No, There Electric Scooter Bikes

I will refrain from calling them bicycles

The name's not important. Allowing them to travel in bike lanes, multi use paths and requiring the same licence and insurance requirnments as bicycles is very important to me.

Today I had a older gentleman come for a test ride. A couple months back he had double knee surgery. It was hard enough for him to get his leg through a step through scooter style bike. He would have never been able to mount a traditional style bike. He wants to be able to ride to the local coffee shop to meet his buddies. Why should he be required to get a licence? Why should he not be able to use the safety of a public multi use path?
This person has worked and paid taxes all his life. Why would he be subjected to harrasment from posters like autoworker and electrogreen? If their so confident on their bikes, let them ride on the roads with the cars. Instead we petition to get the elderly banned from using the very paths their tax dollars went to fund???

PLEASE!!! The only place I harass e-scooter riders in here on BikeForums. I'm really very polite to them in the real world, in the same way that I don't diss the disabled. My momma brung me up real good.

bike
Noun
Informal a bicycle or motorcycle
hc_dict()Collins Essential English Dictionary 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2004, 2006

I think we can agree that a "scooter style" e-bike is a bike...the "bi" part of that word meaning two referring to the number of wheels the vehicle has....

I had a great 15 km ride yesterday and the only honk I got was from a guy passing by in a Smart Car....who gave me a thumbs up. Unfortunate that there is this negative mentality to such a positive product...

Overall, the biggest knockers seem to be from the cycling community, not all of course but in general. Methinks they don't want to share. The parks commission would be next as knockers. They would be happier if their were no bicycles on the path, no kids and no dogs. Helluva world we live in nowadays....It seems to be okay to load a bicycle down with a 250 pound person and no one plays the weight card...but put a little cosmetic fairings into the equation to dress up their bike....I have no problem stopping my 132 pound bike with my 150 pound body on it with my drum brakes that are on my bike. My loud audible horn, and my large motorcyle style headlight offers me a lot of safety features riding around at night. My bright coloured cosmetic fairings also catch the eye of any passing motorist.....I of course would never be so bold to ride on the sidewalk as my bicycle cousins seem to do....I guess they think it is their god given right to break the law and pass children on the sidewalk on their way to school...after all....they ride a bicycle...and they can do whatever they want and think whatever they want...and judge whatever they want....too bad we can't play in the sandbox together nicely...LOL

I have changed alot of minds by letting the knockers ride my bike...then all of sudden they start to come around.... they are just a really nice alternative from pedalling and driving...and deserve to be anywhere a bicycle is allowed to be...

^^^^^^You generalize all bicyclists as law breakers. Bicyclists should follow the law. I do. You try to use the lawbreakers to justify your quesitonable use of a motor vehicle as a bicycle.
Your scooter is a motor vehicle and should be treated as such.

If you follow this logic to it's end, then motorcycles, cars, and trucks should be allowed onto bike paths as well. I mean, hey it's not the vehicle, it's the operator, right? I mean I can drive my car at 5km/h, so why can't I drive on the bike path?

harmony.JPG

Look how nice they look together....one less car on the road....

Maddyfish...It is you who is being rediculous.....

The department of transportation has already classified 500 watts, 32 km per hour limit, capable of being propelled by muscular power, etc...not to be deemed a motor vehicle....and to be treated as a bicycle....whether you agree or not is fortunately of no concern to anyone...if what you were saying was true, they would have been off the road 2 years ago....this was discussed and settled along time ago...
You are obviously against electric bikes in general because of their battery assist...must be nice to be young and healthy...god forbid you are not capable of pedalling anymore because you would require a licence and insurance to travel a mere 32 km per hour to go to the corner store...all of sudden you are on the cash grab side of the government...to bike to the store?

BTW...I put in the disclaimer that "most" bicyclists...not all....and this is from what I have observed...not hearsay...

Nope! Under the law it's still an eBike.

Just because something has a motor on it doesn't mean it's a motor vihicle.

Example: My 2HP remote control car isn't considered a motor vehicle. My nephew's Lego Mindstorms (robotics) has a few electric motors. That's not a motor vehicle.

Heck, even those electric powered go-peds (skaeboard with handlebars) aren't considered motor vehicles.

