if it requires pedalling, and the motor only assists you, it’s an ebike
thegreatbeanz on
It varies pretty wildly by local laws. Where I live, if it can accelerate to above 20 mph, it is a Class 3 e-bike, which are not allowed to use bike infrastructure (lanes, paths etc), and are required to follow traffic laws as if they were motor vehicles (notably no passing on the right or lane splitting).
Despite that being the law, it is rarely enforced, so we see these all over bike paths, in bike lanes, and generally doing completely insane things on roads and sidewalks.
well-filibuster on
According to /r/ebikes, it’s an ebike. But that subreddit is fracturing along this very question.
Horror-Raisin-877 on
It’s a motor vehicle. It looks like a motorcycle, it is a motorcycle.
TopPressure6212 on
In my country they’re classified as mopeds/motorcycles if you can ride it without pedalling and/or exceeds 25 km/h. They’re still legal but require the same as with a motorcycle, as in registration, insurance and the appropriate safety gear.
Particular-Taro154 on
Motorbikel
Plate04249 on
I forgot to say: these things attract a certain type of personality. I could be wrong but my first impression is they have a high asshole ratio.
WhatWasThatJustNow on
CoolPrius on
E-mopeds
EBITDaDDy11 on
Bike shops won’t touch them and motorcycle shops laugh when you bring them in
itsallahoaxbud on
Death traps.
freakalicious on
Yes. A woman in Australia was just killed by one of these. She was walking through a park.
djec on
What brand are they?
sirkidd2003 on
I see TONS of Class 3’s on my local bike paths and very few regular bikes. I’m glad people are out and not driving cars, but it still sucks :/
Penrod_Pooch on
There was one riding on the side of a major road against traffic the other day. Idiot with a death wish.
Lazar4Mayor on
It’s a moped. They don’t fit in any meaningful classification framework for e-bikes in the US.
Numerous-Yard9955 on
Yes
miniscant on
Aren’t mopeds required to get licensed and the operators as well? I’d say treat this type of machine as a moped.
SouthernSierra on
Around here you see children riding these motorcycles out on the street. It’s crazy.
Blinx_n_Jeenx on
In my state ( WA) If they have a throttle control, they are considered Mopeds and must be licensed at the DMV.
Rules for motorcycles apply. Full face helmet, etc.
Unfortunately, bike shops sell them to unknowing customers who are oblivious, and you see them going 30+MPH on mixed use trails.
The laws are not enforced, and the trails have become extremely dangerous.
I doubt anything will change until someone gets killed, and there is public outcry.
These “bikes” don’t really have a place to be ridden safely. Road usere don’t want them in traffic. Walkers, joggers, and analog cyclists don’t want them on commuter trails.
In my condo complex, we have a teenager who rides through the parking lot at unsafe speed, pretty much every day. The family has been notified to stop doing it, but nothing has changed. Two days ago, he came around a corner at speed and got tangled up with an elderly lady walking her dog. The lady went down pretty hard, and suffered a dislocated shoulder. The dog was taken to a vet, and is still there.
This happened on private property, so I’m not sure if there will be a criminal investigation. The lady has contacted a lawyer, and will likely be suing the kid and his family, as well as the HOA.
marcus_aurelius420 on
How much does this thing weigh? No shot someone could sustain solely pedaling on even a moderate gradient
Ostrya_virginiana on
Where I live in Canada they tend to be used by people who have suspended licenses and alcoholics. They are often seen riding through parks, multi use pathways, roads, bike lanes and the wrong way on bike lines. We also have issues with electric scooters. While I am not against their use at all, there needs to be better regulation for these e- mopeds, e-bikes, e-scooters that easily exceed 30km/hr and should not be able to be used by anyone under the age of 16 IMO.
TerranOrDie on
Ebikes are out of control. People are now riding full on electric motorcycles on bike/walking trails now. Teens with no helmets zooming by at 30mph. There are laws, but hardly any enforcement.
