>From a website called electricbikereview.com, a forum administrator posted what they describe as a guide to US law regarding ebikes as of 2016. It states that "In the United States electric bikes have seen slow but steady growth since the late 90’s and as a result, in 2001 congress was lobbied and passed the first and only bill to define ebikes in federal law. This law, 107-319, exempts electrified bicycles with operating pedals using motors under 750 watts limited to 20 mph from the legal definition of a motor vehicle." BTW, 750 W is about 1 horsepower. Mopeds (remember those? no?) were about 3 hp, and scooters of the sort that plague the UW campus range between perhaps 8 and 15 hp. That jibes with my understanding of why ebikes are not considered motorcycles. I have not witnessed any close calls or other issues with ebike riders on bike paths but I can see where conflict may arise if ebikes continue to grow in popularity.
I think ebikes offer a great opportunity to get people who would otherwise drive to work, etc., out of their cars, with potentially great reductions in CO2 emissions as a result. But when I think about the implications of that, I worry that people who are less experienced bike riders will be out on their ebikes going at the top end of what most of us can achieve on a flat roadway. There are ample fatalities and injuries among non-ebike riders and it would be unfortunate if a spike in ebike accidents kept people in their cars. I don't have a solution, but I think bike/ebike safety classes are a good place to start. Are the ebike sellers doing anything about educating their customers about safety? On Wed, Jul 10, 2019 at 10:18 AM Steve Arnold via Bikies < [email protected]> wrote: > On 7/9/2019 5:38 PM, john wagnitz via Bikies wrote: > > Anybody taking bets on how long before we see a fatality on the bike > > path in Madison? I predict before the end of the month. > > The offenders are not riding B-Cycles but seem to all be riding “bikes” > > with the Copenhagen wheel. I’m pretty sure they are breaking the speed > > limit. > > Insofar as I know, there is no speed limit on Madison paths and state > trails. What statute, ordinance, or administrative rule do you think > establishes a speed limit? > > > The State Legislature gave local governments the power to regulate these > > “bikes.” > > The "e-bike bill" has been passed by the Senate and recommended by an > Assembly to the full house, but not passed by the Assembly or signed > into law by the government. The powers you describe do not yet exist. > > > I hope any local officials reading this post will do something before > > somebody gets seriously injured, or killed. > > John Wagnitz > > The supporters of the e-bike bill (including the Wisconsin Bike Fed, the > American Heart Association, the Cities and Chambers of Commerce of > Madison and Milwaukee, Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, > Trek, Harley-Davidson, Uber, and the WI League of Municipalities) agree > that differences in speed in congested areas, not speed, and especially > not the source of motive power, are the source of many safety risks. > > They urge those who will have power to regulate the newly defined > vehicles to first consider separation of modes, e.g., providing cycle > tracks parallel to roads and separating multi-use paths into cycle > tracks and pedestrian ways. This solution is in place and working well > on the busiest active transportation facilities in Madison: the Capital > City State Trail at Monona Terrace, where bike commuter and fishermen > and -women safely coexist. > > If there is still a safety problem, or if mode separation is infeasible, > then regulators should consider speed limits for all facility users, not > just one vehicle type. We all have seen bicycle athletes on completely > human-powered bikes hammering down multi-use paths without regard to > other users. Why pick out e-bikes, or Copenhegen Wheel users, for > special attention? > -- > Steve Arnold, Former Mayor, and > Chair, Wisconsin Bike Fed Board of Directors Lobbying Committee > 2530 Targhee Street, Fitchburg, Wisconsin 53711-5491 > Telephone +1 608 278 7700 · Facsimile +1 608 278 7701 > [email protected] · http://Arnold.US > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org >
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