http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/government-and-politics/20150720/electric-skateboards-soon-could-cruise-in-bike-lanes Electric skateboards soon could cruise in bike lanes By Samantha Clark | 07/20/15
[images http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/NE/20150720/NEWS/150729970/AR/0/AR-150729970.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667 Kyle Doerksen, Onewheel inventor, and Assemblyman Mark Stone, ride the eponymously named Onewheels down West Cliff Drive near Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz on Monday. (Arielle Berger -- Santa Cruz Sentinel) http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/NE/20150720/NEWS/150729970/EP/1/1/EP-150729970.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667 Assemblyman Mark Stone learns to ride the eponymously named Onewheel electric boards at the Onewheel office in Santa Cruz. (Arielle Berger -- Santa Cruz Sentinel) ] SANTA CRUZ >> Electric skateboards are becoming more popular. However, riding them basically anywhere in California is illegal. Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Scotts Valley, could help change that soon. He’s co-author of a bill spearheaded by Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen, R-Modesto, to legalize motorized boards and allow them wherever bikes are permitted, including bike lanes. Stone came to Santa Cruz on Monday to learn more about electric boards from local manufacturer Onewheel, and how to ride one. Wearing a helmet and dress clothes, the state legislator took a wobbly stance on the board that has one fat wheel in the middle. With a slight lean forward, Stone glided straight ahead. Leaning left, he turned left. Leaning right, he turned right. A thin, high-tech battery can power the Onewheel for up to 6 miles, and the board cruises up to 15 mph. “It’s just such classic Santa Cruz-type innovation,” Stone said. “It’s like skateboarding, which is endemic to our culture here. We reached out to learn more about what they’re doing.” The state banned early gas-powered versions of electric skateboards from street use in 1977 because they were loud and produced significant pollution. Now the market for electric skateboards is growing, and the industry has a huge potential for growth, said Kyle Doerksen, creator of the Onewheel, which sells for $1,499. “The laws need to catch up with a lot of innovation that’s happening,” Doerksen said. First introduced last year but then tabled, AB 604 has passed the Assembly and the Senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk. Like bicycles, motorized boards aren’t designed only for recreation but also commuting. So the bill, if passed, would allow riders to use bike lanes and other infrastructure meant for alternatives to driving. “You’re not a car and you’re not a pedestrian, and the boards go a similar speed as a bike. It’s better to ride with our other wheeled friends,” Doerksen said. The initial proposal saw resistance from some bicyclist groups, but the bill’s authors have been working to mitigate their concerns. “Electric skateboards, like electric bicycles, are new technologies that we will need to adapt to, and their higher speeds make them a better fit for the bike lane than the sidewalk,” said Amelia Conlen, director of the nonprofit Bike Santa Cruz County. “We continue to push for protected bike facilities that will allow everyone to share the bike lane safely.” AB 604 • The bill would give electric skateboard riders full use of bike lanes and wherever bicycles are allowed. • Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, reintroduced the bill, which is headed for the governor’s desk. • California banned electric skateboards in 1977. [© santacruzsentinel.com] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.satprnews.com/2015/07/15/daimlers-iconic-smart-car-is-now-mirrorlink-enabled/ Daimler’s Iconic Smart EV Is Now smartPhone MirrorLink-Enabled http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099189_hydrogen-fueling-troubles-3000-hp-electric-car-nissan-leaf-lawsuit-the-week-in-reverse-video OT 1hr h2 refueling &stations are not reliably open> 70 ticked drivers http://www.foxbororeporter.com/articles/2015/07/16/features/17411126.txt PV-powered EVSE is part of Schneider Electric's plan in Foxboro-MA + EVLN: Zero to whoa > EcoCab EV cab company comes to Portland-OR {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-CA-Assm-Stone-s-AB604-allows-e-skateboards-in-bike-lanes-tp4676948.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
