents on high-seed e-bikes. If they can afford high cost, high speed e-bikes to for their children, they can also afford higher (x5 or x10) auto insurance premiums.
Originally Posted by
2old
A BIG +1 with the above. The difference with these >750w, 35 mph - 100 mph (There's an individual on ES who achieved 110 mph or so in the quarter mile on his "e-bike") behemoths is they are illegal on all roads, trails and bike paths with the possible exception of a few off road trails for Jeep-type vehicles, and are a prominent threat to the legal e-bike community.
One individual on ES who achieved 110 mph.. can you specify the name of this person?
or provide a link to the discussion?
How was the speed recorded?
Where was it done?
Under what conditions?
Did the e-bike have functional pedals that propel the bike?
Do we need laws to be created to regulate all folks on ebikes just because of one person who achieved 110 mph?