re: #197 Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus

I know people like to call them “e-bikes” but they are motored bicycles aka motorcycles. It’s just that they use electric motors instead of internal combustion engines.

My feeling, and please don’t take this personally, is that “e-bikes” need to be treated as traditional motorcycles as far as licensing and tags.

I’d say they are better regulated than cars for power and speed. It’s not like a 700 horsepower Dodge Challenger has any more restrictions than a SmartCar. E-bikes don’t go fast enough to be mopeds, they are classified as (assisted pedal power) pedalecs. There are class ratings and limits to speed, and power. There are a lot of bikes in the X class that are illegal except on private property. I’ve seen East Bay Regional Parks Police patrolling the Iron Horse trail on e-bikes. Around here there are scores of ebikes on the trails and everyone stays mellow around other riders and pedestrians. LA seems to have the not so mellow ebikers.

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