It really hasn't begun in earnest.
Moped, not bicycle - for regulatory purposes, i'm not labeling their riders, just their rides.
But probably a lost cause, the cycling industry won't support it.

Injection molded motorcycles - don't try to sell me the 1st plastic Harley Davidson, regardless of engine size.
You read it here first - Harley Pathfinder - mass produced, injection molded - optional recording/speaker for genuine Harley engine noises.

The industry won't support using moped legislation. We already have model eBike legislation being adopted. That train is out of the station and gaining momentum. There's no going back.

The definition of moped would easily have accommodated eBikes. The definition of moped includes pedal bikes that are power-assisted. The original mopeds were pedal bikes with gasoline motors providing power assist, and an eBike is the same thing with an electric motor.

The funny part is that mopeds had pedals to circumvent existing laws around motorcycle licensing. eBikes have pedals to essentially do the same sort of thing, to make them to be seen as acceptable where they otherwise would not belong.

Way back in the mid 1960s, I had a conversation with an engineer working for Grumman Aircraft. At that time, the company was experimenting with carbon composite technology. At about the same time, another engineer who worked for the navy at the China Lake weapons lab in California, wrote a book entitled "The 40 Knot Sailboat". As a boat builder and sailor, I was intensely interested in the book. In the ensuing 45 years, materials development in carbon composite fabrication has has advanced by leaps and bounds to the point where the 40 knot sailboat is a reality. In the linked video a 100 foot French racing trimaran is zipping along at over 40 knots. This particular boat has sailed 900 miles in a 24 hour period which is nearly incredible. This is quite a bit faster than any clipper ship.
One again we are re minded that the future is unpredictable. There is no way to know when the next bright idea will come along or what the consequences will be. I'm completely satisfied with my bike but there may be someone out there is has a bike notion and is dying to know if it will work.

Assist requiring pedals turn to keep the assist functioning... Is different than a moped
that you have the rear stand holding the wheel off the ground while you use the pedals ,
like a starter crank to get the ignition spark burning the fuel.




Yea Some consider the Hydrofoil , hull above the water yachts , not proper boats..
then there is the hard wing sail further separating it's technology from the tradition..







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