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Should ebikes use bike paths?

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Old 07-04-10, 08:54 AM
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The laws in Calgary Alberta quite specifically ban any powered transport with the exception of electric wheelchairs. I have heard of at least one guy getting a $400 ticket. There is a push for a change in the law, and enforcement for the most part, is restricted to the very busy pathways downtown. They have occasional blitzes with laser guns nailing speeders, and sometimes stroll along and ticket bikers that pass without warning.

I have seen several e-bikes on the path last year, but oddly, none at all this. Maybe they bought cheap batteries and found out how much replacement was?

I have recently picked up a Big Dummy, and one of the plans is to drop a front hub motor in, I will still use it on the pathway, but with some care. There are some places where the lowered limit of 10kph ( regular is 20 ) is too much, and I come right down at those points. With a motor, this will be easier, those dangerous places are almost always in dips, and with the motor I will have less concern about trying to carry some momentum through.

My own opinion is they should drop most of the regulations and simply enforce the one that says, drive with respect to the conditions. Of course, that is hard to prosecute, so they have to have arbitrary speed rules.

Edit: I had heard a rumor to the effect that the By-Law officers had been told not to make big thing about e-bikes, in the same way that the Police have been told to turn a blind eye on bikes using the sidewalk in dense dangerous situations. As I say, it's a rumor, don't blame me if you get a ticket.

Last edited by coldfeet; 07-04-10 at 10:40 AM.
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Old 07-05-10, 07:18 AM
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Sorry, but this is TOTALLY irresponsible! You should be embarrassed (and admonished) for even admitting to this sort of juvenile behaviour.

Originally Posted by morph999
I was doing 30 mph on the bike paths in my city. I slow down around pedestrians, though and am polite.
And contrary to your self-professed "politeness", you're actually a hazard to everyone around you — and yourself. If you were caught by the police travelling at 48km/h on an Australian shared bike path, you'd most definitely be fined for riding in a manner dangerous to public well-being.
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Old 07-05-10, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ausGeoff
Sorry, but this is TOTALLY irresponsible! You should be embarrassed (and admonished) for even admitting to this sort of juvenile behaviour.

And contrary to your self-professed "politeness", you're actually a hazard to everyone around you — and yourself. If you were caught by the police travelling at 48km/h on an Australian shared bike path, you'd most definitely be fined for riding in a manner dangerous to public well-being.
Without seeing his bike path I would not be able to make that statement. When I lived in the Los Angels area, there was a bike path that ran from near my home to the ocean. A large portion of that path was in a concrete lined riverbed (obviously not usable in the rainy season). Further, there was often no one around.

Now you may be one that considers traveling at 30mph as a a categorically unsafe and reckless activity. However, without seeing his bike path I would not be able to do so.
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Old 07-05-10, 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Robert C
Without seeing his bike path I would not be able to make that statement. When I lived in the Los Angels area, there was a bike path that ran from near my home to the ocean. A large portion of that path was in a concrete lined riverbed (obviously not usable in the rainy season). Further, there was often no one around.

Now you may be one that considers traveling at 30mph as a a categorically unsafe and reckless activity. However, without seeing his bike path I would not be able to do so.
In normal situation I do feel 30mph on a bike path is to fast. I personally fell 20mph is the max speed that shoud be traveled and I wouldn't be heart broke if they set a limit if 15 as long as they enforced it. That being said there are areas where there are no other people and the pavement is perfect for running a bike at much higher speeds even above 30mph. As for being unsafe for the rider...hey, that's his choice. Just like riding without a helmet. If you scramble You see motorcycle being ridden at 70, 80mph and above and many of them aren't wearing a helmet or even glasses. That's thier right to be in danger and act stupid as long as it doesn't endanger anyone else. But if they your brains don't call me.
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Old 07-06-10, 12:26 PM
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Cold feet,
I am in Calgary also, on electric.
Those who got a tickets were most probably got it for speed.
By-laws simple measured their speed even without knowing from distance it was electric.
The rule of thumb for riding electric in Calgary and everywhere else is : DO NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO Yourself
Always pedal and don't go with excesive spped like 40km/hour.
I always avoid cars, ride on sidewalks a lot.
Every passing car can potentialy hit you, I had enough close calls ...
MC
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Old 07-06-10, 03:13 PM
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In my part of Illinois, the paths have signage saying "No Motorized Vehicles."
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Old 07-06-10, 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Wanderer
In my part of Illinois, the paths have signage saying "No Motorized Vehicles."