I certainly do not mean to bash cyclists...I have been one longer than a e-biker.....I do not think the government should interfere with biking of any sorts at a certain speed. 32 km per hour was deemed to be a safe cycling speed regardless of the mode of power...500 watts is the same output a healthy individual attains to travel that speed. I tend to get defensive and combatant with anyone that does not understand the above...
The Department of Transportation conducted a two month study with 369 individuals on power assisted bikes, both Power Assist and Power on Demand...In their findings they found this power and speed safe enough to allow the pilot project in the first place...There are millions of scooter style riders in the world who ride one and agree with that the government should stay out of our pockets at this speed....only some cylists and some motorists disagree..what else is new...not everyone can agree on everything....

Don't be stupid.

The law puts vehicles into different categories for a reason.

if we were to follow YOUR logic, then these things should be allowed on roads as well:





Don't be stupid man!

I actually applaud the government to allow us a three year pilot in the first place...They did their homework and realized a need for change....unfortunately there are still close minded, tunnel vision people in the world...I know the same knockers of this product would be up in arms if the government decided to grab a little cash off the cylists with perhaps a one time $35.00 registration fee on the bicycle. The bike trails are not that big of deal to even argue about...the bigger issue is that we have an over abundance of motor vehicles on the road driving and polluting for short commutes. Both styles of e-bikes attract a different and larger audience than just one. As an option to driving both styles are a positive step in the right direction...Licence and create mandatory insurance on either one would drive thousands of people back into cars to go a couple of kilometres....I am glad certain individuals are not in a position to make decisions in regards to planetary concerns...or this planet would be doomed.

So I looked up the Veloteqs. Probably scooters, and definitely interesting. How fast and how far can those things go?

That's what I was beefing about on my "scolded" thread. I understand not being able to warranty something that has been altered, but to outright refuse to take my money for a repair to the biycle components when I'm not even expecting a warranty? Come on!

...If you're in Arizona, toss me one of those business cards! (Actually, there are some shops that will work on them. In fact, I paid a shop to install my Bionx. ...But I do live in a huge metro area with lots of options.)

...And who's doing the character assassination here?

Honestly, I like my Bionx for reasons that have been articulated on this thread. I wanted to buy something from at least somewhere in North America. (I wish the U.S. would create a small industry around ebikes, instead of relying on other countries to make them for us, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.) I like the weight, the fact that I can attach it to a variety of bicycles, the pedaling aspect, etc.

However, I'm not hatin' on those who like the scooter style. Here's my "logical argument" for the scooter-style ebike. People who buy them like them for reasons of their own just as I like my set-up for reasons of my own. I don't think it's necessary for them to justify themselves to other e-bikers on this forum.

I do have some concerns about where they should be ridden. I don't think it's safe to take that much weight and speed potential on MUP's that wind through public parks. They seem to belong more on the street, maybe in the bike lanes if they are as slow (20 MPH or less) as other legal ebikes.

This is going to sound bad, in light of my last post, but I'm thinking that the scooter style ebike is the "SUV" of ebikes. People are making the same arguments--feel safer, more comfortable, etc. vs. too big, inappropriate for the roads/paths, etc. ...And to reiterate what's been said here more than once, it's still better than a real SUV.

Ok. Now you're imitating a Troll. Name calling.

If you can't discuss in this thread without name calling and taunting, then you are trying to start something.

hm... I noticed your last post was more conciliatory, maybe ignoring from other posters worked...

yeah... ok, continue

To Recumelectric:
Veloteq Bikes are governed at 32km per hour which is all Ontario will allow for power assisted bikes.
Range is anywhere from 40km to 80km depending on riders weight, speed, wind, hills etc. While certainly not for everybody, they certainly offer alternative transportation to those who would not consider a bicycle as an option for a variety of reasons. Veloteq will be introducing a new nickel zinc battery for their bikes sometime in the summer of 2009. Lighter weight, faster charge time and will behave better in colder temperatures. Check out www.veloteq.com or www.powergenix.com for info on bikes and batteries. Veloteq also have some exciting other surprises for the new year. "Walk when you can, ride if you want, drive only when necessary and for all the other times "think Veloteq"
And for all those that are just "so bothered" by other peoples individual choices all I can say is "sucks to be you"

Because the bicycle purists are all shills of the automotive industry and earn comission whenever they convince an E-Bike user to switch back to driving their car.



