Say NO to Mandatory E-Bike License Plates and Registrations - Bike East Bay
bikeeastbay.org
Tell the state legislature that increased regulation on legal e-bikes is counter-productive to traffic safety, sustainability, and equity goals.

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/34367979

More barriers to cycling means more cars which means more dead cyclists. Help us defeat this terrible anti-safety bill.

  • FireRetardant@lemmy.worldEnglish
    33·
    2 days ago

    F=ma so therefore your ebike is still going to hit harder at the same speed as that ultra light racing bicycle because the e bike is heavier. There is also a skill factor here. It takes practice and skill to get a standard bicycle going that fast whereas anyone can get on an ebike and get it going that fast.

    I’m not certain lisencing alone is going to solve the problems but there are some important distinctions between bicycles and ebikes.

    • stickly@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      An average ebike only weighs ~25 lbs more than an average bike. That’s basically difference between an average woman and a man or within a standard deviation of the average man’s body weight. Should we only be requiring licenses for fat people?

      Just set the max speed on the ebike to a safe limit and call it a day. Your speed matters way more than the bike weight anyway (KE=0.5*mv2)

    • infinitesunrise@slrpnk.netEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      It takes practice and skill to get a standard bicycle going that fast

      It does not. As someone who does regularly do that on rides, I can vet that any able bodied kid can get a road bicycle to hit 40 on a long downhill, first try. The real difference is that they do not go seeking that experience, usually they’re just trying to get somewhere they need to be.

      Personally I’m good with “If it has a throttle-driven motor, it’s a motor vehicle” and just doing motor vehicle licenses as we always have. Maybe just lower the permit age if teens need access to motor vehicles, or ask ourselves why we built a society where teens need access to motor vehicles.