Everyone has their opinion on the legal opperation of an E-bike on bike paths. The problem is the law is a little vauge and leave a lot to individuals to decifer. So I have attached the actual Illinois law on ebikes. Please note the statement in read. To me this means my ebike IS NOT A MOTORIZED VEHICLE nor is yours. and therefore, grants us the same rights as non-ebikes. I live in Dupage County and travel the local paths regularly. I have encountered potrol officers and even ridden along side them and stopped and spoken with them.. While we have talked about my ebike they have never questioned the legal right to ride an ebike on the bike paths.

Illinois:

“Low Speed Electric Bike”
Effective Date: 01/01/10
Public Act: 96-0125 Senate Bill: 0236
Synopsis:
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of "motor vehicle". Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Provides that, except as otherwise provided, the provisions of the Article of the Code dealing with bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles. Adds a definition for a "low-speed gas bicycle" and treats a low-speed gas bicycle the same as a low-speed electric bicycle in a provision regulating the use of low-speed bicycles and a provision excluding low-speed bicycles from the definition of a motor vehicle. Removes the requirement that a person have a valid current Illinois driver's license to operate an electric bicycle.

Excerpt from the Public Act

Sec. 1-140.10. Low-speed electric bicycle. The term "low-speed electric bicycle" has the same meaning ascribed to it by Section 38 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
Sec. 2085). (625 ILCS 5/1-140.15 new)
Sec. 1-140.15. Low-speed gas bicycle. A 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. (625 ILCS 5/1-146) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-146)
Sec. 1-146. Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human power, and motorized wheelchairs, low-speed electric bicycles, and low-speed gas bicycles. For this Act, motor vehicles are divided into two divisions:

Sec. 11-1516. Low-speed bicycles.
(a) A person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle only if the person is at least 16 years of age.
(b) A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway.
(c) A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle on a sidewalk.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the provisions of this Article XV that apply to bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles and low-apeed gas bicycles.
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Old 07-10-10, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by miro13car
Cold feet,
I am in Calgary also, on electric.
Those who got a tickets were most probably got it for speed.
By-laws simple measured their speed even without knowing from distance it was electric.
The rule of thumb for riding electric in Calgary and everywhere else is : DO NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO Yourself
Always pedal and don't go with excesive spped like 40km/hour.
I always avoid cars, ride on sidewalks a lot.
Every passing car can potentialy hit you, I had enough close calls ...
MC
Agree with the statement about being inconspicuous. The guy who got the ticket may well have been going a bit fast, and thus obvious, but the ticket he got was a lot higher than one you'd get for just speeding.

I intend to hide the front hub motor behind front panniers, and anyway, I want it mostly for hills, ( the two big ones are at each end of my commute, and on the roadway ) plus help with the snow. I have never seen enforcement on the pathways in Winter, and traffic is almost non-existent when there is snow on the ground.
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Old 07-10-10, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by dumbass
Everyone has their opinion on the legal opperation of an E-bike on bike paths. The problem is the law is a little vauge and leave a lot to individuals to decifer. So I have attached the actual Illinois law on ebikes. Please note the statement in read. To me this means my ebike IS NOT A MOTORIZED VEHICLE nor is yours. and therefore, grants us the same rights as non-ebikes. I live in Dupage County and travel the local paths regularly. I have encountered potrol officers and even ridden along side them and stopped and spoken with them.. While we have talked about my ebike they have never questioned the legal right to ride an ebike on the bike paths.

