Quote:
Originally Posted by dedbird
Sorry, let’s call them what they are. They are bicycles with a motor, also known as motorcycles.
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Agreed. A bicycle with a motor - a "motor" bike. No matter how underpowered, no matter the source of the power for that motor. Pretty clear distinction. I'm old enough that my first real motorbikes absolutely had less power than these - with gasoline engines. These absolutely should not get any sort of a pass simply because they are electric.
In my younger years, I was a very avid cyclist. I raced on a local velodrome (at Marymoor Park, in Redmond, WA) into my early 20's. I commuted off and on into my fifties, averaging over 200 miles per week. I continue to ride recreationally, just not nearly at my old mileage. Today virtually all of it is on dedicated bike trails set aside for the purpose. I only mention this to illustrate that I do have some background and experience as a cyclist, on a true human powered cycle. There is a marked difference between these and any sort of motor assisted machine. A huge difference.
I'm also a lifetime motorcyclist, with well over half a million miles under my belt. And, unfortunately, the scars to show for it, even as an "ATGATT" kind of guy. And yes, motorcycles are great - I love them. That's why I have stuck with them. They do, however, require a significantly higher level of training and commitment than a bicycle. They attain much higher speeds far more easily, even the electric ones, and demand more effective safety gear. And, most importantly, how they are operated around other vehicles is of far greater concern from a safety standpoint, for both their operators and everyone around them.
Pretending these e-bikes are simply easier to ride bicycles for the older, infirm, less fit or intelligent (like folks in Eugene) is a grave mistake. And we have been seeing the results of that charade - lots of these fools are getting hurt. I've never been one for more regulation, but maybe it's time the adults protect these folks from themselves, and us from them. They have proven themselves incapable of exercising the discretion necessary to do this for themselves.