The ebike class 1/2/3 concept is stupid puritan nonsense driven by cyclist jealousy and serves only to limit the usefulness of ebikes as car replacements.
The ebike class 1/2/3 concept is stupid puritan nonsense driven by cyclist jealousy and serves only to limit the usefulness of ebikes as car replacements.
I’ll engage with the struggle session: I think these distinctions are good actually, as they clarify the gradients between a bicycle and a moped. The 20mph speed limit in particular I think is a pretty important safety feature to have, and a reasonable speed limit on bike paths. The difference between 20mph and 28mph is not trivial, you’re doubling your kinetic energy.
I do agree that Class 3 without a throttle is silly, I think that’s a state-specific rule.
The distinctions between a bicycle and a(n electric, fuck those loud little gas motors) moped are a historical relic and should be blurred away to total unrecognizability.
what would you say the difference is between a moped and a motorcycle?
Styling. Another distinction which should fade away
So if bicycle = moped and moped = motorcycle, ebikes are capable of highway speeds. Do you think they should require driver’s licenses?
driver’s license? what’s next, a license to make toast in my own damn toaster‽‽
Cars should require extensive licenses, but nothing smaller. The best thing we can do to improve safety right now is decrease the number of cars on the road.
I don’t think you should be able to drive a motorcycle without a license (which should require taking a course and exam). They hit 140+mph and cannot brake as quickly as cars. Without knowing how to ride and to follow rules of the road, they are a life-threatening danger to other people.
Big disagree on the “no licensing for motorcycles”. When I took my motorcycle class, it was very terrifying seeing other students barely able to operate the light learner bikes, like 200cc suzukis. During our breaks, the worst riders in class always said how they wanted a big ole Harley or similar cruiser but had almost no aptitude for balance or control of the learner bike.
Everyone in the class passed and it equated to a DMV road test and I am genuinely afraid for them on the road.
I think motorcycle education should be more extensive. I think part of what makes motorcycling so dangerous(aside from the obvious wrecking balls that cars are), is inexperienced riders just falling down completely on their own and ending up very injured.