Illinois:

“Low Speed Electric Bike”
Effective Date: 01/01/10
Public Act: 96-0125 Senate Bill: 0236
Synopsis:
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of "motor vehicle". Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Provides that, except as otherwise provided, the provisions of the Article of the Code dealing with bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles. Adds a definition for a "low-speed gas bicycle" and treats a low-speed gas bicycle the same as a low-speed electric bicycle in a provision regulating the use of low-speed bicycles and a provision excluding low-speed bicycles from the definition of a motor vehicle. Removes the requirement that a person have a valid current Illinois driver's license to operate an electric bicycle.

Excerpt from the Public Act

Sec. 1-140.10. Low-speed electric bicycle. The term "low-speed electric bicycle" has the same meaning ascribed to it by Section 38 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
Sec. 2085). (625 ILCS 5/1-140.15 new)
Sec. 1-140.15. Low-speed gas bicycle. A 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. (625 ILCS 5/1-146) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-146)
Sec. 1-146. Motor vehicle. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human power, and motorized wheelchairs, low-speed electric bicycles, and low-speed gas bicycles. For this Act, motor vehicles are divided into two divisions:

Sec. 11-1516. Low-speed bicycles.
(a) A person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle only if the person is at least 16 years of age.
(b) A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway.
(c) A person may not operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed gas bicycle on a sidewalk.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the provisions of this Article XV that apply to bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles and low-apeed gas bicycles.
The law here is similar, but the ones about the pathways are by-laws. The point of view of the by-law enforcement officers are that e-bikes have a motor, therefore, under the by-law they are motorized. "Here's your $400 ticket, have a nice day!"
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Old 07-10-10, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by coldfeet
The law here is similar, but the ones about the pathways are by-laws. The point of view of the by-law enforcement officers are that e-bikes have a motor, therefore, under the by-law they are motorized. "Here's your $400 ticket, have a nice day!"
Sorry but I couldn't disagree with you more. Since when can a local gov. override the state law? When the feds say you can't build a nuke do you think your local village gov. can override thet too? Nope sorry but the wording is very specific Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of "motor vehicle". Why do you think they put that wording in there? It's my guess for just this reason. Those signs you are speaking of have been there long before ebike were popular. And they are there to keep out mopeds, scooters, go-carts, motor cycles and alike but no longer legal ebikes.

Bottom line I will continue to ride the trails and say "good morning officer" to every cop I come across and I will take the ricks as to weather you or I am correct. Please feel free to exericise your rights and join me. I know of many other ebikers that already are.
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Old 07-10-10, 04:20 PM
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Originally Posted by dumbass
Sorry but I couldn't disagree with you more. Since when can a local gov. override the state law? When the feds say you can't build a nuke do you think your local village gov. can override thet too? Nope sorry but the wording is very specific Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of "motor vehicle". Why do you think they put that wording in there? It's my guess for just this reason. Those signs you are speaking of have been there long before ebike were popular. And they are there to keep out mopeds, scooters, go-carts, motor cycles and alike but no longer legal ebikes.

Bottom line I will continue to ride the trails and say "good morning officer" to every cop I come across and I will take the ricks as to weather you or I am correct. Please feel free to exericise your rights and join me. I know of many other ebikers that already are.
Well, this is Canada, and the e-bike laws I mentioned are Provincial, somewhat equivalent to State law? There are National laws, subject to modification at the Provincial level. Anyway, the by-laws supposedly can, and do, override the Provincial legislation.

