I completely agree with you about mixed use zones. If there are likely to be pedestrians in that area, then they should not be going over 15 MPH or whatever a reasonable speed is in that area. Those people are just negligent assholes.
The 80 MPH portion was to just grab clicks. The bike likely cannot actually reach those speeds except during a freewheel test where you pick up the back wheel and pull full throttle, as other commenters have stated.
Like you said, the reason that it was spotted, pulled over, and confiscated was because it was keeping up with traffic at 35 MPH. Why should that be illegal? Even if the bike could go 80 MPH, cars can go 110+ MPH and yet they aren’t pulled over for going 35 MPH. Why do these classes exist when bikes are forced to ride with cars and are punished for attempting to keep up with them?
Ultimately, all I see are conventions/laws that are too old to apply anymore that are used to limit or punish anyone that isn’t using a car.
it was keeping up with traffic at 35 MPH. Why should that be illegal?
I’m a bit surprised I need to enumerate all the reasons but here goes.
The bike isn’t designed for that, the article goes into detail about some of the potential failures.
There’s no system to ensure riders have a basic level of maturity, skill, and understanding of laws.
You need regulations for bikes which exceed 15MPH and for their users. Regulation ensures bikes are appropriate and riders have appropriate skill.
It’s not the rider’s own risk to weigh. They can collide with other road users, like bikes or pedestrians. They also contribute to a culture of behavior - some riders might disregard the obvious risks because they see others engaging in this behavior. Finally, if I were in a car and had an accident with a cyclist, I would be traumatised even if it wasn’t my fault.
I think a far more appropriate “fuck cars” type solution is slower traffic. Here roads are being narrowed to make room for more pedestrians and cyclists. Narrower roads some how force people to drive more slowly and be more alert. It’s very controversial, people complain about it a lot.
These electric bikes typically don’t have the necessary safety features to be considered a road-legal electric motorbike, e.g. brakes certified to come to a complete stop in a reasonable distance without skidding, and indicators so you can keep both hands on the handlebars when signalling turns. They’re also commonly used by people who don’t have a motorbike licence. If a particular vehicle is always a danger to its operator and people around them, it makes sense for it to be illegal.
The law permits electric motorbikes, but that doesn’t mean it has to permit them when they’re deathtraps, let people drive them without a licence, or let people keep them when they’ve driven them in a place or manner that wouldn’t be allowed with a regular motorbike. The frame being derived from a pedal bike doesn’t make it not a motorbike once it’s powered and capable of going faster than is safe.
While I don’t know the laws local to them, usually it’s just “for that category”. It’s not that the law is too old to apply but that the law treats vehicles with different capabilities differently. Perhaps there are different required safety factors, which traffic you can ride with, or whether you need to be licensed. All fair
I completely agree with you about mixed use zones. If there are likely to be pedestrians in that area, then they should not be going over 15 MPH or whatever a reasonable speed is in that area. Those people are just negligent assholes.
The 80 MPH portion was to just grab clicks. The bike likely cannot actually reach those speeds except during a freewheel test where you pick up the back wheel and pull full throttle, as other commenters have stated.
Like you said, the reason that it was spotted, pulled over, and confiscated was because it was keeping up with traffic at 35 MPH. Why should that be illegal? Even if the bike could go 80 MPH, cars can go 110+ MPH and yet they aren’t pulled over for going 35 MPH. Why do these classes exist when bikes are forced to ride with cars and are punished for attempting to keep up with them?
Ultimately, all I see are conventions/laws that are too old to apply anymore that are used to limit or punish anyone that isn’t using a car.
I’m a bit surprised I need to enumerate all the reasons but here goes.
The bike isn’t designed for that, the article goes into detail about some of the potential failures.
There’s no system to ensure riders have a basic level of maturity, skill, and understanding of laws.
You need regulations for bikes which exceed 15MPH and for their users. Regulation ensures bikes are appropriate and riders have appropriate skill.
It’s not the rider’s own risk to weigh. They can collide with other road users, like bikes or pedestrians. They also contribute to a culture of behavior - some riders might disregard the obvious risks because they see others engaging in this behavior. Finally, if I were in a car and had an accident with a cyclist, I would be traumatised even if it wasn’t my fault.
I think a far more appropriate “fuck cars” type solution is slower traffic. Here roads are being narrowed to make room for more pedestrians and cyclists. Narrower roads some how force people to drive more slowly and be more alert. It’s very controversial, people complain about it a lot.
These electric bikes typically don’t have the necessary safety features to be considered a road-legal electric motorbike, e.g. brakes certified to come to a complete stop in a reasonable distance without skidding, and indicators so you can keep both hands on the handlebars when signalling turns. They’re also commonly used by people who don’t have a motorbike licence. If a particular vehicle is always a danger to its operator and people around them, it makes sense for it to be illegal.
The law permits electric motorbikes, but that doesn’t mean it has to permit them when they’re deathtraps, let people drive them without a licence, or let people keep them when they’ve driven them in a place or manner that wouldn’t be allowed with a regular motorbike. The frame being derived from a pedal bike doesn’t make it not a motorbike once it’s powered and capable of going faster than is safe.
While I don’t know the laws local to them, usually it’s just “for that category”. It’s not that the law is too old to apply but that the law treats vehicles with different capabilities differently. Perhaps there are different required safety factors, which traffic you can ride with, or whether you need to be licensed. All fair