Ebikes make sense for commuters and older people, but we now have teens riding around on dirt bikes with reckless abandon. There’s going to have to be a lot of accidents before people start realizing how dumb and dangerous they are.
27 Comments
Bicycle-shaped annoyances.
Pedals = Bike
[deleted]
if it requires pedalling, and the motor only assists you, it’s an ebike
It varies pretty wildly by local laws. Where I live, if it can accelerate to above 20 mph, it is a Class 3 e-bike, which are not allowed to use bike infrastructure (lanes, paths etc), and are required to follow traffic laws as if they were motor vehicles (notably no passing on the right or lane splitting).
Despite that being the law, it is rarely enforced, so we see these all over bike paths, in bike lanes, and generally doing completely insane things on roads and sidewalks.
According to /r/ebikes, it’s an ebike. But that subreddit is fracturing along this very question.
It’s a motor vehicle. It looks like a motorcycle, it is a motorcycle.
In my country they’re classified as mopeds/motorcycles if you can ride it without pedalling and/or exceeds 25 km/h. They’re still legal but require the same as with a motorcycle, as in registration, insurance and the appropriate safety gear.
Motorbikel
I forgot to say: these things attract a certain type of personality. I could be wrong but my first impression is they have a high asshole ratio.
E-mopeds
Bike shops won’t touch them and motorcycle shops laugh when you bring them in
Death traps.
Yes. A woman in Australia was just killed by one of these. She was walking through a park.
What brand are they?
I see TONS of Class 3’s on my local bike paths and very few regular bikes. I’m glad people are out and not driving cars, but it still sucks :/
There was one riding on the side of a major road against traffic the other day. Idiot with a death wish.
It’s a moped. They don’t fit in any meaningful classification framework for e-bikes in the US.
Yes
Aren’t mopeds required to get licensed and the operators as well? I’d say treat this type of machine as a moped.
Around here you see children riding these motorcycles out on the street. It’s crazy.
In my state ( WA) If they have a throttle control, they are considered Mopeds and must be licensed at the DMV.
Rules for motorcycles apply. Full face helmet, etc.
Unfortunately, bike shops sell them to unknowing customers who are oblivious, and you see them going 30+MPH on mixed use trails.
The laws are not enforced, and the trails have become extremely dangerous.
I doubt anything will change until someone gets killed, and there is public outcry.
These “bikes” don’t really have a place to be ridden safely. Road usere don’t want them in traffic. Walkers, joggers, and analog cyclists don’t want them on commuter trails.
In my condo complex, we have a teenager who rides through the parking lot at unsafe speed, pretty much every day. The family has been notified to stop doing it, but nothing has changed. Two days ago, he came around a corner at speed and got tangled up with an elderly lady walking her dog. The lady went down pretty hard, and suffered a dislocated shoulder. The dog was taken to a vet, and is still there.
This happened on private property, so I’m not sure if there will be a criminal investigation. The lady has contacted a lawyer, and will likely be suing the kid and his family, as well as the HOA.
How much does this thing weigh? No shot someone could sustain solely pedaling on even a moderate gradient
Where I live in Canada they tend to be used by people who have suspended licenses and alcoholics. They are often seen riding through parks, multi use pathways, roads, bike lanes and the wrong way on bike lines. We also have issues with electric scooters. While I am not against their use at all, there needs to be better regulation for these e- mopeds, e-bikes, e-scooters that easily exceed 30km/hr and should not be able to be used by anyone under the age of 16 IMO.
Ebikes are out of control. People are now riding full on electric motorcycles on bike/walking trails now. Teens with no helmets zooming by at 30mph. There are laws, but hardly any enforcement.
Ebikes make sense for commuters and older people, but we now have teens riding around on dirt bikes with reckless abandon. There’s going to have to be a lot of accidents before people start realizing how dumb and dangerous they are.
E-bikercycles