As a side issue, they changed the Alberta e-bike legislation last year, but both sets of laws are available from governmental websites. Never said they were organized. As far as exercising my "rights" are concerned, I intend to ride the trails, with discretion. I am hoping that the rumor I heard about them turning a blind eye is true, and I'll keep the speed down.
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Old 07-11-10, 08:53 PM
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dumbass, are you in Alberta,Canada also?
coldfeet,
I finally consulted one of few ebikes shops in Calgary.
It is called Power in Motion.
Power in Motion sells only electrics.
After answer I feel beter riding on paths.
I don`t know if I can transfer e-mail answer from Yahoo.ca site, don`t know how.
Anyway he basically says he invited by-laws to his shop ,they were friendly, chief of paths by-laws told him catching ebikers is not their priority, catching speeding any cyclist IS priority for them.
MC
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Old 07-12-10, 07:11 AM
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Originally Posted by dumbass
I've already stated that my wife and I enjoy riding our ebikes on local bike paths and I would like to continue doing it. I'm not going to try to say what the correct speed for paths are. But I do normally stay below 15mph. I consider that faster then the normal biker and certainly faster the joggers and walkers. there is no question that a strong biker can go 20mph and a lot more and in my opinion doing it on a bike path is wrong. These are shared paths with many people that are slow (very slow) moving and often they really are not paying attention to what they are doing or where they are going. A high speed bike may cause them to be slightly angered but if they relize that that biker was an ebike they will be twice as pissed. And before you know it ebikes will not be allowed on the bike paths. Even if they are doing nother worse then what is being done by some of the common bikers. Life isn't fare so I try to not give people a reason to ***** and save my speed for the roadways.
That hits the nail on the head. In order to keep riding ebikes on bike paths, we need to self-police or it will be done for us. People doing high speed training runs on bike/ped pets do cause anger and that isn't good. But folks riding fast without even pedaling are going to get ebikes banned.
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Old 07-12-10, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by miro13car
dumbass, are you in Alberta,Canada also?
coldfeet,
I finally consulted one of few ebikes shops in Calgary.
It is called Power in Motion.
Power in Motion sells only electrics.
After answer I feel beter riding on paths.
I don`t know if I can transfer e-mail answer from Yahoo.ca site, don`t know how.
Anyway he basically says he invited by-laws to his shop ,they were friendly, chief of paths by-laws told him catching ebikers is not their priority, catching speeding any cyclist IS priority for them.
MC
Miro, No I am not in Canada. My posting was about the law in Illinois, USA and not intended to be considered the law in any other state in the US or province in Canada. While I indicated a few times I was speaking about Illinois and the law that I posed said Illions Bike Law at the top of it I think some were confused and thought I might have been speaking generally about the US and/or Canida.

I'm glad that you got some info from your local bike shop though. It would be a shame to restrict ebikes from the paths. As I pointed out in my posting without the motors nether my wife or I would be able to ride the paths due to our current physical condition (we both have badly damaged knees). I am OK with riding on the streets but we live in an area that the normal posted speed limit is 45 to 55mph. This is not a good situation for ether of us and my wife wouldn't even consider it.

Even in Illionis the law was just changed this January and is still a little vauge. So yes I guess you could say I am using it to my advantage and will continue to do so even if I were to get a ticket which I would fight in court. But honestly I hardly think I will ever get ticketed. I think the biggest problem with the law change is the fact that they included small gas motors in the change as well. Let me tell you that was a big mistake that will cause a problem for emikers. I was on a local bike path and an idiot with a small gas motored bike passed me going the other way. First off I don't think he even had a muffler on the thing and he was going at least 40mph. Weather his motor was legal on not I can't say. But ether way gas bikes are to load and do not belong on bike paths. But as I said they lumped them in with ebikes.
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Old 07-13-10, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by miro13car
Anyway he basically says he invited by-laws to his shop ,they were friendly, chief of paths by-laws told him catching ebikers is not their priority, catching speeding any cyclist IS priority for them.
MC
That sounds promising, I'm not going to take it as gospel though.

It does really correspond to what I have heard, and given the the almost non-existent enforcement outside of downtown, and in Winter, I'm definitely going to chance it this Snow season. Could have used electric last night, fighting a 50-6o kph headwind al the way home, man I was sore.
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Old 07-19-10, 08:32 AM
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Why not?

