[Jeff Higgins]

As a recent (first of this year) returnee to the sport of cycling (after a 20 year absence), I missed the introduction of e-bikes over the last decade or so. Imagine my surprise, after passing the bollards and "no motor vehicles" sign to access my local bike trail, when I started getting passed by, of all things - motorbikes.

A bike with a motor is, by definition, a "motorbike", is it not? It took me awhile to sort through the various "classes", their allowable power, their legal top speeds, and whether or not one must pedal to access the electric assist. I think I understand all of it now, but...

I regularly get passed by riders not pedaling whatsoever and clearly exceeding our 15mph bike trail speed limit. These are motorcycles, goddammit. Yes, I can see the case for older folks riding them, or couples wherein the guy can significantly outpace the gal but she can keep up by riding one, and all of that. But now that our sympathetic authorities have opened that door an inch, the ass holes have kicked it open a mile and are riding right through it. There are well known hacks to increase power and speed, rendering the legal limits on these things laughable. I see them exceeded, dangerously so, each and every day I ride one of our many local trails, and in the bike lanes on our motorways. It's time to "pull the plug" on e-bikes on bike trails and in bike lanes. Back to human power only.

I'm sorry I have been made to feel this way in such a short period of exposure to these things. The bad actors, however, have well and truly ruined it for the well intentioned. That's just human (some humans) nature, I guess. I feel sorry for those whose lives these e-bikes enhance. They have been betrayed by the selfish louts who will seek every advantage in everything. The only way I can see to reign this back in is to just revert to "no motorized vehicles" once again. Either that, or I get to start riding my Road King right past those signs as well.