I haven't read through the whole thread, but it seems people here are missing the simple reality that E-Bikes and E-Scooters are not fast enough to share the road. Motorcycles don't go on bike paths because motorcycles are fast, even a motorbike with a small displacement will reach speeds well above what one can reach under normal peddling. E-Bikes and E-Scooters will not, especially given that many if not most of them have speed limiters. If E-Scooters were required to share the road, they would be getting in the way of cars and it would anger both drivers and destroy the E-Scooter market - but then again, that seems to be the goal of some people here.

Kind of astounding for me that this hostility even exists. Where I live, the problem is a lack of bicycle lanes, not crowded lanes. Few people are using them, if E-Scooters and E-Bikes took off, voters would be motivated to pay out to construct a real bike lane network. I'm guessing the problem elsewhere must be that they have a great comprehensive bicycle network, but it's jam packed with traffic??

My problem is not with bicycle lane usage. These probably belong in the bicycle lanes more than anywhere else.

...They seem a bit too much for an MUP or sidewalk where there are wandering kids, skaters, dog-walkers, joggers, etc. I've noticed that many of the faster cyclists that don't even use motors feel that MUP's aren't really safe at higher commuting speeds.

According to the laws here, the only type of wheeled vehicle allowed on sidewalks are wheelchairs or a bike that you are walking. Anyone riding a bike on the sidewalk, motorized or not, is already breaking the law. I still see people doing it all the time though.

I should say, the people riding bikes on the sidewalks are not the type of people that are posting here. It's little kids who obviously don't have enough homework.

New buildings get electric bicycle plug-ins!

VANCOUVER, BC - May 15, 2008 - The Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association (VEVA) congratulates the City of Vancouver for new by-laws passed this week that will encourage and enhance electric bicycle ownership, and lead the way for other communities to do the same.
Vancouver City council has approved changes to the off-street bicycle parking by-laws effective with all new buildings going forward. The new by-laws address much needed security for bikes. The new by-laws include provision for charging electric bikes in bike storage rooms in condos and other retail / commercial bike storage lockers. VEVA applauds this forward thinking and small but important move.
Surveys of local e-Bike stores indicate that there are now more than 10,000 electric bikes in Greater Vancouver with a dozen stores selling these increasingly popular electric bikes. These e-Bikes need to be charged, much like a cell phone or laptop computer and use regular 110V receptacles. The problem has been that bike storage lockers in condominiums do not have any electric outlets. e-Bike owners have resorted to hauling heavy batteries up the elevators to their residences to charge them. The lack of plugs has been an obstacle to some, but this new by-law will create the infrastructure needed.
“e-Bikes are a practical transportation alternative, especially during the summer months, as commuters can use them without having to shower at the end of their ride – they are relatively effortless, yet have all the benefits of being outside in the fresh air and sunshine” commented Don Chandler, VEVA President. “With the current price of gas and maddening traffic snarls why wouldn’t you choose this as a regular option for urban commuting? Vancouver has an excellent network of bike paths and bike lanes.”
e-Bikes are one of the most environmentally friendly forms of transportation in BC with zero emissions when charged from BCs near carbon neutral grid. Commuting by eBike makes Vancouver's hills effortless to climb and each one that replaces a car prevents up 2000 to 4000 Kg of GHGs per annum from polluting our climate. This represents almost 1/3 of an individual’s carbon footprint.
VEVA hopes that strata councils take note of this need and take individual initiatives to upgrade existing bike lockers to accommodate eBikes and eScooters to stay competitive with new building facilities. The new by-laws will be prepared by city staff, developers notified and educated, before they come into effect after a one year grace period.

Cool!

No surprise Canada is ahead of the US on that.

My solution is having a portable battery pack. I'm just taking the one I made from my scooter and I'm adding it to my bike (when I get it). It's just a waterproof bag with a lithium ion battery and charger in it. It's got a stubby little extension cord coming out. I'd like to put together some kind of sturdy plastic housing that would be detachable in the future. Or I'm going to have to have one of those newspaper carrier things and secure it on there. Either way, I just take the battery pack with me wherever I am, get a free charge while at starbucks.

Maddyfish is an outright idiot He's been on my ignore list for a while now. no loss really. LOL!

Take it from me, he brings nothing intelligent to any discussion.

Close. Bikes with wheels under 20" in diameter are allowed on sidewalks as well (Ontario). This for kids with kiddie bikes.