My e-bike is governed @ 20mph, the federal limit in the US to qualify for a bike, that and less then a 750watt motor. I can ride my road bike(non e-bike) consistently on a flat bike path @ 18mph w/o much effort. I honestly don't know what the big deal is. 20mph is not that fast. Also how do people know if I am using the motor or not. I could be peddling, unassisted, my e-bike.

How about we give people who walk in bike lanes on roads tickets for walking in a bike lane.

I think that people need to look around and realize that our world is changing and that the early adapters are precursors to the future. We are people who are actually doing something productive to make everyone's lives better.

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Old 07-20-10, 12:25 PM
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Calgary, CANADA,
today thre is by-law meeting and ebikes are on agenda, they will discuss, outcome not known yet.
From ebike shops I know that by-laws in genral care if you don't go above speed limit, electric or not that's all.
I guess if they catch you going much over speed limit posted and find out that you are on electric they fine you extra, because it's electric and all paths signs read:NO MOTORIZED...
iT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THAT MAN IN cALGARY GOT 400 DOLLARS FINE.
You have to use special tactics while on the path
find and draft yourself behind fast race bike if you can keep up with him, that's way he will be clocked not you.
I swicch more to street riding when they start paying attention to paths like in the papres and TV.
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Old 07-26-10, 07:02 AM
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According to Georgia law, ebikes are considered to be bikes if they meet all of the following conditions: the motor does not exceed 1000W, it has a permanent means to be powered by human power alone, it has no more than 3 wheels, and the motor cannot assist the rider to exceed 20 mph. Georgia law allows local jurisdictions to ban bicycles from a roadway with signage if a bike path is nearby but no provisions exist to allow local jurisdictions to ban ebikes from bike paths.

I live near a MUP in Atlanta and I use a combination of the MUP and streets to get back and forth to work. I currently do not own an ebike (but I hope to upgrade mine to an ebike or set up a new bike as an ebike). On my nearby MUP, 30 mph is safe along some stretches (straight segments with no driveway/street crossings), if you can manage it, and highly dangerous to you and others along other stretches (where I have to slow to near walking speed so that parents and pet owners can pull their wayward family members back to one side of the center line).

But it's all about being respectful to other users of the MUP and showing due regard for their safety. If ebikes come to be considered a menace, legislatures and local jurisdictions will likely start restricting ebike access to bike facilities ... and that's bad for all bikers.

Conclusion? Ride safely and politely (especially if you have an ebike).
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Old 07-27-10, 05:46 PM
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Sure, why not use bike paths? It's still a bike.
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Old 07-28-10, 06:34 AM
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I see that the electric bikes go a little faster than the manual powered bikes. I guess that could be a problem. It’s plain to see I don’t know much about these things. I still think they could be accommodated, you just got look out for them. I see a lot of bike riders who travel too fast on those trails, too.
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Old 07-28-10, 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by rechardbension
I see that the electric bikes go a little faster than the manual powered bikes. I guess that could be a problem. It’s plain to see I don’t know much about these things. I still think they could be accommodated, you just got look out for them. I see a lot of bike riders who travel too fast on those trails, too.
I think your last comment is the important one. Some people go to fast on the trails. Going fast maybe ok when no one else is around and you have a clear site of everything ahead. But this is not just ebikers it's all bikers. But if people head a motor then all the problems will be blamed on ebikes. What I find are the spandex boys that have a goal to maintain a high past no matter what. And don't even get me started on the Aholes the come up from behind and pass without the courtesy of a warning they ae there. then they fly past a 20+ mph.

Personally I give a good rat patoot weather it is legal or not. I am going to always ride the trails with my ebike. If I am forsed to give up the motor then I am forsed to give up biking becasue there is no way I can ride without it anymore and I (we..wife and I) need the exercise for our health. We always ride in a safe manner so anyone who doesn't like it can KMA...........
dumbass is offline  
Old 07-28-10, 12:30 PM
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Maybe the bike kit I bought is weak, but I can't go significantly faster on battery than I can pedal. People have to be responsible when riding on trails, as in all things.
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