Abusers of e-bikes, especially on sidewalks, are increasingly a menace to cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, and themselves - you know, pretty much everybody. You are not the only one who has this (well-justified) complaint. Kids are among the worst abusers (no kid under 16 should be allowed to ride any motorized vehicle capable of going over 15mph, no kid under 16 should allowed to ride any throttle-controlled motorized vehicle at all, and motorized vehicles should never - and I mean never - be permitted on a sidewalk unless expressly signed otherwise), but plenty of their elders are equally clueless. (I am not including motorized wheelchairs or similar mobility devices in this rant.)

In addition to the risk - and the increasing reality - of injuries caused by e-bike abusers, I fear there may be another bad result. The law (and I mean the Vehicle Code) has not caught up with e-bikes. There will be legislation proposed to deal with and regulate them. My fear is that the need to regulate two-wheeled e-bikes will lead to lumping other two-wheeled vehicles - i.e. regular bikes - in with any limiting regulations. Certainly, the bike-hating public (and we all know they are out there) will pressure their legislators to impose more limitations on bicycles as well as well as on e-bikes.

I do not think most people/drivers are bicycle-hating. I think it is small minority who are. I think the vast majority of people/drivers are bicycle-indifferent, with the next largest group being bicycle-friendly. But given a chance, the haters will be more vocal and more demanding. Having e-bike abusers pissing people off will give the bicycle haters an opportunity and excuse to go after us all well. I fear we may have to become more activist than we have been in the past to protect bicycle access that has been on the books since before we were born.